Summer in Australia can be brutally hot and I burn very easily. We migrated when I was 10 and I had my first mole removed when I was 18. I needed a long-sleeved rash top for my holiday in Queensland. Long sleeved rash tops can be hard to find, mostly ugly and expensive. Not mine!
I used the Surf to Summit pattern from Fehr Trade. It is a princess line raglan sleeved top. I did some careful flat measurements, expecting to need to grade out at the hips. I was intrigued to see it wasn’t necessary. The size L was spot on, but I used the XL. I’m not keen on negative ease. As usual I added a bit of width to the sleeves at the bicep.
I loved the pattern and the vibrant print. I decided to use another vibrant print. This time I added a full length separating zip to create a jacket. I used chalk to mark the pieces, I should have added notches. The chalk marks are clearly visible – even after washing and swimming.
The fabrics both came from the Remnant Warehouse in Sydney. The pattern pieces went together beautifully, the drafting is superb. I even got the splotchy print to line up and pattern match. ACROSS THE ZIP!!!! Pattern matching was not so easy with the paisley fabric. I’m glad I bothered as I like how it looks.
Construction was shared between the overlocker and coverstitch machines. I used the sewing machine to put in the zip. Both tops are terrific, and were used a lot.
The details
Top fabric – Paris Paisley Spandex – 1.5 metres $18.75
Jacket fabric – Trippy Trippy Lycra – 1.5 metres $30.00
Pattern – Surf to Summit – Fehr trade – $15.00
I got this pattern printed on A0 paper at Creffield Printing. $8.00
Notions – Zip – $6.00 (I think)
Nuisance factor – None at all.
Total = $77.75 for both.
Do it again – yes. I need a new cycling top, so one with wicking fabric and a centre zip. And another in bamboo or merino, for everyday use.
May I ask – what is a rash top?!
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Hi Lizzie – a rash top, or ‘rashie’, is a tshirt with high neckline (sometime a funnel neck) and either long or short sleeves, made from swimming fabric that has a high sun protection factor (SPF). It is worn over swimwear to protect your skin against the harsh sun. It means that you can spend all day in the sun and water and not need to re-apply sunscreen to shoulders/back/arms. In my case I start to burn within 15 minutes in the sun, sunscreen really only lasts about 90 minutes, if it is not rubbed off or sweated away. I’m not sure where the term comes from, but it has stuck.
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Thanks for the explanation!
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