wardrobe essentials 2021 - long sleeved t-shirts and a boxy jumper

before

after

I mentioned my recent garment sewing in my March ...ing post. I thought I'd share a couple of photos here and explain what patterns and fabrics I have used. 

With the days getting a bit warmer and woolly jumpers over t-shirts feeling a bit warm, I remembered that I don't have any tops that are practical for the spring. I don't really know why, I guess I am a layering kind of person and I am often cold and wear the same clothes all year round. 

I already confessed to watching Lauren Guthrie's Friday night live Instagram Q&A and fabric round-ups... In one of those sessions, she was wearing a most gorgeous top, the Handmade by Jennifer Lauren Gable Top, a 1950s inspired slashed neckline top made with a wide striped pink and ginger loop back jersey. I loved that top, and the fabric and in a moment of madness, I ordered the pdf pattern and the fabric. For good measure, I also ordered a different colour of the same fabric, a teal and orange version. 

I didn't want to cut straight into the new fabric for a new to me pattern and I decided to make a practice version of the Gable top from a previous spontaneous fabric purchase, never used. In my rush to get started, I didn't think this through, the practice fabric was slinky and soft with a lot of drape, not ideal for a slashed neck t-shirt. I think it is a viscose jersey. The front neckline was not sitting flat on my chest, really annoying. I shoved the offending item into a corner and decided to make a tried and trusted pattern instead, a long sleeved Cashmerette Concord t-shirt. This is a fab pattern, it comes in three cup sizes (C/D, E/F & G/H), with three necklines, three sleeve lengths and two sleeve finishes. I made a long sleeved scooped neck t-shirt. Since I last made this top a couple of years ago, my body shape has changed a bit and I needed a different size. I find it difficult to decide on a size/cup size but there is now a size calculator on the Cashmerette website, which tells you what to use based on a few measurements, and if you should grade between sizes. I printed out the new size, spent a happy 30 minutes taping the pages together into a pattern  and once more dug into my spontaneously purchased but never used fabric box. I found a ribbed soft daffodil yellow jersey fabric that I had all forgotten about. I loved the finished top and immediately made another one with the new pink and ginger stripe fabric. I love this one even more. 

I don't like to admit defeat and decided to fix the neckline of my botched Gable top. It took forever and an hour to unpick the front neckline stitching and then to stitch it back down slightly lower. It is ok but not great, particularly if I move. I wonder if I should have used interfacing on the neckline. I don't have the mental space to make pattern adjustments just now so this one will go back in my old wicker suitcase filled with patterns. 

That done, I wanted to make a jumper, with a proper sweat-shirting fabric, the kind that is soft and fleecy on the inside. Having never made a sweatshirt and in fact not owning one, I spent some time procrastinating over a pattern. I wanted something loose fitting with cuffing and a hem band. I eventually bought the Jarrah Curve pattern from Megan Nielsen. This pattern designer has a curvy range, and I have made a dress previously from this range, which fits well (I have yet to show you this). I used a sweat-shirting fabric with the catchy name Cosy Colours. This range has tiny flecks of colour on a plain background. I chose dark grey. I also splashed out on cuffing for that sweat-shirt look. The Jarrah pattern needs surprisingly little fabric for a long sleeved top, 1.2 metres. I lengthened the bodice a little and decided I wanted the hem band to be slouchy and the sleeves a smidgen too long. I am rather pleased with my first ever jumper, it is comfortable, soft and cosy but not as warm as my knitted jumpers. It is maybe not the most flattering garment I own but I like it. 

I spent all my February and March pocket money on fabric and patterns.With no pocket money left to spend for another two weeks, I'll probably channel my creative energy into Annie's quilt in progress. I am making many (many) half square triangles for this. Soon this quilt will replace the ones you can see on the design wall behind me. I haven't finished these because they make quite a good Zoom background. 

So that's that. In other news, Alistair's school shoes are cleaned and ready for his first half day at school tomorrow. Two half days for each of the boys (but not the same days), four half days for Annie. She is getting used to her twice weekly brain tickling Covid test. 

Thanks for visiting. Have a lovely week.