This scary picture is brought to you complements of a tripod, a whining child, and my white arms. It's also brought to you by the letter "N" (as in the NNNNOOOO I screamed as I was finishing the seams and ended up cutting a huge V into the shirt itself), and mostly importantly Built By Wendy/Simplicity pattern number 4111.
First off, it's the same shirt in the same size that Amy made in corduroy back here. Looks good right? At that time she talked about how it would make a great sleeveless top, due to it's nice tight arm holes. I actually cut out sleeves to put on this and then decided to go without. Good armholes, People. Mine is sort of smock-like which I really dig.
I opted to leave out the elastic under the bust (I did sew in the casing though, as it was quick and easy and a nice way to lay the seam flat) as there was no way that the seam was going under anything like my chest. It is the regular pattern length. I used the size 12 measurements, which for this style worked quite well. Julie pointed out that the measurements in the Sew U book are different than the professional pattern standards, since they operate in a "xs, sm, med, lrg" format (she made the same shirt in the dec 5th post). I usually buy tops in the size 10-12 range, and I usually sew a 14, taking it in a bit at the sides. My next shirt project is coming out of the book, so I'll let you know how they compare. I think the book's measurements are a bit more generous.
It's sewn with a fabric that almost made it into this week's scrap pile-- a 70's era cotton blend (rayon probably?). It was a bit finicky but well worth a few machine tension issues to achieve the sort of drape I was going for. I don't think I would use quilter's cotton for this pattern. A nice shirting, lightweight corduroy, some sort of cotton voile... Especially with the tank style shirt. In order to leave the sleeves off I cut out a sleeve facing that mirrored the arm hole pattern pieces. A little interfacing (you case the neck the same way so you'll get the practice) and you've got a nice little arm. Skinny bias tape would look good too.
All that adds to the overall weight of the shirt, though, which is why I'm thinking the lightweight drape stuff is a good idea. I cut the pattern out with Sam playing around me on the kitchen floor yesterday afternoon. It sewed up pretty quickly last night (I am the sort of person who needs to sew WHILE I read directions so I don't confuse myself. Sometimes I think I'll have it all figured out ahead of time, but those times usually end badly).
The 'V' was cut an hour ago as I contemplated the glories of a serger, while trimming up my seams. Nice. I put a little steam a steam and a patch (it's under the back of the arm hole) under it, and have resigned myself to putting it through the gentle cycle. But really, that was all me and had nothing to do with the pattern at all. Let's consider this a first go... I'd like to redraft the front to make it fit properly under the chest. For now, I need to get a freaking shirt on under this thing because I'm freezing.
