Knit top using New Look 6108

New Look 6108, view C, in a soft rayon knit from Gorgeous Fabrics sewn for Ms E, a twenty something friend.  

I made a quick muslin of this in a drapey black matte jersey and thought it looked strange as in how can this possibly look good on a body.  I was actually kind of stunned when Ms E tried on the muslin and it was perfect.  And flattering.  I hemmed the muslin and she likes it and wears it as well.   

No changes were made to the pattern for fit.  The front has a facing or half lining that covers the bust area which eliminates the need for finishing the front neckline and arm holes.  The back is supposed to have some kind of binding but I simply folded over the edges and coverstitched.  

   

It is such a pleasure when a pattern works.  The pieces fit together and the resulting garment is wearable and flattering.  I might have to make more of these tops.  One for DD in an ITY jersey sounds good.

A Wardrobe Lightbulb

Two projects in progress in my sewing room:

The Marfy, a collared button down shirt. I have made the necessary changes to the pattern for fit and was about to choose an interfacing that would work well with the silk twill.

The New Look, a collared button down shirt. Still needs buttons/snaps, I have some but I'm not that excited about the proportions of this one.


The patterns are a similar style, an effort to find a good basic shirt pattern for wovens. As I thought about my projects today a lightbulb started to go on. I don't like button down shirts very much, I don't enjoy wearing collared shirts really, and I actually don't like wearing woven tops unless they are quite roomy. What in the world am I doing sewing these shirts? The answer is a bit fuzzy, something about trying to find a "nicer" look than my favored knits, knits, and more knits.

Then I was flipping the pages of a Garnet Hill catalog thinking something grumpy about all the "lifestyle" type catalogs that are showing up in my mailbox just because I ended up on some mailing list somewhere somehow, and I saw this.


She's wearing my favorite summer outfit! The knit skirt, knit top, sandals. Hmm, she looks well dressed. I flipped the pages again, this time with more interest. Lots and lots of knits in the catalog, and the models all look nice, well dressed and comfortable. Lightbulb on. Knits can look fabulous, knits are not just for gym wear and at home wear. Knits can be dressy, formal, casual, serious, fun...everything. I don't need to wear wovens if I don't like to. I think it is time to sew some more knits!