I've been making clothes for the girls for months and realized not long ago that they have more wearable clothes than I do. So I have decided that they have enough for now (though Sprite disagrees, having a long list including a robe that she has been wanting for months) and Mama needs tops for work.
I have about 8 tops that are in constant rotation and I am bored with them. I need new colors, new styles and right now, long sleeves. The majority of my wardrobe consists of the same Ottobre t-shirt and a couple others, usually paired with one of four jackets or cardigans and basic trousers in black, brown or navy. Boring.
I know it is black, but the pearl buttons give it a bit of style. The top is a plain long-sleeved t-shirt with a lapped collar that is gathered at each end and embellished with pearl buttons. This is a misses pattern and I cut an extra large with no adjustments.
Like most Kwik Sew patterns, construction was fairly straightforward. I got hung up a bit on sewing the collar. The patten recommends interlock, jersey or textured knots with 35% stretch across the grain. I used interlock and found that the gathered ends didn't gather well. My interlock is also fairly thick and and my beloved BL Imagine broke a needle trying to go through all those layers.
The loops that hold the buttons also had issues due to the thickness of the fabric. The loops are strips which are sewn lengthwise, turned and cut into fourths. They are then sewn to the seam allowance of the top and the collar, which is folded, is sewn over it. The combination of the two layers of collar, front and loops was too much for my needles,
The buttons are supposed to lay outside the collar but the loops would not lay flat so I pointed them toward the collar instead. They look just fine that way.
The only real problem was the fabric being too thick. It caused a dimple at the bottom of the collar. I think that this pattern would work much better with a thinner knit, such as a rayon polyester lycra blend. Overall, however, it is a comfy top. If I make another one, it will be with a different fabric.
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I have to share a story of my funny little girl. When I picked her up from her before-and-after school program yesterday (no school means she and her sister get to stay and play the whole day), she very proudly and excitedly told everyone that I'd made my top. I just love her.
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