Mood Fabric's Crepe de Chine Crossover top - McCall's 6991

 You see these everywhere, the crossover top for fall and McCall's 6991 is the perfect pattern for this type of top.  The perfect fabric needs to be a fabric that is the same on both sides, with that in mind I went with Mood Fabrics'  Red Silk Crepe de Chine which is so gorgeous in person.  This fabric has just the right drape for this top and added so much to the success for my crossover top.

    At the McCall's blog, you will find helpful hints for  this pattern.  I used several of these to help construct my crossover top.  The first thing I did was look at the finished measurements on the front pattern piece.  This top runs big, I was very surprised at the finished measurements and went down one size.  I usually always make a size 12 for a McCall's blouse and for this crossover I went down to a size 10.  You could even go down another size if you didn't want such a loose fit or you could mix it up - 2 sizes down for the front pattern piece and one size for the back.

    I have some tips while for this top.  First off small safety pins, no not to pin the front.  I used the small safety pins and a small pieces of paper.  One paper had right and the other left.  I placed the safety pin with the "right " on the right side (as in right vs left)  of the top in the seam allowance and did the same with the "left" paper and safety pin.  Just doing this one little thing helped ease the confusion when handling this large fabric piece.  I also put the safety pins and paper on the right side of the fabric.  Even though the fabric will be twisted, you need to have a point of reference to start

  I will wear this top with the sleeves pushed up almost all the time but I did add  1" to the sleeve length.  If you like to wear your top with the sleeves down, these sleeves are a bit wide at the forearm, you may want to slim them down a bit.

    Now the back, I wanted it longer in the back but not too long.  I shortened the back by 1-1/2" which I like so much more.  The instructions call for an optional button and buttonhole to keep the front closed.  I opted for a small snap, the fabric is light and I thought the weight of the snap  (which is like no weight) would be perfect for the Crepe de Chine.

    You can see in the picture above how the small snap keeps the top from gaping open.  The Crepe De Chine is thin and I used a cream cami underneath the wrap top, I really want to find a red one for under this top.  I just want to keep the color all the same and not have the bit of another color at the neckline. Love would be the best word to describe how I feel about this top, the fabric, the color and the pattern all combine into a top I absolutely love!  I have a feeling it will be worn so much this year and so many different ways.

One more thing - I thread traced the fold lines for the facings.  I thought this would be the best method since there is not wrong or right side on the front.