In anticipation of spring the clothes shops seem to be full of drawstrings and big sleeves and I thought I would make a top based on one I saw in Country Road, which had a diagonal drawstring through the body giving an asymmetrical hem. The CR top had an extra style line at the front, the diagonal line went from one side of the body to past the centre line on the other side, and a wide bound neck, but I thought I’d keep mine simple and did a diagonal stripe that finished just short of the centre line on the same side of the body. I think I should have made the ribbon strip more diagonal – next time!
I used my old favourite pattern, the Deer and Doe Plantain and just added a strip of fabric on the inside through which I threaded two lengths of black grosgrain, anchored in the shoulder seam.
I wasn’t certain how much to pull on the drawstring and feel as though I went slightly overboard for the first wearing. I loosened the drawstring for the second wearing with a charcoal ponte skirt and I think it’s marginally better.
I used a piece of white cotton sweatshirt fabric and black grosgrain ribbon, both of which I had in my stash. The cotton didn’t have much stretch, which I thought wouldn’t matter too much, but it did! The top is a tad tight, but wearable.
I am wearing it with my black Hudsons, which I really enjoy wearing. The fabric is stretch cotton brocade from Knitwit, which works surprisingly well with this pattern. The scarf was a birthday present from Bridgette and Tom and goes so well with this outfit and somehow makes me feel really well put together.
I didn’t use any sort of binding on the neckline, I simply turned it under and coverstitched it, which worked well. 
The black and white shoes are by Fiona McGuiness, which I bought in Devonport, New Zealand about eight years ago and which I find really difficult to coordinate with any of my outfits so I was rather thrilled that they go with this combination.
This won’t be the last version of this top, I already have a naturally dyed one planned.