Frankenshirt

I think I'm pretty close to my perfect fitting t-shirt.

So this is an Agnes body, cut with a Miss Ruby Tuesday scoop neck, and the sleeves are from the Ginger Dress on the front and the Amanda on the back.

It's still a little tight in the bust, but I'm not sure if I'll change it, I don't mind it snug LOL

The sleeve pattern piece looks a bit wonky because of the mashing so I might have to smooth it out a bit but otherwise, I think I have a winner!!!

I might try skimming down the sides to see what that looks like, a bit more like the Everyday Tee.

More Adventures in T-shirts

After my success with Halla's Agnes and Slim Dolman, I decided to try more t-shirt variations.

I have the Ellie and Mac Every Day Tee pattern and really liked the bottom shape. I was feeling lazy though, so knowing that the Halla Slim Dolman fitted me through the bust (after a FBA), I just lined up the Everyday Tee with the Slim Dolman at the arm pits and combined the two. I used the 'loose fit' version but I'm not sure if I lost width when I merged with the Slim Dolman. I had to take up the hem a few inches to get the length I liked best. 

I think I would like just a little more ease across the belly, and the sleeves are just a tiny bit too tight, but otherwise it is love!!

When is a t-shirt not a t-shirt?

When you cut it up and make a much better shaped top out of it!

Inspired by this YouTube video, I decided to have a go at hacking/upcycling some t-shirts.

In the video, the last shirt is made larger by adding batwing sleeves.  I had a really old t-shirt that was probably a little too small when I bought it (20 years ago) and was unlikely to ever fit my mum-body now!  But I couldn't get rid of it, it was a favourite.

I am always a little nervous about just cutting up things without a patterns, so I decided to try out the Halla Slim Dolman pattern.  I printed it, did my trusty FBA and then compared it to the shirt I was wearing (which was also a dolman style) and decided it would be big enough.  Couldn't be bothered with a muslin.

I cut open the side seams and removed the sleeves from the t-shirt as per the video, but it was still so wonky that I had to cut the sides off a bit as well. I really should remember to take before/progress shots!  You know how t-shirts always twist after several washes?  This one was no different and you can still see how the design has warped.  Anyway, after cutting off the sides, I laid the shirt over the dolman pattern and worked out the extra fabric I had to cut.  I used an old pair of leggings that were a similar weight/feel to the shirt fabric.  I was never going to match that faded black unless I trawled an op-shop.

In the end the shirt has come out a little tighter than I'd hoped, I think I forgot to account for the stretch (or lack thereof) in the shirt fabric, but I am happy with the overall result.  The neckline is still raw, I'm not 100% sure what I want to do with it.  I don't think I want to leave it like this though as the old fabric is a little to delicate.

The second t-shirt I hacked was a birthday gift purchased at TeeTurtle.  I'd asked for a 3XL knowing that I wanted to do something more creative with it (I have a few more waiting too).  Following the success of my AmaZgnes shirts, I decided to use that pattern to shape this shirt better.

I cut up the side seams and removed the sleeves as before.  I then folding the shirt in half and placed the Agnes pattern over it.  I needed to insert a small triangle piece on the front underarm, and a triangle panels at the side seam as the t-shirt wasn't wide enough.  I maintained the original neckline and shoulder seams, but cut out the armhole/sideseam.  I then flipped the shirt over and repeated for the back.  Sewed it all back together, with the extra insert pieces, and now I had an awesome fitting t-shirt!  I guess it's not really a "T" shirt any more, but that's what I'm calling it.  This was also too long when I took the photo, but I have since shorted it a little.

Before

After

Triangle inserted at side seam

By retaining the original neckline, I didn't have the problem of losing some of the design, like some upcycle/refashions have, and it kept the look of a t-shirt, which is really what I was going for.

Agnes, Amagnes, AmaZgnes!!

I've been trying to make a t-shirt for a while now.  And I mean a good, well fitting t-shirt.  It's tricky when you have boobs.  T-shirt patterns are flat, boobs are not.  A full bust adjustment on a pattern creates a dart, I don't want a darted shirt.  There are ways to get rid of the dart and I'd been trying them, but I was also struggling to get sleeves to fit nicely on me and the shirt to sit well around my belly.

I finally tried the Halla Agnes pattern.  My first muslin was a good start but needed changing.  I had to add to the waist/torso length, which I'm thinking I should be doing to most patterns since I'm at least 1" taller than they seem to be drafted for.  I also wasn't really happy with the sleeve, they are drafted to be on the fold, so the same front and back.  I swapped out another sleeve from a pattern I made last year, which was better.  Eventually I got it to fit nice enough to use good fabric.

The fabric I chose just sat so nicely, I was in love instantly!  Wore this for the first time to a New Year's Eve party.

Now that I loved the shape of the body so much, I decided to work on it some more so I could make lots of shirts.  My t-shirt drawer still has some maternity wear in it so it definitely needs a refresh!

Halla had a pattern sale, so I picked up the Amanda. I love the yoke neckline (in the main picture) and a lot of people have been mashing it with the Agnes.  I put these sleeves, and the V neckline onto my Agnes and came up with this:

I've since realised that this one is a bit longer.  Will get around to shortening because I prefer the length of the pink one.  I'm *still* not happy with the sleeve, but I will fiddle that another day.  Just a little too much fabric at the front when I put my arms down (you can't see it in this photo).

So I have now nicknamed this pattern my Amazgnes, because it is an Amanda/Agnes cross (Amagnes) and it's AMAZING!!