In Sewing News Today...

Just when thoughts turn to fall sewing, it heats up this week with humidity to make one take refuge in air-conditioned spaces.  Luckily, I haven't packed away the linen pants.  

Despite the return of the heat, my thoughts are still focussed on fall sewing. I'm dreaming of the perfect turtleneck sweater dress. 

This cashmere maxi-length dress is my inspiration piece. Even though I did revisit out-of-print (OOP) Vogue 8939 and made a turtleneck sweater dress I'm still on the hunt for one that I don't have to struggle pulling it over my head.  

And that is how I came across this pattern, OOP Burda 8848. It has raglan sleeve and interestingly enough a zipper in the turtleneck collar from the side shoulder. From what I can make out from the pattern piece illustration on the back envelope, it appears to be a two piece sleeve.  

I have some ponte knit that I can use as a toile fabric. That's when the pattern arrives. 

In the meantime, I'm trying to find my sewing mojo to work on another men's shirt. I need to get this one done for next week along with a matching mini-me version in a size 5 boys. While cutting out the pattern pieces, I came across a piece that had me quite perplexed. 

It is for an under collar band. It is meant to be stitched to the underside of the collar. This is a completely new feature to me that I've never encountered previously. As far as I'm able to determine, it's purpose appears to be to hold a necktie securely in place. 

Unless of course, I'm mistaken? Have you sewn an undercollar band in a men's shirt or heard of one?  I need to stop thinking about this and just get to work on the shirt since I don't have any intention of sewing this piece onto the collar. If holding a tie in place is indeed it's function I know the recipient of the shirt would feel that it would be unnecessary. 

Things that make you go hmmm.  

Happy Sewing!