Pattern Review: Laurence Top by Vivian Shao Chen

When I first started sewing my own clothes, the Laurence Top pattern by Vivian Shao Chen was the first pattern I sewed! It quickly became one of my most made and favorite top patterns that I wear through all seasons. It’s basically my summer uniform along with a pair of shorts and I wear it layered under shirts or sweaters in the cooler months. In this article I share all my thoughts on the pattern, some of the versions I’ve made and some small modifications I make to the top.

I’ve also used the Laurence Top to make a dress version by shortening the bodice and adding a gathered skirt, and made another dress version with a v-neck button placket. This pattern has been so versatile for me over the years!

The Pattern

The Laurence Top pattern has an Advanced Beginner level of difficulty and the trickiest part is probably the the v-neck. There’s a video tutorial on Vivian Shao Chen’s Instagram which I found to be really helpful. I had sewing experience before making this top, but I found it to be a great pattern to start with when I first started sewing my wardrobe. And the great news is, once you’ve tried it (mistakes and all!) you’ve gained valuable skills and experience.

There are two views included in the pattern – View A is a v-neck sleeveless top and View B is a scoop-neck three-quarter length sleeve top. I’ve never made the longer sleeve version, but I have made View B with shorter sleeves and I love it paired with my memade jeans – it feels like an elevated tee! For View B, I’ve made both a size 2 and 4 and can wear both comfortably but prefer the larger size for more ease when I made a dress version.

I highly recommend patterns by Vivian Shao Chen – the instructions are straightforward and clearly written. All of the designer’s patterns I’ve made – Laurence Top, Orchards Dress and the Nepheline Blouse (which I’ve also hacked into a dress!) – are ones that I’ve repeatedly made and regularly wear.

The Fit

Whenever I try a new top sewing pattern, I am always comparing it to the Laurence Top. It has the perfect amount of ease for me and I can move my arms freely without anything digging in. It’s my favorite top for the summer because it barely touches me thanks to the a-line shape and lower armholes.

I fall under a size 4 on the size chart for a bust measurement of 34″ but I’ve always made a size 2 in the sleeveless view. When I made View B, the version with sleeves, I sized back up to a size 4 for more ease in the shoulders.

Fabric

This pattern is designed for midweight and lightweight woven fabrics, like linen, cotton linen blends or hemp. I’ve made my versions in several types of fabric and each feels slightly difference depending on the fabric choice. (I once made a Laurence Top in rayon and it ended up feeling so big on me!)

Washed Hemp

One of my favorite Laurence Tops is one that I made in a terracotta mid-weight hemp slub from Blackbird Fabrics when they had it in stock. I made it using leftover fabric from when I made my Pomona Pants and ended up with a matching set that I love. I’ve also found a similar washed hemp fabric from Lyrical Fabrics, another one of my favorite online fabric shops. I made another in an olive green washed hemp and it’s one of my most worn Laurence Tops.

Hemp has a really similar feel to linen and softens so beautifully when washed and creates a lovely lived-in look over time.

Cotton

I’ve made a couple of Laurence Tops in a lightweight cotton and they’re a wonderful breezy option for warm weather. The black floral one I made with leftover fabric from my button placket Laurence Top dress hack and it’s a crinkle cotton with such a lovely soft texture.

I made another one in a floral cotton lawn from Blackbirds Fabrics and it ended up so cute! It was also made from leftover fabric from making a gathered skirt so I ended up with an unintentional matching set.

Linen & Linen Blends

The Laurence Top is perfect in linen! I’ve only made one in 100% linen and a few others in a linen blend. I reach for this orangey red Laurence Top all the time and just love how it feels against my skin. It was also cut from leftover yardage and I had to add a seam to the back to make it work.

One of my first Laurence Tops was made in a natural white linen cotton blend that feels heavier than most of my other versions. While I don’t reach for white that often, it’s nice to have a white tank to go with everything. I think I want to go back and shorten this one with a wide hem to give it some more structure.

I love the fabric on these next two Laurence Tops and I reach for them quite a bit! This was a new-to-me fabric blend of linen, ramie, and cotton from The Linen Lab. It mostly feels like linen, but with more structure from the cotton and a slightly rougher texture than softens up with wear. It’s a midweight fabric that I mainly use for pants but, again, I ended up with a bit leftover so I whipped up a couple of Laurence Tops. 🙂

If you want to try this fabric from The Linen Lab, you can use my code ‘bethanylynne_makes’ for 10% off your order.

The shade of green is probably my favorite and I intentionally bought extra fabric so that I would be sure to have enough for a Laurence Top. For both of these, I sewed the wide hem and I love the shape that it gives.

Modifications

The only thing I change to the fit of the pattern is the length and I just do a smaller hem than written. I don’t change the pattern piece at all, I simply fold it up however much I want. *To keep the wide hem but add length to the top, you would lengthen the desired amount at the lengthen/shorten line on the pattern piece. I shortened almost all of my early Laurence Tops like this, but more recently I’ve been sewing the wider hem as written. This is a more cropped length, but I love how it accentuates the a-line shape and I think it looks so cute with high waisted skirts and pants.

A hack I do pretty often is to make the back neckline a v-neck like the front. All I do is overlay the front pattern piece over the back pattern piece and trace the v-neck shape.

Final Thoughts

My Laurence Tops are on heavy rotation in the summer and usually paired with my Peppermint Spring Shorts. When it starts to get cooler I love to throw a cardigan sweater or jacket on top. It’s definitely a staple in my wardrobe! I also get pretty nostalgic about the Laurence Top because it’s the pattern that really got me started sewing my own clothes. 🙂

I hope that sharing my Laurence Top versions has helped inspire you to make your own or given you some ideas to hack the pattern. Thanks for reading, and happy sewing!