R&RtRTW: Channeling My Inner Greek Princess

Yes, that's a very attractive compost bin in the background.

I think those flutter sleeves are just perfect. Love them!

Why a Greek princess, you ask? Well, it's because this is the Ariadne tunic, a free pattern from the one and only Tanit-Isis! She graciously provided this pattern for her second blogiversary earlier this year, and I've had it bookmarked ever since. After my post-vacation reentry into sewing resulted in a drastic capri pants fail (I have yet to bring myself to take any pictures), I needed something quick(ish) that would most likely turn out well, to help me recover my sewing mojo. I think this did the trick!

This is also part of my Remaking and Replacing the RTW project list. I had a favorite dark gray tee from Ross that looked pretty similar to this -- gathered at the front, cut-out back, slightly fluttery sleeves, and gathered to a band at the bottom -- that I unfortunately ruined with a large oil stain. It was right over my belly button, too; that's not a location that could really benefit from a camouflaging lace doily applique. I held onto that tee through two moves, hoping that one day I could replicate it. Although this top is black, it's got essentially the same function in my wardrobe: it's a top in a basic color that's slightly dressier/more put together than my screenprinted science tees, but still casual enough to go with jeans, but wouldn't be entirely out of place with work trousers, and the flutter sleeves and back cutout keeps it from being too boring. In other words, pretty much perfect.

Yergs...look at the horrid binding job, all ripply and weird.
Good thing my hair or a cardigan will hide it most of the time!
And you can tell that it's both very windy in SF and that my
fabric is indeed tissue thin.

I cut out the size small, and after some headaches with trying to figure out the right side of a black jersey knit fabric in dim lighting, managed to put it together without too much trouble. The only part I had issues with is the binding of the back cutout, but that's really my own fault because I didn't cut my binding strip on the cross-grain, as the instructions advised. It's ripply and weird, but I don't have to look at it, so I think I'll survive. In the future (because there will definitely be a future), I'll be careful to follow Tanit-Isis' cutting instructions! I would also probably shorten it by about an inch (I have a long torso, but even so this top feels really long to me -- probably because I was looking more for a tee, not a tunic) and grade down to an XS in the hips, since I don't like having quite so much fabric gathered into the band. But those are really minor changes (and not the pattern's fault, just my own preference), and in fact I'll probably do just that when I get back home. Because yes, I am finally going back to real summer after a whole "summer" of fog! The Cation family will be making the drive back down to TCOCC -- spare a friendly thought for Walnut if you think of us tomorrow!

Walnut is depressed, just thinking about the long car ride. Kinda like Henri.

My husband decided to get artsy and try to do the sun flare thing.
Okay, okay, I made him do it. Not bad, though, right?

Summary: 
Fabric: 1 yard of very drapey, tissue-thin, 4-way stretch jersey knit with a healthy lycra content
Notions: None. I didn't bother with the button at the top of the keyhole, nor did I stabilize my shoulder seams as the instructions recommended (oops).
Techniques: This knit binding method is brilliant. I will never go back.
Hours: A few? It would've been faster, except that my machine really wanted a walking foot for this project. I had to go really slowly to get the binding to not look wonkier than it already does.
Will you make this again? Yes, definitely, for all the reasons cited above about its versatility. I also want to try it with a slightly stabler knit, but with less gathers at the front, and extend it into a dress (without the band at the bottom, obviously).
Total cost: $2.50 for the fabric, from the time I met Aleah. 
Final thoughts: With a few minor tweaks, I can see this becoming my go-to top pattern. I'm a sucker for flutter sleeves! Thanks for putting out this pattern, Tanit-Isis!

That's two tops done for R&RtRTW; I've still got a cardigan and several pairs of pants I want to tackle. Since my last pants fail, though, I think I'll go for the cardigan first. Time to start looking out for sweater knits! Oh wait, it's supposed to be ridiculously hot down in SoCal now. Hmmm, I might be able to talk myself into a sundress or two...