Pink "Core" T-shirt

This is the Core T-shirt Pattern, which is a FREE pattern from Closet Core Patterns.

I used leftover pink single jersey fabric which had little stretch so as I was between sizes I decided to size up, I also added 1cm to the neckband.

I'm really pleased with the outcome and will be using this pattern again.

Here's how the wardrobe is looking

Pink Print Pair

Here's a pair of tees cut from the same fabric.

First of all I cut my favourite drop shoulder top with curved hem.

There was lots of fabric left over, but it was a bit of a funny shape. Using my TNT New Look 6735 I was able though to cut a front with the upper area missing and add the missing section to the back pieces.

The finished tops look remarkably similar despite one having a curved hem and dropped shoulders where the other has the forward shoulder seam, set in sleeves and a straight hem. Probably because I have almost the same print placement on the front.

T-shirt refashion

Some years ago I bought some 3XL men's t-shirts in nice colours hoping to refashion them.

My initial though was to use the Free Core T-shirt pattern as per Tomkat Stitchery's You Tube Video

However once I'd worked out my size, printed it out, stuck it together and cut out the pattern pieces it was apparent that it wasn't going to work. In fact none of my set in sleeve tee shirt patterns would fit.

I then tried my drop shoulder tee pattern, and that didn't fit either, so I drafted a variation with a slightly less dropped sleeve but a wider bat wing style dolman sleeve. I then used this to recut the tee.

I have full upper arms which look better covered so wanted the sleeves to be elbow length. So I unpicked the original sleeve hem and pressed it flat, then added a band (cut from the spare length in the body).

Here it is with the scarf, I'll wear it and see how I like the shape before I cut into the other two oversized tees!

Here's how the whole wardrobe is looking now

I'm really pleased with how this is coming along!

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Wearing the pink tee today and finding the dolman sleeve with cuff isn't that comfortable, so further refashioning may be required!

Beige Knit Top - embellish or leave as is?

 I adapted my self drafted (traced from RTW) dropped shoulder knit top pattern to have a slightly less dropped shoulder and a wider sleeve so that I can use it to recut oversized men's tees to a more flattering shape.

(All the normal set in sleeve patterns wouldn't fit on due to the smaller armhole clashing).

To check this would work, I then cut out and sewed it up in a beige knit.

I tried it on at the fit is fine (with the expected drag lines from a dolman sleeve).

Left as it is its a very versatile item for my capsule travel wardrobe - works with everything, can be easily layered, but it is very plain.

At the moment the side seams are only machine tacked together, as I was undecided about some sort of embellishment, which would be easier to do if the front could be laid flat.

Options going through my mind are

0. Leave it as is and wear with the scarf (and other accessories)

1. Self fabric embellishment e.g. lines of gathered fabric 

2. Machine embroidery - the fabric is too thin and would need excessive stabilisation.

3. Hand embroidery e.g. simple design in embroidery floss.

4. Design with fabric paint e.g. stencilled butterfly or other motif done with fabric paint.

5. Beaded embellishment - though needs a firm foundation and may not be very practical for travel.

6. Applique

I'm open to comments!

Previously made items used in the Start With A Scarf SWAP

I'm not sewing everything from scratch in this wardrobe, and have decided to use some previously sewn items, all done within the last 18 months.

Charcoal Mountain View trousers

Grey Green trousers

Denim Utility Gilet

McCall's 6844 cardigan

Charcoal joggers - Monsal Lounge Pants

Khaki trousers

Dark olive stripe trousers: Simplicity 1467 with back crotch alteration and added zipped pocket

Burgundy Pink long line cardigan: The Kinder Cardigan, From the book by Wendy Ward "A Beginner’s Guide To Sewing With Knitted Fabrics"

With these pieces added in my wardrobe now looks like this.

Bird Print Top

I used the same pattern as the last two tops, but lengthened the sleeves and raised the neckline. 

I also cut out a simple tube scarf which I can use to change the look.

Whilst this top doesn't work well with the scarf which inspired the colour palette, it can be worn with any of the plain coloured items in the wardrobe (some previously made, some still to come).

Scarf SWAP dusty pink top

 Continuing with my Scarf based SWAP I've sewn another top. Same pattern different fabric.

This knit is very fine and soft and was a little tricky to sew with rather crumpled yardage. I'll see what its like to wear and wash.

The pink is slightly more greyed than the scarf, but still works I think.

Summer 2023 SWAP: Start with a Scarf

 I decided to start a SWAP with this scarf as the inspiration. It has an olive green background with pink and grey flowers. So I'll use those colours as my palette for the capsule wardrobe.

I plan to make tops, trousers and a cardigan and pull in previously made or purchased pieces as well.

Here's my first piece, a sage green marled knit top. The pattern is my own, traced from a favourite RTW top. It has a dropped shoulder, curved hem, scooped neckline and 3/4 sleeves.

Details of how I made the pattern here.

Summer pyjama set

I decided to use an aqua with pink polka dot remnant from Auntie J's stash, together with some printed jersey fabric I bought from the Monday Market Man in Chesterfield to make some summer PJs. I thought the aqua and pink tones work well together.

The effect of the polka dots is lost from a slight distance.

I used a plain pink jersey for the arm and neck bands

The PJ trousers are New Look 6216 and the top is the Itch to Stitch Lago tank.

The polka dot fabric is cotton lawn, the print jersey is viscose with a touch of elastane.

Another jacket

Here's another jacket for my friend C. It is from Simplicity 9473 again but this time I made the lining front panel from self fabric so the front neckline can flip open like lapels. The rest of the lining is a beautiful liquid satin which was really tricky to sew, but feels luxurious.

She can wear these jackets to work with her RTW dresses.

Another UFO - striped blouse

I can't remember when I cut this UFO out but it was pre colour analysis with Imogen Lamport as the red is leaning slightly towards orange/brown so I wouldn't pick it now - so pre August 2017.

Initially I had the pieces separate from the instructions, but I was able to find them to follow to sew up the blouse.

Finished blouse

How I found it, cut out but without instructions

The pattern - its the view in the centre

Fabric: stretch woven polyester in a brick red with cream stripes.

Pattern: New Look 6844

Oldest UFO finished - Sophisticated Safari Jacket

That's UFO as in Un Finished Object.

So the story goes something like this. 

Back in 2008 (that's 15 years ago!) I had the idea for a 'Sophisticated Safari' type collection and cut out a jacket from OOP Simplicity 4231.

Here's my May 2008 blog post about my ideas

Sew Ruthie Style: Sophisticated Safari (ruthieksews1.blogspot.com)

By June 2008 I had sewed up the other pieces in the collection and posted about those, but the jacket was too hard and was packed away in a clear zip lock bag.

Sew Ruthie Style: Sophisticated Safari so far (ruthieksews1.blogspot.com)

I then went through a lot of change in my life (moving 3 times in 2 years and getting divorced. 

The next time I dug out the jacket was in October 2016

Sew Ruthie Style: Simplicity 4231 Green Tropical Wool Safari Jacket (ruthieksews1.blogspot.com)

I worked on it a bit and posted about it again in November 2016

Sew Ruthie Style: Simplicity 4231 Green Tropical Wool Safari Jacket (ruthieksews1.blogspot.com)

I next came back to the project in Jan 2021 as part of the UFO sew along on TSP

"I have a UFO started quite a few years ago now. It is an olive green wool jacket in a sort of Safari style, with lots of pockets and a belt. I decided I needed to line it, which meant working out what to do to draft the lining which at the time seemed too hard. I could probably manage to do it now. However its a size too small so not entirely sure what I'd do with it once finished. Hmm maybe a bit of try on would be a good idea, I have got some scraps left so could add panels....."

Then in August 2022 I wrote on my TSP diary thread

"I've fished Doris (the Dressmakers Dummy) out of the corner, and found she's still wearing the half made jacket which is my oldest UFO.So I think I might sew a few seams on the UFO jacket (it uses the same thread colour as the trenchcoat) to get it to a point where it could sit on a jacket hanger and free Doris up for the trenchcoat as I assemble that. I am seriously out of love with the jacket but hey ho."

Yesterday I put the sleeves in the jacket and tried to attach the facing bits that were not yet sewn. Something isn't quite right as I have a tiny gap where the collar and revere come together. This is the problem with taking many years to work on a garment in bits, you've forgotten what you did last time. Anyway it was enough together that I could pop it on a hanger and free up Doris for the trenchcoat.

And on another thread at the end of August

I should finish the pesky UFO jacket of doom as the thread from my last project matches it (I am wondering about undoing parts of it and using a slightly different construction method, even though I hate unpicking).

And then it'd make sense to sew something which co-ordinates with it, like some trousers. I have some striped stretch woven fabric in darkish hues.

Then maybe a soft jersey poloneck (turtleneck) to go under the jacket, something in a cheerful colour to cheer up all that darkness.

After all this the jacket went away again still unfinished. In all those attempts though I had drafted a lining, sewn and then unpicked the collar, added a panel to make the sleeve wider and inserted the sleeves.

Finally a few days ago I pulled the pieces out of the bag, popped them on the dummy and had a think about finishing the jacket.

Having recently finished C's jacket, I was in a fairly jacket like mode, so decided to use my common sense (and acquired knowledge on jackets) to sew the bits up the best I could without looking at the instructions which had caused me problems with the collar.

I gave things a press, assembled the lining and set the lining sleeves in. Then put the collar on, and added the lining. Bagged the lining. Front buttonhole and sewed the buttons on.

This I did over multiple sessions over several days and its finally finished!

Its only taken 15 years!

Skirt Suit for a Friend

 I've done some more sewing for my friend C. She really likes blue.

This blue tee is based on Simplicity 8376. I've added an FBA, shortened the body and scooped the front neck slightly. I also slightly lengthened the sleeves and then added a hem band, so the sleeves are now nearer to elbow length.

This blue jacket is based on the jacket in Simplicity 9473 with an FBA and the hems straightened out.

Then I took the skirt panels from the S9473 dress, added a little at the waist and put on an elasticated waistband.

The three pieces can be worn together as a skirt suit.

When C came to try the clothes on, only the skirt fitted as is. The jacket was made into a V neck style as the upper neckline kept flipping out, larger sleeves added (as the original ones were too tight) and the hem shortened (more at the back than the front).

The tee was too big in the back and the sleeves and was taken in.

I'd also made a dress (not pictured which was OK in the sleeves, too long in the body and too wide in the back.

I am learning what alterations I need to make for things to fit C nicely.