FO: Sewing Slump Plantain

I put out a video about this shirt, but it's been so long since I did a usual blog post that I thought I would post this as well :) 

I find when I'm having a hard time sewing things, I need to grab a simple project that I've made before so I can forget about fitting issues and just sew. The Plantain Top is the perfect pattern for this purpose. I've made this shirt many times over the years, and it's perfect if you're not feeling super confident about your tummy.

I used a 1 yard cut of Art Gallery jersey called Love Story Flower Stamp Adore that I grabbed at The Sewng Studio this past July for a steal. I love the color and this fabric is wnoderfully soft. Very comfortable.

I did raise the neckline of this pattern years ago by combining the Plantain with the Renfrew neckline - easy peasy. Now it's a comfortable height so I don't have to worry about showing more than I want to.

All in all, this was the perfect project to get me out of my sewing slump :) If you haven't seen the full making process, head over here to see it on You Tube :)

Summary:

Fabric: 1 yard of Art Gallery Love Story Flower Stamp Adore Jersey - $7.94

Pattern: Deer & Doe Plantain Tee - Free

Notions: Knit Stay Tape - $0.25, thread - $0.50

Time: 3 hours

Total Cost: $ 8.69

FO: Sparkle Peony Agnes Top

Sometimes in any hobby, you just need a simple palette cleanser. It's not that I've been working on anything super hard lately - it's just that I haven't been able to work on much of anything at all. So when I finally had a few evenings in a row to sew, I decided to go for a sure fire win :)

This started with me wanting to use this fabric. This is a lovely Art Gallery jersey called Sprinkled Peonies Sparkle that I picked up at The Sewing Studio this past July. This fabric is so soft and I just love the color palette, plus the stamens are actually a metallic rose gold - very cool. I knew I wanted to use this fabric, but I didn't know which top to make. I bought what was left on the bolt, so I only had 1.25 yards to work with. In the end I decided to go with my current puffed sleeve obsession.

Yes, this is another Agnes Top because I just love those puffed sleeves. Technically this pattern takes more fabric in my size, but with some careful pattern Tetris I squeezed all the pieces in and the only change is that the sleeves were made about 1/2" shorter (but really, who is going to notice that?). So now all I have are odd shaped scraps that are too small for any adult anything. That's pretty good in my book :) Since I only had a small cut, I didn't have much choice with pattern placement, but happily this fabric didn't give me any awkward flower boobs.

This fabric performed beautifully in the sleeves of this pattern, which is something I notice and appreciate after my initial let down when using a cheapy rayon jersey.

And I did my usual forward shoulder adjustment on this version, which got everything sitting where it should be. Looks good from the back too.

My only niggle with this version is something I should've known better. I cut the neckband the length that the pattern calls for, which would normally be fine When I was pinning it into the neckline, I remember thinking, "wow, I'm not having to stretch this neckband much at all," but it was more of a passing thought and I just kept going. I know better! I should have stopped right there and shortened that band before I sewed it on. Sadly, I did not do this. I was so focused on getting a finished item in the little time I had available that I motored through. Now I have a tragically loose neckband. This is actually the only neckband I've ever had do this - it actually tips forward away from my body when it's worn. Ugh. You can't see it much in these photos because the shirt hadn't been worn yet, so the fabric was nice and taught still, but believe me it's a problem. I thought I would just leave it, but after wearing this a few times I find it is actually embarrassing that it pulls away. I ran out of my light pink thread I used for top stitching, but I have now purchased more and I will be undoing the entire band and making it shorter. Learn, Megan, learn! Ugh.

So once I fix my neckband, I will be totally happy with this little number :) In spite of the issue, I have already worn this about once a week, so I know it will be a fun item this fall. Yay for easy wins!

Summary:
Fabric: 1.25 yards Sprinkled Peonies Sparkle Knit cotton jersey by Art Gallery Fabrics - $15.99
Pattern: Agnes Top by Tilly and the Buttons
Notions: knit stay tape - $0.25, thread - $1.00, elastic - free
Time: 3 hours
Total Cost: $ 17.24

FO: Artsy Flowers Sorrel

I'm taking a tiny break from posting about Christmas gifts - mainly because I've been itching to show off my final make of 2015 :) I grabbed 1 yard of an Art Gallery brand knit in a retail therapy style splurge at the beginning of December in a big sale on Fabric.com. I've read nothing but great things about this fabric line since it's release and I've always wanted to see what the fuss was about and if it was worth the cost. This seemed like a great opportunity to find out. I refused to let myself make this shirt until I had finished all of my Christmas gifts, which just made me dream of making it all month long as I tediously made things for other people, lol. Not that I don't love my family and all that. I just love making myself clothes. You can bet your butt though that I started making this as soon as Christmas was over - I cut and sewed this on the 26th and 27th, lol. 

I went with my beloved Sorrel Top pattern by Seamster Patterns because I wanted a guaranteed win for my special fabric, plus it only 1 yard of the main fabric thanks to the contrasting cuffs and collars. I love a cute project that is conservative on fabric.

I made this shirt exactly the same as my last version and the only change to the pattern was to lengthen the hem and use a twin needle to finish instead of a hem band. Knits are a funny thing. Even though this was made with all the same seam allowances and everything as the other, this one is a smidge tighter. It seems that every time I think I've got knits figured out, I have something like this happen. Is it the recovery that affects this? Anyone know? I just wasn't expecting it from a thin jersey. It's certainly not too tight by any means, just something I noticed.  

And mannequin shots. I paired my fancy floral knit with some Robert Kaufman Laguna Jersey in White (also from the same sale). The laguna comes out as a slightly warmer white just so you know. I read others mention the same thing in the comments on the website, but it is not stark white - the oddest thing is that their printed jersey that has a white base DOES have stark white, not this warmer white. It wasn't an issue for this project since the flowers look nice with the warmer white, but I figured I'd mention it for anyone else who may go for this fabric and be disappointed.

Ah, that collar stitching though :) I did my usual stitching in the ditch around the collar to secure the facing and I am always thrilled with how the stitching just disappears when you go slow. It's so clean!

And again - the curved cuffs. Aren't the just so cute?! I seriously love everything about this pattern, and I still haven't even tried the symmetrical collar yet, lol.

So there you have it - another favorite shirt that feels oh-so-me and my first time working with more expensive fabric. Isn't it funny how our perceptions of cost in sewing are all so different? I see others buy yards and yards of this brand to make dresses and whatnot without batting an eye, and here I'm worried about "splurging" on 1 yard when it was on sale, lol. That's a strict budget for you. It's nice to treat yourself occasionally though, especially when it's on a project that you know will fit great and you will love to death. Plus this goes so well with my brown Melissa skirt! Woo hoo! I triumphantly wore this outfit to the big sale at The Sewing Studio on New Year's Day. Extra points for shopping for fabric in a completely self made outfit, right?!

Summary:
Fabric: 1 yard of Curiosities Splendiferous Warm Knit by Art Gallery Fabrics - $13.03, 1/4 yard Kaufman Laguna Jersey in White - $1.50
Pattern: Sorrel Top by Seamster Patterns
Notions: Pellon Knit Fusible Interfacing - $1.00, thread - stash
Hours: 5 total
Total Cost: $15.53