Friends, please let me share my excitement with you - I've drafted my first pattern! It was sooooo satisfying. Drawing + Maths = Heaven. I started with a simple t-shirt, following the instructions in a fantastic book, Design-It-Yourself Clothes
by Cal Patch. The technicalities of pattern drafting can get complicated, but the book explains everything in refreshingly clear language.
I drafted the pattern a couple of weeks ago but my plan to make the whole thing in one day, from taking measurements to finishing, was scuppered when the upper knife on my overlocker snapped in half. It was quite a shock when a bit of metal bounced off my face, but mercifully it was the blunt end. I guess I must have gone over a pin - a mistake I will never make again. What was more of a shock was the price of a new knife - £30 for this tiny bit of metal!
As well as making the pattern, this was also my first attempt at serging single knitted jersey. The curling ends were a bit annoying but manageable. I followed Patty's advice to use wonder tape to stick the hem and cuffs down before topstitching, which made it much easier.
by Cal Patch. The technicalities of pattern drafting can get complicated, but the book explains everything in refreshingly clear language.As well as making the pattern, this was also my first attempt at serging single knitted jersey. The curling ends were a bit annoying but manageable. I followed Patty's advice to use wonder tape to stick the hem and cuffs down before topstitching, which made it much easier.
I'm now dying to make this in navy and red stripes. Anyone know where I could get some?
[Soundtrack: 'I Walked' by Sufjan Stevens]
Congratulations! I love the neckline! A good idea starting with jersey, definitely more forgiving than something fitted!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! You've done a brilliant job - the top is lovely on you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Tilly. I have that book too, but I've never used it. You've inspired me to take a second look at it. Your top fits so well
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! Tilly your drafting is so perfectly neat. I'm gonna have to check out Patty's wonder tape tip. Thankyou. My machine seems to detest single knit. Great skills :)
ReplyDeletePx
Ahh, great top Tilly!
ReplyDeleteI have the same book (not read it yet - though I am inspired to fish it out now).
Absolutely adorable. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteFantstic! what a great job.x x x
ReplyDeleteLovely! It looks great on you, too.
ReplyDeleteI can only find navy OR red stripes. But here are the links, in case they are helpful:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.myfabrics.co.uk/e-vendo.php?shop=fabfab_e&SessionId=&a=ff_search&SearchStr=striped%20jersey
http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Product.aspx/StretchFabrics!2281
Love your blog!
Wow, it looks great!! :)
ReplyDeleteAshley x
Fantastic!!! So scary about the knife flying off the machine! I'm always freaked out by stuff like that! Can't wait to hear more about your experiences with the overlocker!!
ReplyDeleteWell done! It looks great. There'll be no stopping you now!
ReplyDeleteWonderful top and so you. Ditto has a whole page devoted to striped jerseys, though I'm not sure any of them are quite what you're looking for:
ReplyDeletehttp://dittofabrics.co.uk/plain-and-printed-jersey-fabric/striped-jersey-dress-fabric
I'm glad you escaped a knife accident... The top is very cute, congrats on your first self-draft!
ReplyDeleteWow, that looks awesome! It really suits you :)
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome! Another great pattern-drafting book to check out is Little Green Dresses, which has instructions for drafting 50 different skirts/tops/dresses :)
ReplyDeleteI just ordered that book the other day. Your top looks great!
ReplyDeleteYOU GO GIRL! I can see more in your future!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! the boat neck is my favourite. Glad you are joining the self-drafting group. The book is great, I have started working on my Annie trousers last night
ReplyDeleteBTW, had a similar problem with my serger...nearly broke the knife due to a pin...I believe it makes a rattling noise since...thank god you didn't get hurt
ReplyDeleteI love a boat neck line. You did a wonderful job Tilly. Accomplishing drafting a pattern is hard work. Looking forward to seeing more.
ReplyDeleteVery cute, I love stripped t-shirts!
ReplyDeleteHow cute! Love the neckline and the stripes!
ReplyDeleteLooks fantabulous!
ReplyDeleteA cute top!! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteBrava - it looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, congrats on your first draft ;)
ReplyDeletegorgeous! i am loving these stripey 3/4 sleeve tops this summer :) yours is super cute!
ReplyDeleteWell done- that is super cute (& I like the whole 3/4 length capri look too). I've got Cal Patch's book, love reading about drafting from scratch, but have not got started. Very impressed :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely and so nautical! Well done!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! I will definitely have to keep a note of that book title for when I feel confident to take the next step and make a pattern.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry Tilly, my boyfriend was still signed into google - hence the random delete above. What I was trying to say was...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you need a pair of sewing goggles, Miss Tilly - all these metal things flying towards your eyes!
The top looks great and so versatile too - you could even go a smidge longer and have a cute little a-line tunic one time
x
aw cute as a button too!
ReplyDeleteWow your top looks fantastically professional - got me looking for a pattern-drafting course :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Much satisfaction! That is very rewarding and the fit is perfect.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
Thanks for those links, Amanda and Karen.
ReplyDeleteRoisin, good idea - I was thinking about making an A-line dress so maybe I'll draft one!
Nice work! I JUST got Cal Patch's book, and I must say it's blowing my mind! She did such a great job making a mysterious topic completely approachable! Congrats!
ReplyDeletetoo cute, very Coco!
ReplyDeleteI've got that book and have made about 5 versions of the a-line skirt. I tried drafting out the shirt pattern but it went a bit wrong as I think I gave it too little ease. I love this books although I have been known to read the same instruction 5 times and then get hubby to explain it to me! Its always been my desire to have a bunch of reliable patterns I can return to time after time based on my own body so I'm making small baby steps to get there.
ReplyDeleteI just found your cute blog...the world is very small! I had linked to it from Tasia's blog in Vancouver, where I live too. I enjoyed the post about her typical sewing day, and then decided to look at your other posts, and discovered you live in the UK and had a post below this with one of my favourite blogging people; Charlotte, from Tuppence Hapenny blog. (I think that's it's name) How fantastic to find all these sewing people at my fingertips! Yay!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Tilly! I love stripes ^_^
ReplyDeleteGood idea to make this tshirt also in navy and red stripes
Wow! Well done :) It looks fab!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! This is something I've never attempted. I'm impressed!
ReplyDeleteThis turned out gorgeous! Now you've got me itching to dive in to making my own tshirts. I've been putting it off for so long (for stupid, silly reasons really!); and even have a pattern I drafted from the same book waiting for me... *sigh* Maybe this weekend I'll give it a go! ;)
ReplyDeletethat is such a cute top! you look adorable!
ReplyDeletesooo cute, i love the green stripes! also yay for participating in me-made june!
ReplyDeleteLove the 'random boat neck' note on your pattern!
ReplyDeleteFound myself hastily tracing a pattern yesterday and scrawling 'grainline-ish' before realising the dangers of that idea ... ;)
Hahaha! I was wondering if anyone would notice that...
ReplyDeletej'adore your little French sailor tee! well done. good stripes and knits are so hard to find!
ReplyDelete