The other day I woke up in a house with no children and a fabulous idea of what I wanted to sew. Unfortunately, I also woke up with a killer cold and, despite searching high and low, I couldn't find the fabric that I was looking for (it remains MIA). In the end, though, the missing fabric ended up being fortuitous because it led me back to this beautiful cotton lawn that my sister brought back from Pakistan a couple years ago. It was a little over two yards of fabric but it was also on the narrow side so there were some definite limitations as to what I could make with it. Also, it had a really beautiful border print so I wanted to make sure that it was incorporated in some way. In the end I decided to go back to the Scout Tee pattern with some minor modifications. I started by lengthening the sleeves to around 3/4 length and I cut the sleeves against the grain to incorporate the border pattern into the sleeve ends. I also lengthened the body considerably (maybe four inches? I'm terrible about keeping track of these things). I attempted to make more of a shirt tail hem on the sides but I didn't do a drastic enough modification so it's barely noticeable.
Most of the seams are French seamed since the fabric is ever so slightly sheer but my sleeves are just serged in. A couple years ago I followed Jen's tutorial on French seaming sleeves, but honestly, I found it to be a major pain in the butt.
And that's it, although I'm debating whether I should have made a size four instead of a size two (like I have in the past). My body has definitely changed over the last couple years and I feel like I'm still figuring out what sizes to sew and what modifications to make. I'd like to thank growing older and having two kids for these fitting issues.
On a slightly more humorous note, I had Ben retake a couple of these pictures because my posture was so bad in them. He told me, "That should be your New Year's resolution. Better posture."
I told him, "It was. Last year."
To which he replied, "How's that working for you?"
Not so good, I guess.
I'm sorry you weren't able to find your fabric, but this fabric is beautiful! I like the longer sleeves with the pretty border pattern, too. I hear you on the posture thing. I've been working on that for a while, too... ;)
ReplyDeleteRe: your posture, I think the only good answer is, "So good I clearly need to try it again." That's a lovely top, though, and I'm glad that you got the opportunity to make it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful fabric choice for this top. I love Indian and Pakistani cottons especially the shearer ones. The patterns are so lovely that a simple pattern makes a stunning garment. As someone who spends too much time hunched over a computer or a sewing machine, I appreciate the reminder to work on my posture. I'll use that as a resolution this year!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a pretty top!! I love the border print on the sleeves. I remember Jen from Grainline made a border print scout tunic with longer sleeves that I looooooved, I must try the Scout one of these days! I feel you on the fitting issues, it's not so much the weight gain as the shifting around of weight on your body (to new and not better locations!) that'll get ya!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty top, I love how you used the fabric! Not being able to find fabric is super annoying though; lately my kids have been using my stash for dress up, so I never know what's going to go missing next. ARG. Glad to see you sewing!!
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