A t-shirt is the most basic element of my wardrobe, but finding a ready-to-wear t-shirt that fits and flatters me is impossible. I’ll being showing how I chose a basic crew neck t-shirt pattern, how I altered it to fit me, and how I changed the style from crew to scoop to cheongsam.

Send me an e-mail via the contact link up top, and I’ll send you directions.

• Pants from Burda Plus Spring 2007, pattern #402 – Julia’s version

  The pattern has been fit (I hope). I added an inch to center back, and that was it. I hope it’s enough, and I hope that I wasn’t overly optimistic when I decided to not lower center front.
  

• Halloween Party Invitations
  They are almost done. I want to have them done for Wednesday, so that I can send them home with Chunguita’s classmates.
  
• Piñata for Halloween Party – papier mache and small children = BAD idea
  The balloon is covered with papier mache. I plan on painting it Friday. DH bought some pumpkin head pinatas. Doesn’t he have faith in me? Wrong question. How about: Does he want me to be sane and in control for the party?
  
• Sandra Betzina Purse
  It’s cut. I interfaced 3 of the 4 straps.
  
• Cheongsam T-shirt in fuschia
  It’s waiting for snaps.
  
• Art Journal – on-going. Pix soon.
  
• The Garden – I’m cleaning up the backyard.
  

You can’t tell in the picture, especially since I just pressed it, but the closure gapes. I use sew in snaps to keep it closed. I lengthened the back piece by a couple of inches because on the first version, it gaped so bad that you could see my skin. I mean, there just wasn’t enough overlap between the 2 layers.

I did not alter the front piece. This piece is cut on the “bias” or whatever you would call it on a knit, and it stretches like crazy. I ran a line of serger overlock along the edge to gather it up, but I didn’t gather it enough or it slipped or something. Anyway, I love the top, but I still don’t like the closure.

Version 3, inside out

So I’m on version 3. For this one, I kept the extension on the back front piece, and I decided to cut and interface a facing. You can see the facing, sorta, in the Version 3, inside out image. I cut the facing “on grain”. I didn’t want it to stretch. I made it the same length as the front front piece where the opening is. (Hm, that could use a picture.) After interfacing it, I checked it to make sure it had not stretched. I wasn’t going to run a line serger overlock on the front-front piece. I figured that I didn’t need the bulk, but it was almost twice as long as the facing, so I serged it and pulled the needle threads to shrink it back up.

Version 3, right side out

In the closeup, with the flash, I’m not thrilled with the seam allowance showthru (cf. Version 3, right side out). However, IRL, I don’t think it shows that much.

Progress, so far.

I was maid-of-honor for a girlfriend, and the first bridesmade dress she picked out for me was aubergine with a high neck. I felt like a big eggplant in it. I’m wondering how I’ll feel in in this top. It’s a whole lotta pink which ordinarily would be just fine with me, but the high neck makes me a wee bit nervous.

Is that an unflattering picture or what?

I don’t think that top looks that bad in person. It’s Butterick 4986. I modeled it at a BABES event, and they all thought it was great. It’s too small under the bust, and it’s too long in the neckline. Georgene suggested that I turn the neckline into more of a sweetheart neckline by adding little gathers at the side. We’ll see.

I’m not working on this right now. Instead, I have 3 t-shirts in the making. My tried and true (TNT) basic t-shirt is on ‘Tina waiting to be hemmed; it’s out of a lightweight white poly from Joann’s. My raspberry cheongsam is on the cutting table with the shoulders sewn together. I decided to put a facing on this one, where the fronts attach. I don’t like the little sew in snaps, so I’ll need support for whatever closure I decide on. I know, I know, I should have the closure picked out before starting, but I just don’t work like that. And my grey burda twist-top t-shirt is cut out and waiting for its turn to be sewn.

Well, the latest one is cut out and ready to go. Isn’t that a delish pink. I should look smashing in it.

So my latest t-shirt is almost finished. I don’t have the current picture, with the sleeves and bodice hemmed, but you get a good idea from this. I’m not wild about that flower in the almost center front, but at least it’s not a boob bulls-eye.

I haven’t done the closure. That is, it’s pinned shut. I think I’m going to put in snaps, the sew in type, but I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I decide.

I took a class with Shirley Adams a while back. She demoed needlepunch and pin-weaving. She also showed off some of her clothes and bags that she’d made with the 2 techniques. I haven’t tried any of her patterns. They were not recommended by some local sewing friends. However, I’m intrigued by the idea. I sorta do the same thing, like when I turned my t-shirt into a cheongsam. Anyway, I resisted her patterns. I did buy the set of books. I highly recommend them. They are loaded with great information on altering and morphing patterns.