sewing lately...





I am not feeling very creative at the moment, I have nothing on my needles and nothing really that I am desperate to make. I started an appliqué quilt at the beginning of lockdown but I have since realised that appliqué is not my thing. I started knitting a pair of socks with dark blue sock yarn but I find it too dark to knit with. I am usually brimming with ideas and I am full of enthusiasm to make things and it is really rare that I don't spend at least half an hour on one project or the other. I hope my creative mojo is soon returning. 

I made a few t-shirt earlier in spring because t-shirts don't take much time to make and they are useful, too. I don't know if you remember, last year I made the Itch to Stitch Isidro top, which didn't turn out so well. I really liked the gathered neckline but I didn't like the gaping armholes and the butterfly sleeves. I also didn't fancy re-drafting the pattern to change what seems a design flaw in larger sizes (totally unscientific, based on various images I have seen online). It is just not something I like to do, not for a t-shirt anyway. By sheer coincidence I stumbled over a new to me pattern company, New Horizons. The t-shirt that caught my eye was the Dublin Dolman t-shirt. One of the many versions had a gathered front with a scoop neckline, which I really liked. It is a size inclusive pattern, starting with a US 00 and going up to a US 26. I like the grown-on sleeves, too. There are many variations, which makes this pattern quite good value for money. Best still, it prints in layers so there are not a dozen different lines to confuse the distracted sewist. I had to get some knit interfacing for the neckband before I could get started. I didn't even know this existed but it made a huge difference. It was an easy make and the interfaced neckband made it really easy to attach the gathered front piece. I tested the pattern on a piece of pale yellow fabric that had been languishing in my fabric box for years. The one thing that is not great is that the curved front neckband takes up some awkward space on the cutting layout. I had to add a seam to the inner neckband because I didn't have much fabric but it doesn't show on the right side of the t-shirt so all good. I really liked it and fell back in love with the happy yellow. Then I cut into my beautiful orange TENCEL™ Modal knit fabric. This is a sustainable fabric made from beech pulp and it is as soft as it is described. I bought it at Guthrie & Ghani for £12.5/metre, which is quite expensive but I am worth it. I had ordered 1.2 metres but there were only two 1 metre pieces left and they sent me both for the price of 1.2 metres. Very generous so thank you. I only used 1 metre for the t-shirt and I am saving the other piece for next year. It was a struggle and it took a while to get the pattern pieces arranged so that I didn't have to cut into the second piece of fabric.  I really enjoyed sewing this the Dublin Dolman, the instructions are clear, it is quick to make and has so many other options that I won't run out to new versions to try. I really like both my Dublin Dolmans. The orange t-shirt has a slightly deeper scoop neck than the yellow one because the fabric is a bit heavier but I am ok with that. There is always camisoles, which I like to wear year round anyway. 

I also made a navy and white striped t-shirt using my all time favourite raglan t-shirt pattern, the Blank Slate Rivage pattern. I've had the fabric for two years at least but with one striped t-shirt in my wardrobe, I didn't think I needed another one. I am not wearing much stripes. But this spring, I parted with the old one as it had some stains that would not come out. It is now used for cleaning. I cut the neckband for my new striped shirt in the other direction, it adds interest to the t-shirt I think. 

Finally I made the Blank Slate Blanc t-shirt, which is a free pattern when you sign up for the newsletter. It is also a Dolman t-shirt but much simpler than the Dublin Dolman. The neckline is finished with bias binding but I couldn't figure out if this should be knit fabric or normal fabric. I made a normal neckband instead but I cut it too wide and stretched it a bit when sewing so not a complete success. I since noticed that there is a neckband fabric pattern piece, which I'll use next time. I used grey fabric that I found in my knit fabric box. I have no idea where it came from or when I bought it, or even why. The t-shirt is a bit boring and I didn't photograph it. 

I just finished a sewing the Pembroke Dress by Casmherette but I don't think I like it much. It is essentially just a long t-shirt with waist ties. The neckline troubled me, it was sewn in a weird way and needed topstitching at the very edge. Not an easy task with knit fabric and I failed miserably. I cut it off and made a normal neckband, with turns out not to look so good. I am not sure how much wear this will get.. but maybe if I fix the neckline, it will be ok. 

With lock-down hair and lockdown waist muffins, I didn't fancy modelling all my t-shirts. I hear that we can make hair dresser appointments from July 15. Call me shallow but I am really quite keen to have a bit of a tidy.

Anyway, after making all those t-shirts, I think I can feel a new quilt in my bones. It is going to be a riot of colours but I have not decided on a pattern yet. Maybe another log cabin?

Scotland is doing well with suppressing the dreadful virus and we are soon to have another review of lockdown measures. I am quite looking forward to that (haircut!) but at the same time, I am watching what happens elsewhere in the world and I know it is not over yet, not by a long shot. 

Thanks for visiting xx

Comments

  1. Not selfish at all re the haircut! Glad to read that your quilting mojo has returned and you have reminded me to crack on finish that almost finished top begun several weeks ago :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looking forward to seeing your new quilt plans and well done on the t shirt. I have two patterns waiting to be cut out and made but nothing has happened yet. Sock knitting continues, my go to favourite at the moment. Hope you get a hair appointment soon. A little bit of normality. My fringe is driving me mad despite the fact I’ve hacked it several times:(. Have a good week. B x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your t-shirts are all lovely and summery. I especially like the striped one. I love a stripe. X

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those tshirts look great - my favorite is the orange. I stink at sewing - nothing ever turns out looking like I thought it would! I am hand quilting now (remaking an old quilt for my daughter that I made for her when she was little). I am finding it quite enjoyable and am so pleased with my results. I think it will be a Christmas present (I work SLOWLY!) but I plan on adding some embroidery and many some sweet phrases that we always share to personalize it even more. Nice project for binge-watching Netflix! You are so talented with all of your creative crafts!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am desperate for a tidy up too so I am living in hope there will be news of more restrictions been lifted soon. I am fed up of sewing and crochet for the time being so have started on some paper crafting for awhile. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am always impressed with your ability to make your own clothes. I like the striped one. I've been keeping myself occupied with a shawl on my hook and am now taking a detour and working on a little cross-stitch pin cushion designed by Helen Philipps. It helps keep my mind off this terrible virus and how many people are dying from it. Scares me. Stay safe. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nicely done my friend, and the orange Tencel is wonderful, hurray for fabrics that are kind to the planet. I have been in a bit of a creative slump as well. I want to make something, but I just can't settle on what that might be. I have some nice yarn, but I am not sure about the colour any more. I obviously was when I bought it, but now I have moved on. It is a very pale duck egg blue. Not sure what I was thinking. CJ xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think you look wonderful in your new creations. I have been in a bit of a muddle creating, seems like there is no time and when I have time I seem to disorganized to really sit and knit or crochet. As we all know the US, Florida in particular is a disaster, almost 10,000 new cases yesterday alone, and those are just the ones getting tested. Stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I admire your stitching and your writing style, Christina! I appreciate how you and Jo share the process of your creative making. I hope you are able to get the haircut you are looking forward to getting! I just trimmed my ponytail a few days ago :-) xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gorgeous T shirts. If that's you with your creative mojo lacking, you must really go some when it's present! Interesting to hear about the Tencel fabric - I am currently knitting my daughter a pair of socks in Tencel yarn. I have to admit that I'm not enjoying it - too slippy and not plump enough. I know what you mean about haircuts - I have one booked for July 16th and I can't wait! :O) xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG!!!! You MADE those t-shirts? They look perfect!! As you may guess, my sewing skills are quite lacking...reserved only for things that either don't get worn, or at least don't get worn where anyone else can see them (I HAVE made some jammie pants)....even my new covid masks are an embarrassment to wear in public, but I've made an exception to my never-to-be-seen-in-public-in-a-home-sewn-object rule. Hope your mojo returns soon...can't wait to see what magic will happen.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your t-shirts are really nice. My favorite is the yellow one. A very cheerful color.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I like the gathered neckline.
    Our salons opened a week ago.. but I am giving them a month to work out there kinks and safety measures before venturing into one..
    Hope you get your creative mojo back soon.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely work! Those are fabulous t-shirts. I am looking forward to getting my hair trimmed, too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your t-shirts, I have not been brave enough to try sewing with knitted fabric yet, the stretch terrifies me. I should really get over it as my daughter really wants some new leggings and is now in teenager sizes whilst not being one yet and we have yet to find anything she likes. It seems we both posted about sewing projects on the same day!

    I need a haircut too, I had not had one for months before lockdown as I never seemed to get round to making an appointment! Ooops!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your t-shirts are so pretty! The yellow looks really nice on you. I have a haircut scheduled toward the end of July and I can barely wait.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh gosh - a t-shirt factory line! Great job! I do love your comment "I'm worth it".....yes you surely are! I'm going to borrow that one and use it as my desktop pic. Its so easy to let ourselves come last in the family scheme of things that we do need reminding! Enjoy your lovely new tops xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love those T shirts! You did a great job. Project on the needles here but it isn't growing. i bought a kit that was categorised as 'Easy' but it involves a lot of counting and I just can't be arsed.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I enjoyed this mini fashion show, Christina, and how wonderful it is to be able to make your own tops. Unfortunately, I have none of that creativity or talent so do admire yours. Hope that you will be able to get a haircut because I know how ecited I was when we were finally able to with restrictions of course, but still a haircut...yeah!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love it, they look an easy pattern, but I guess they're not that easy tom get a good fit.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great tops! We have hair cuts booked over the next two weeks but the hairdressers are only working with one person in the room and the two hairdressers are sharing the salon in different days. I am a bit lost creative wise at the moment. I ave two more weeks of full time teaching and then I can get and have a bit of a sew. I am trying to cut out a quilt too! Jo xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. These look really great, I especially like the stripes.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I admire you sewing t shirts as knit fabric scares me! I have finally nabbed a hair appointment for tomorrow and I cannot wait, so of course I don’t think you shallow at all!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

Labels

Show more