My favorite types of patterns are the ones that can be finished super quickly without it looking like it. I don’t plan things like I’d like to. I am so ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ that it’s not even funny. And when I get an idea in my head, I want to do it then. No wait time for this girl.
Pattern for Pirates just launched their Women’s Raglan shirt pattern and I had to have it. This is the same designer that made the pattern for Louis’ jacket so I knew it could easily be tackled. Plus. Elbow patches? Sold, sold, sold.
When I say that this is a quick project, I mean it. I bought the pattern at 8:45am and had it printed, glued together, traced, fabric cut and everything sewn together by 9:45am. It was super impromptu and I just happened to have the fabric laying around. I’m also a speed sewer and not super meticulous (because I figure I can use one of my tricks to cover something up if need be) so it might take someone else a bit longer. But for me, this is super awesome because I don’t always have a lot of time to make time consuming items.
I really dig the small details that can be included in this pattern. I didn’t want a shirt with one print. Especially not a giant polka dotted shirt. I thought it’d be too much and it needed to be broken up. Luckily I have juuuuuust enough fabric to squeeze the elbow patches, neck trim and sleeve cuffs out of it. Barely. The cuffs should be longer but I used what I had. Typical Katy move in sewing.
The fabulous thing about the Women’s Raglan is the fact that you could make SO. MANY. variations of this shirt. I picked the tunic length with the banded bottom. I seriously hate hemming and any time I can have a band or cuff, I make it happen.
Honestly, I hate the term “selfish sewing” that’s thrown around the sewing world. Maybe because I sew for myself a lot. But I’d like to call it “sewing” because that’s what I’m doing. Making things for yourself isn’t a sin. In fact, it’s fun.
These knit fabrics were both purchased on Girl Charlee. (Polka dots HERE.) There isn’t a ton of stretch in the polka dot fabric so I ended up going up a size to have room in my hips. I think something with more give can easily be made in my standard size.
I hope you don’t mind my second-day, unbrushed/washed hair in all of these shots. Yesterday was…um. Hard. Yesterday was hard. I had an emotionally trying day with a whiny kiddo and taking pictures was a short break that was needed. Parenting can be so tough one second and so rewarding the next.
I just realized that the cuff and the neck were the same fabric. I love it!
I squeeeeeezed what I could out of the random scraps I had around. I made a dress out of that fabric and love it. Luckily I got some reuse from it!
That top looks fantastic! We're obsessed with the elbow patches 🙂 Thanks for linking to us-GirlCharlee.com
This comment just made my day. So glad you guys exist! I love shopping your amazing fabris!