Simplicity 3003! Two Views!

Hello everyone! Welcome or welcome back to the blog and thank you for stopping by! In today’s post, I am going to be sharing a couple of tops that I made by using Simplicity 3003!
And as always, if you prefer to watch the full dedicated video review, you can watch it by clicking here.

Simplicity 3003, was LOVE at first Sight for me!  I have ALWAYS been a fan of bell sleeves, and I had to get this pattern to make sure I had it for garment making for this fall and winter. The bell sleeves in this pattern comes in two different lengths, it has a turtleneck, and it also allows for making a basic top.  This a great pattern that everyone could benefit from! 
THE TRUTH about this pattern is……. this pattern LOOKS like a pullover top, but it is not. This pattern calls for interfacing AND a zipper! If you want to know all the details behind this finding and how I didn’t realize it at first, you’re going to have to watch my video, and you can do that by clicking here!
Below you will find photos and below the photos, you will find a detailed typed pattern review! I made view C (stripped) and view B (leopard). Have a happy day!

*Pattern Review 

Pattern Number: Simplicity 3003. You can find it here.
Pattern Description: Easy to sew knit tops in two lengths, and have sleeve and neckline variations, and an invisible back zipper closure. View B has a contrast sleeve ruffle.
Views: This pattern has three views
View I Made:  The view that I made was view B, however I did not contrast my bell sleeve.
FABRIC Recommendations:  Jersey, ribbed knit, stretch velvet, and sweater knits.
Sewing Skill Level: The skill level is noted as easy, and it is for those who decide to make it the way I made the leopard print (watch the video for details), and for those who make the pattern as is, it would be easy for an advanced beginner.  because the pattern requires an invisible zipper.
Notions Needed: Thread, interfacing and an invisible zipper of 7-9 inches.
Pattern Sizing: The pattern sizing is from size 6-24
Size that I Cut: I made a size 20.
Pattern Pieces: Depending on the view that you decide to make, there are 4-5 pattern pieces.  I made, view C, so I only used four pattern pieces for that. Then I made view B, and I used five pattern pieces for that.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope? Yes.
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes
What did you particularly like about the pattern?  I like the way it looks and the overall designs. I like the view options and the length of the top!  This top is very long in my opinion! Perfect for the fall and winter months.
What did you particularly dislike about the pattern? I don’t like that this is not designed to be a pull over top! I don’t like that it needs a zipper.
Alterations or changes: Yes, for the second view, which is the leopard print, I decided to not use the zipper.
Any modification recommendations: Do the same if you don’t want a zipper, but adjust the neckline and the neck bands.
Did I have a first time experience: No
Fabric Used:  This fabric is that I used for the stripped top is a ribbed knit that I found at Walmart as a bundle.  For the leopard print, I used a double brushed poly knit that I purchased from JoAnn Fabrics last year, but they still  have it in stock and I will link to it below. you can find it here.
Fabric Purchased: Joann Fabrics.
Buttons Used: None
Would you recommend it to others? Yes!
Availability: This pattern just came out with the Fall collection for Simplicity this year in 2024 and it is still available on the simplicity.com website and at JoAnn Fabrics.
Pairings: I paired my stripped top with wide leg mom jeans and my tennis shoes and gold chain.  I paired my second top with my black self drafted skirt made with liverpool knit from Hobby Lobby, my burgundy wide stretch belt from Amazon, my Mary Jane style Steve Madden burgundy shoes, and my fleece tights.