Sewaholic Renfrew

I think this has to be my favorite knit T pattern.  The pattern has various collars and sleeve lengths.  Bands instead of hems, and once you have it fitting you to a T, the ways you can change it are endless.  Or, you can just make a simple everyday awesome T shirt.  This fabric is a knit from Joanns.  14.99 a yard, but I had a 40% of coupon.  So 8.99 a yard.  Not a bad price for a nice T Shirt.  This knit is light weight, but still has a nice drape.  Very soft touch and the colors I just loved.  Reminded me of a watercolor painting.

 This is view A body and collar, with view C sleeves.    Again my neck band was a waffled mess, so I just folded it to the outside and topstitched it down.  I attach the neckband with a stretch stitch, but my topstitching, I just use a longer straight stitch.  It does not actually have to stretch to fit over my head.

 

I did not plan on putting the cuffs, or bands, on the sleeves, but had a fabric shortage, so the sleeves ended right at my elbow bend, which is uncomfortable to me.  So I went ahead and added bands.  The print does not match at the bands, but I tried to keep the color theme of the band and the end of the sleeve similar.

I also planned it so that the blue part of the material was closest to my neck and face, as it is the most flattering with my coloring.  I wish you could feel how soft this knit is.  I wore it today, am still wearing it.  It is so comfortable against your skin.  Like a kiss.  This might be my favorite T so far!!!

Stay Happy

Keep Sewing

and if you can't sew....

Bake a little cake!!
 



More T's. Butterick 5493 collar with Renfrew body

Last month I culled my closet.  Huge bags to

 Goodwill.  I made myself let go of things I did not wear.  Even though I made them.  It was hard.  And cathartic.  Now as I wear something, when hanging it back in closet, I turn the hangar backwards.  After a month, it is more obvious the types of clothes I reach for daily, and the ones I have not yet reached for this month.  T shirts.  I wear them a lot.  Under cardigans and jackets.  I can feel casually dressed up and not sloppy.  So, that is why I have been making them lately.  The oldest clothes in my closet that I still reach for years later, are the nice T shirts that I have made. 

 

 

 

So here we are.  More T's.  Tanks actually.  Sleeveless tanks can be worn to work with a cardi or jacket, and by themselves on the weekends.  This black tank was 1 yard of 5.99 knit at Joanns.

 

For this B5493 collar, I did an altered bib, two of them, in different lengths.  No hemming on the bibs.  All cut out with my rotary cutter.  A first for me, and I really liked it!

 This neckband had the same issue as my summer dress.  It just waffled and would not lay flat.  So I again, folded the band to the outside and topstitched it down.  Now it looks like binding.

This second tank is also 1 yard from Joanns.  7.99 with coupon.  This neck band I did NOT have any issues with, no waffling.  I sure wish I knew what it was that causes it to work or not work!

 

 

If you are bored of seeing T's, I am sorry..... I know I have at least one more up my sleeve.... Then I think it is time for a black linen jacket.  Now just to find the right pattern.......

 

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Keep sewing

and if you can't sew

Hike Red Mountain, it is gorgeous.

 

Fabric sources, thinking outside the box....

 

I bought this xxl maxi skirt off the clearance rack at Target.  I loved the fabric. Looked like perfect summer dress fabric. 

The waistband is just about all that was left when I was done!

 

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I used McCalls 6559.  I traced it out last summer, and love the fit. I went with C, the shorter green one.

 

 

I really love the easy fit and style.  Great weekend summer dress.

 

I did not have enough fabric to cut the front and back as long as I wanted, and I did not want to mess with the border print at the bottom, so instead, I pieced the upper back.  It is 3 pieces for the racer back part, can't really even tell!

 

 

  For the front, I pieced the upper front shoulder portions, then topstitched all my piecing so it looked like a design feature.  The neck band / binding, worked out despite my skills!  It was suppose to just be a neck band, but it would not lay flat.  It was all waffly looking.  I have no idea if that means that I stretched it too tight or not enough, while attaching to the neckline.  So to fix it, I folded the band to the outside and topstitched it down.  It now looks like binding!!  A save!!

 

 

The whole thing took about 2.5 hours, then I wore it out to lunch with my kids.  I wore a cropped jean jacket over it.  I really like it.  In looking at the pic, I wish it were a couple inches longer, but wearing it, it does not feel too short.

 

Next up was this top, 3xl off the same clearance rack.  A lot of fabric, but not a lot of length. 

 

 I used an old cropped cardigan that had expired, it was too cropped and had a stain.  So a pattern it became. 

 I interfaced the neck binding and front placket with a knit fusible.  I decided to go with no closures, because, buttonholes on this seemed scary and hey, I never button a cardigan anyway.

I really like both pieces and am so glad that I checked out the clearance rack at Target!!

 

Stay Happy

Keep Sewing

and if you can't sew

Got out to lunch with your favorite people!

 

T shirts...Butterick 5493 / Renfrew morph

 

You just have to love an easy T shirt pattern.  3 pattern pieces.  I went with view C sort of.  The solid blue. 

I only had one yard of material, so ended up lessening the depth of the collar on the square side for the first version.

 

 

 

The body pattern pieces, I laid over my TNT Renfrew pattern and altered them to match, except I kept the original neckline of the Butterick.

 

This was 1 yard of fabric from Joann's.  It has wonderful stretch and recovery.  Feels great on.  I love all the colors in it. 

 

 

For the binding of the neck and armholes, I just cut bias strips, 1 3/4" wide, and whatever length I needed.  Fold them wrong sides together lengthwise and attach from the outside of the neckline and armholes with a 3/8" seam.  Stretching while attaching.  I did not turn them under.  I like the band showing. 

For my next version, my fabric is from Target.  What, you didn't know you could get fabric at Target?  Shop the clearance rack in the larger sizes. 

 

This started it's life as an XXL maxi skirt.  I loved the fabric.  Colors were awesome and it is a nice knit, soft with a great drape. All that remains of the skirt is the waistband. 

 

Pattern matching was not too difficult.

I altered the collar to be a symmetrical shape, lol, looks like a bib!

I think this fabric will get a much more fulfilling life as a t shirt.

 

On the left below, is another XXL maxi skirt..... not sure what this one will end up being... I am thinking maybe a simple summer dress.... On the right is a 3x Tshirt.  Lots of fabric there... I am thinking maybe a summer cardigan....

Stay Happy

Keep Sewing

and if you can't sew...

Paint your toenails!