TAM #10

The weather is still pretty warm here, and there is no real need for long sleeves except some of the mornings that have a bit of a fall feel to them.

When I was at the local thrift store last week, I found this this New Look still in factory folds and, while I have a couple of raglan sleeved top patterns, what's one more (even tho I complain about having too many patterns). With this last sewing room clean up I culled a pretty large box full of patterns.  

I figured I'd better sew a muslin (hopefully wearable) to see how I liked this raglan version so I pulled some rayon/lycra that has been in the stash a while.  I actually have a bolt of it because the price of the bolt was so good.  I didn't think the colors were really "me," but I knew I could always use it for muslin sand the feel of the fabric is so nice and soft.  It would feel good next to the body on a chilly morning,

The stripes ran horizontal from selvage to selvage.  Not wanting to even THINK about trying to match the pattern of the sleeve with the body, I chose to cut the sleeves on the cross grain having the stripes run vertical.  In my opinion, this pattern ran big.  I cut the small feeling like I needed at least that size at the hips.  The sleeves are v-e-r-y  w-i-d-e.  the pattern called for a 2" sleeve hem, but I chose to leave the volume and use elastic at the wrist.  I just sewed up a small hem (after I had cut 2" in length from each sleeve and inserted elastic.

The pattern called for a self fabric neck band - sewn right sides together, turned up, with the seam top stitched down on the body of the shirt.  My band fit the neck opening fine with the appropriate amount of stretching of the band, BUT the fold of the band did not lie flat against my neck,  Not wanting to spend lots of time to get this to work (I do feel it was the softness of the fabric that caused this problem.), I took a hint from Marcy Tilton and used the small darts that she used on one of her Vogue T-shirt patterns.

You can see the 4 small neckline darts in the following photo.  (at least I hope you can)

The colors are not the brights that work best for my coloring (and gray hair), but I think I will wear this top with jeans.  I don't know that I have any other slacks that it will go with.  I'll peruse the closet some more.

As I said, the fabric is wonderfully soft.

I will use this pattern again, but probably cut an XS and taper out at the hip to the size small.  One thing I do like is the 'hem' is a band so that make "hemming" easy.  With this size S, I cut off about 5 inches in length.  Otherwise, I would have almost had a tunic by the time I added the hem band.  Can't tell that from the illustration on the the pattern envelope, can you?

When I make it again, I plan to widen and lower the neckline a bit and will probably finish with a self fabric narrow binding or fold over elastic if I have a color that will work.

In the meantime, I have a new top that I didn't stress over much and have met the #10 TAM count!