It is truly absurd that I can go through my closet on any day and think, 'I don't have anything to wear'. Well....it happens. I went through my massively over-stuffed closet and thought, 'I don't have any shirts for summer!' Probably the reason for that is that I don't like shorts and generally don't go out in them and thus have no need for equally warm-weather shirts. And for the skirts I wear in the summer, I usually just wear tank tops with. Not that it matters. Because I made some shirts anyway.
I used two different patterns I had bought, both similar styles. Loose and longer in the back....which I'm not sure how I feel about yet (didn't stop me from making them!), but if I ever grow tired of it, making it a straight hem line would be simple. But cool and airy! That is what is needed for summer, yea?
I didn't particularly like this pattern while I was working with it. It has some cool ideas on it, but it was a little tricky to make fit right. The back kind of hangs away from your back....which with an open back like it is makes what to wear under it....tricky. Add to that the lowness/openness of the underarms (I included a picture where you might be able to see what I'm talking about), it would probably make some people uncomfortable.
Quirky Peach added some back darts, which would definitely help close it up and I might do that next time. I'm living with it for now and it has grown more comfortable for me, but I would still make some drafting changes if I make the pattern again. Scandoulously, I'm just not wearing anything underneath. That fixes the problem too!
It is finished with bias-tape, which I picked a bright curry yellow for, just for some secret fun ;) I french-seamed as well (which I do on most projects). I've been liking finishing the insides of my creations more lately. You should see the dress I just finished. It is a work of art. I don't know why, it is so time consuming, I hate hand work, and no one sees it but me....but it is nice all the same!
All my shorts are in the wash, so I threw on some tap pants for the pictures. It kind of works, lol . And I wore it last week for work with some black chino/khaki shorts. And I wore it to dinner tucked into a long grey skirt. And I'm wearing it right now! See! It was useful to make! Love the fun back detail :)
Another pattern with quite a few options in it. I did the basic one with the pleated back. The fabric is really soft and flowy, so I thought it would be the best choice. Makes me think of the ocean when I look at it :) The only change I made was making the arm holes smaller from the get-go. I wanted something easy to wear where I wouldn't have to worry about it. I feel like I make so few of those. This is one of them though! Three cheers for comfort.
Added a small pop of colour with some turquoise bias tape at the neckline (hard to see in the pictures), but I didn't have enough for the arms :( It was in my vintage bias tape stash. Nice to use some of that up and it matched so well!
Bah. What wrinkly jeans. Sorry 'bout that.
Shirts are nice, they take up such a small amount of fabric!
~Nikki
I'm really excited about the dress I just finished. I'm using it as motivation to take pictures of the 10 other projects that I've finished in the past 2 months before I show off that one!
