I’ve made a few new tops…
Top un; a cosy little pom-pommy top, using pattern 111 from Burdastyle magazine 04-2014 in a bobbly stretch fabric the colour of whipped cream from Fabulous Fabrics. The design has quite an interesting and unusual shape already and I further toyed with the proportions, shortening by about 15cm at the lower hem and lengthening the sleeves by 3cm. This was only like, the easiest thing in the world to run up and I think it’s rather cute too! The oversized floppy neckline manages to be all of comfortable and even a little dramatically designer-y too.
The design, while a very easy project, still fits happily into the interesting category for those of us who like that sort of thing… The body is a one piece tube with one piecemeal seam down the right side. The sleeves are have different shaped sleeve caps from each other and their positioning and individual insertion methods creates a slightly skewiff shape to the top when worn. Cool! Completed, it reminds me a little of my Pattern Magic twisted top, which is illogical since this one is both boxy and has the oversized cowl and is cut on-grain, and… well, technically speaking is different in just about every respect, really. OK, forget I ever compared the two.
And to pre-empt an inevitable concern; yes, the sleeves do feel different to each other but it is not uncomfortable.
Tops deux and trois are the Nettie pattern, by Closet Case Files, my now go-to tshirt pattern. I upsized to an 18 from my usual 12, because a slightly more relaxed fit is desirable in a summertime thing. The fabric is a fine, off-white jersey knit from Fabulous Fabrics.
One has short sleeves and a fun little pocket. The pocket looks like a cute design decision but is actually covering a hole that I had accidentally snipped right in the middle of the fabric oooops!! Thoughtless, overconfident me, snipping away wildly and with carefree abandon! It was in a REALLY awkward, unavoidable spot, so I sewed the hole shut and reinforced it underneath with a bit of scrap, but it still looked way too obvious and ugly. Rats. So when cutting out I cunningly managed to finagle it in breast pocket position, plonked the pocket on top, and then had to cut short sleeves for the tee. Hmmf, but well, at least I managed to get the two tees out of my fabric piece, in spite of the snip. No one will ever know!
The other is completely unremarkable, apart from that all the seams and hems sit on the outside and are simply overlocked with navy blue thread. Why did I do this? *shrug* dunno, something different from my gazillion other white tees.
Oh, this old thing, tshirt quatre. I’m taking the opportunity to finally blog this one I made about two years ago. It’s annoying that I never blogged it, because when I’m wearing it in a daily outfit and linking to my blog posts it’s not there. So here ’tis! It’s beige and boring, and therefore incredibly useful. Made using my own custom fit Tshirt pattern, which apparently I seem to have chucked out at some point. Double rats. Yes, I’ve been doing a lot of careless silly things lately.
So, while stuffing the new creations into my Tshirt drawer last weekend I spontaneously embarked, as you do, upon an epic wardrobe spring clean-out. As in, I emptied every single one of my drawers and took everything out of my wardrobe. And went through methodically trying on, sorting, assessing and sifting out only the things I really truly wanted to keep. Discovering forgotten treasures! New, cool, outfit combinations! Tossing hideous things into big rubbish bags! Purging!!! It took a few hours but man, it was great. Felt SO GOOD.
This house, is clean…
OK. My first, same old conclusion; I have a LOT of clothes. And I love most of them too. I have very few unloved things and those have been weeded out now. A few undecided things are going to be worn on a trial basis and assessed over the next few weeks.
Second conclusion, and slightly surprising, to me at least; I do not need to make nor buy basic Tshirts for, like the rest of my life, probably. Why is this surprising? because after my first and second me-made months four years ago, my biggest conclusion was that I severely lacked basic tops and tees. Well, obedient little me has diligently been making basic tees ever since and has rectified that lack very adequately now. Thank you, me! This is good, because while I don’t mind making Tshirts, lets be real, they are bread-and-butter. Without the butter. Not the most inspiring things. Obviously instantly gratifying projects can be fun and fulfilling in their own way. But my last couple of more in-depth projects have been a hugely more satisfying to me, on every level. So I’m pleased that a full complement of basics means that I can relax about Dutiful Wardrobe-Building, and just happily spend my time and energy on the kind of more complex, involved, longer term projects that are truly enjoyable.
So, yay!!
Now on to something more interesting… 🙂
I also have a top in this same bobbly fabric from Fabulous Fabrics. It is great fabric and your top is so interesting and quite intriguing. I love all your other makes too!
I remember seeing that pattern in Burda and noticed the unusual sleeve and neck look to it. I love what you did with it, so now I will bookmark that pattern for future reference! It is amazing how different something can look when another sews it up beyond seeing it on the Burda model. I really, really like how you made the Tee with the navy blue seams on the outside! I could see gravitating towards that one more in my closet than others. A nice little twist to something common.
I really like the tee with the serging on the outside! Congrats on completing a wardrobe necessity now onto the fun sewing!
Well I don't know if I ever really get tired of seeing well-made basic Ts. It's one of those things I haven't accomplished yet myself, and all of yours look beautiful!
Very interesting bobbly top! I think I need to get my hands on one of these Burda magazines.
Yea for having enough basics! I hope to get there someday soon!
Interesting looks great on you! I'm glad your self-obedience 😉 has resulted in all your basics being covered. I have yet to even tackle T-shirts, although that is the most practical thing I could be sewing.
I like verso patterns. I have one I fall on for tunics, t-shirts and tops. Great makes. Jo x
The first shirt's fabric is so interesting! perfect to pair with an interesting pattern
oh I know about that errant snip, or shall I say giant slice. Recently making a very cute pair of shorts for my sis which had an unfortunate incident with the serger. So now she has a cargo pocket on the side whether she wants it or not.
I saw that twisty top pattern in Burda and was so intrigued so glad to see it. I might have to try it, looks great.
Love your Pom Pom top!! Yay for purging!! It feels so good. Glad to hear that you don't have to make any basics for awhile…leaving you more time for the unique and creative stuff you are soooo good at and that I love to see! 🙂
I am still at the wardrobe building stage. Good to know it ends sometime 🙂 All your tops looks super useful, I love the bobbly one, what a unique fabric! I wasn't sure about the pattern in Burda but the way you've cut it looks great.
What an interesting top with the sleeves askew like that! Who would have thought something like that could make such a cute top? Yours is great. And congratulations on cleaning and organizing your clothes!
Lovely!
The bobbly shirt is delightful – the dinglies and the wonky sleeves are the best thing.
Congratulations on your clothing overhaul. Whew! Well done.
Can't wait to see your "more interesting" projects.
Oh, your bobbly top is just delightful! What a fabulous fabric – I am envious! It looks fabulous on you. You're reminded me that I need to get moving and sew myself some t-shirts, too! Not exciting but definitely useful.
I'm in love with the pompom one !!!
Love the pompoms!
How interesting the Burda top is – I confess I thought one would feel a bit like one has spinal scoliosis wearing it, but it looks marvellous (of course!) on you. If you were to do it again would you choose one sleeve cap over the other or make it asymmetrical again?
I think I would make it both ways; it would be nice with sleeves the same as each other too, but I always like clothes with a bit of a twist to them so I wouldn't rule out making it like this again either 🙂
the bobbly top looks so interesting made up! what a cool fabric too. i think the different sleeves would drive me bonkers, but you just can't tell how different they are in the photos. crazy!
Purging feels so good. In fact you may have inspired me to do that today with my wardrobe… Bringing in the winter clothes – yay! Well done on completing the required amount of basic (plus contingency ☺). Note you can see cake! Very Marie Antoinette. Have fun. Rachel ☺
*now you can have cake…. Silly fingers/phone combo!
I love that asymmetrical top! I didn't love it in the magazine, but after seeing yours, I'm reconsidering!
Well I wouldn't have worked out from that technical drawing that the sleeves were different. It just looks like whoever drew it was bored and trying to jazz their job up.
I like the finished outfit though, it Works.
I have come to a similar conclusion as you. I'd rather sew icing. Or whatever. The fun stuff. Wardrobe basics, not so much. So I went to the op-shop to stock up on them and am now having fun learning how to draft my own sewing patterns!
I need some of that bobbly fabric! Love it!
This pom-pommy top is perfect!!
I just made this very same top from the Burda magazine! I too really like it. I do like your bubbly fabric.
Funny how plain things are so much more useful. I think I'd prefer more interesting tops, but actually I like most all my clothes to be understated and then to add one more interesting thing – a bag, a pin or a scarf. I want people to see me, not my clothes, though obviously I want to be clothed!
Love, love, love that pom-pom fabric!
You never cease to amaze me with your original ideas reflected in your lovely clothes, Well done!
I once bought some "bobbly" fabric, the shop keeper had named it "rain drops".
As always, your neat-looking stitches leave me green with envy 🙂
Well done!
I have this Burda pattern and it looks fantastic on but I doubt my brain could handle the lack of symmetry so I think I will leave it alone. I love the fabric you have chosen. The bobbles are really cute.
Bummer about the tee pattern. At least Nettie managed to come to the rescue.