Category: ponte knit

Wardrobe Staple: Knit Tops

I have been working on different wardrobe pieces recently (mostly will a Fall/Winter theme). I realized I needed to, and wanted to, improve my look and style but without changing who I am or what I like to wear. Since I’m at home during the day, I don’t need fancy clothes or the typical work wardrobe. But, I also realized that my usual outfit of jeans and T-shirts (or shorts and T-shirts during the summer) needed some serious updating. So, I decided to sew myself a few pieces to begin. In this blog post I’ll discuss the  two patterns I used for these tops: 1) Vogue 9205 and 2) Patterns for Pirates Women’s Henley PDF.

 

I have a substantial fabric stash that includes a lot of knits, so I was happy to give these patterns a try. The Vogue pattern is basically a classic that includes darts at the neckline and topstitching.

 

 

 

V9205

 

One of the things that I really like about this shirt is the length. It can be tucked in (although made to worn out) but it provides good coverage.

V9205

V9205

As you can see, there are sleeve options with this shirt which is great as I’m trying to prepare some items for Fall weather.

The henley top (it’s a PDF from Patterns for Pirates) I didn’t have but purchased when I saw it. I’ve been looking for a henley-style T-shirt pattern for a while and never found anything that was even close. I came across this pattern (thank you Google) when I threw out some I had for years that were worn so often the edges were all worn out.

Patterns for Pirates Henley - gray

 

 

Patterns for Pirates Henley

The gray was made with a light-weight cotton knit while the others are all ponte knits. I added snaps on the gray shirt but kind of wish I hadn’t. I love the snaps, but I forgot how time-consuming it can be to add snaps when you haven’t done them in a long time. It took me almost as long to get then on as it did for me to actually make the shirt. The placement could have been better also, but so it goes. The blue top has buttons!

This pattern is terrific though. It has sleeve and hem variations as well as a hood and banded waist. This is definitely one that I’ll be making more of.

That’s all for now. I would recommend both of these patterns to anyone out there. They are both terrific!

 

Very Easy Vogue pattern 8824

This is my latest completion. It’s Vogue 8824 knit dress. It really is very easy. Actually, I’m really not sure if this is supposed to be a knit or woven dress. The material list says jersey, linen and crepe. So, I went with a charcoal gray ponte knit. I made the dress in a medium, so I figured the stretch would be a good thing.

The dress does have a very deep V in the front so something needs to be worn under it (unless you’re very brave). So, rather than have to wear another shirt underneath mine, I chose to add a panel in the front to cover most of the V. I don’t always want the additional layers of another shirt. But, here I show that it is easily done.

This picture is with a self-drafted quick cape that I made last year (I think). It’s about 30 degrees and breezy, so I was freezing.

This dress is simple enough to dress up or wear casually. It can also be made with 3/4 sleeves and longer at the bottom (more of a midi length dress).

Quick and practical…that’s my kind of sewing!