Tee-Shirt, A Work in Progress

Stash-busting 2016:  kAtheRine Tilton Top

I honestly don't know why it has taken me so long to break open Vogue 8710. I should have known that it would be a winner, it is a Tilton design. This pattern, circa 2011, is currently out-of-print but still available on their website.   

I am just glad that I finally made this one because I love how it drapes in the front. This is on its way to becoming my go-to tee-shirt pattern. 

But it is not there yet. I just have to tweak the sizing a bit. I wouldn't mind trying it out with the sleeve, armhole and side near the bust cut as a small and then graded up to a medium towards the hem. The shoulder seam that leans towards the front, I love. I just don't like how the armhole droops off my shoulder. I need to fix that. I did shorten the top by two inches thinking I'll give this a one inch hem and shortened the sleeve by even more. 

The instructions to this pattern is detailed with silk-screening advice if this is a technique you would like to try out. The pattern instructs a different method for installing the neckline facing which I glanced over and then did my own thing. I first sewed both shoulder seams and then folded the neckline facing together, folded in half and stitched using a 3/8" seam allowance. I left off all of the topstitching and decided that I like the serged hems and will just leave it.  

This fabric has been in my stash longer than the pattern. We're talking decades. I picked it up for a song from Fanny Fabrics when it was closing down and I've been using this fabric for the leg and arm bands for the baby onesies over the years. Since I have quite a bit of this knit and I didn't want to cut into my other knits until I knew the pattern works, I thought to use it as my toile. Still needs some work, so I'm glad I didn't cut into some cherished pieces of knit before I fine tune this pattern.  

The Stats:  

Fabric:           1.6 metres cotton knit

Fusible Tape:     0.20 metres

Thread:           Premium thread on the serger and polyester thread for the sewing machine.  

Pattern:          Vogue 8710, circa 2011. 

Additional Tools, Supplies & Tricks of the trade:  Sewing machine, serger, walking foot, scissors, pins, an afternoon nap and cup or two of coffee.   

Happy Sewing!