This is the shirt that confused David, who couldn’t tell it apart from the one I posted Saturday. Even in an otherwise identical outfit, I think they’re pretty different. But maybe that’s just me.
This one is a variation on simple rectangular shirt, this time with a 3″ difference between the front and back.
This is the first of the stripey shirts I made a few weeks ago. The front and back are identical, except for the direction of the pleat (an ordinary box pleat in front and an inverted one in back). Each of the two pieces is more or less a trapezoid, with a bit of curve added at the neckline and armholes. I added black seam binding around the the top, to finish the edges and form two sets of straps. The seam binding begins at the center back pleat, runs off the edge and continues unattached for 6″ to form a strap before reattaching in front to finish the front neckline. Another piece finishes the armholes and forms a second strap, sort of as if the seam binding were following the edges of tank top strap that isn’t really there.
I recently made myself a couple of stripey shirts. I don’t think they look much alike, and I know you won’t either, but when I went to show David the second one he said “weren’t the stripes darker yesterday? Did the cat sit on it?” I explained that they were different shirts and he pointed out that they were similar patterns and both loose fitting, and then he looked sort of sad. So I promised to make something different next time.
This shirt is for David – much closer fitting than the others, and in his favorite color. I love the stripey shirts and I’ll wear them to work this week, but over the weekend it’s nice to wear something that makes David smile.
If your boyfriend is pouting about your very easy summer shirts and you want something fitted you can whip up in between orders for other people (or whatever fills your weekend), this is a very simple top. It’s more or less my draped t-shirt without the sleeves. I made mine as wide as my waist at the waist and tapered out a couple of inches above and bellow, which makes for a fairly close fitting top. For a more standard t-shirt fit, match your bust measurement and taper in and then out again from that. At the armpits curve in slightly in front (less than you would for a set in sleeve), and a bit more in back. This will make the front wider than the back, giving the top a slight cowl neck. Cut the neckline straight across. Sew up the sides, and hand sew the corners of the neckline together.
This dress was based on two patterns from the book Lace Style. I used the shape of the Essential Tank Top, and the lace pattern from the Ooh La Lace Dress. I used crochet cotton, and my lace repeats ended up slightly smaller than the original. I knit it a few years ago at a dress for Isabel, but she’s grown a bit (or just stopped wearing her dresses quite so short), and we generally treat it as a top these days.