A great big thank you to all of you who responded so positively to
Walnut's announcement about his presidential candidacy! He was pleased to hear that his speech was able to stir up voters, and would like to remind you that it's not to late to
register to vote.
Stepping away from democracy in the states, though, my next knit stash-busting project was inspired by an outfit that the Duchess of Cambridge wore on her recent royal tour in Southeast Asia. This
periwinkle blue Temperley dress with a lacy overlay was one of my favorite dresses of hers from the tour. Well, I just so happened to have a thrifted, oversized, brand new men's tee in that same blue, as well as some sheer overlay leftover from
this project. I've been wanting to make more everyday-wearable items, so I decided to make a raglan-sleeve top, using the sheer net on the sleeves. Pretty much, it's the girliest, most impractical baseball tee ever, and while I would never play sports in it (or play sports in general, really), it goes nicely with most of the casual bottoms in my wardrobe.
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| This is my best calm princess face. |
I used my
Raglan Sleeve Top pattern (available as a printable pdf!), but brought the sleeves, side seams, and neckline in quite a bit to reduce the swinginess and get the boat-neck of Kate's dress. I had just enough fabric to do the neck binding and the cuffs, but unfortunately ran out of fabric for a bottom hem band. That's what I get for working with just a men's medium that was already cut off-grain. I may take in the sides a bit more to make it more fitted, since it looks a little silly to be that loose without being gathered into a hem band.
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| Close-up: I didn't have any light blue thread, so I just used white the whole way through. |
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| The sheer sleeves are definitely my favorite part. |
Summary:
Fabric: 100% organic cotton medium men's tee in light periwinkle blue, some kind of white polyester net
Notions: none
Hours used: Two-ish. I messed up the binding the first time around since this knit is tissue thin and uncooperative, so I had to go back and redo it.
Will you make this again? Maybe? Not sure how I feel about the raglan sleeve in knit.
Total cost: $5
Final thoughts: I don't know how well the inspiration came through in the final garment, but hey, it's a wearable top and I would never have thought to put these fabric together otherwise. I'm really liking that this is slightly more presentable than a plain t-shirt, but not over the top girly, either.
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One last ridiculous picture -- my best princess wave!
Oddly enough, it looks like my embroidered Gollum is mimicking me. Or am I mimicking him? |
I still have a few more big knit projects to churn out before I'm done with this round of stash-busting, by which time the weather will hopefully have cooled down so that I can think about my plaids and wools! Right now, the very idea is making me break into a sweat.
That's a great re-fashion!
ReplyDeleteI also have a soft spot for Temperley, and recently blogged about my idea of knocking off one of her jeans designs ... lol! As soon as I find the right fabric ... which so far has eluded me on this side of the pond.
I love almost all of her outfits, so I totally sympathize with not being able to find appropriate fabrics to knock them off! Best of luck!
DeleteAnother winner, Cindy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gail!
DeleteSo cute! I love how this turned out for you, and it gives me an idea of what to do with the rest of the mesh fabric that I have in my stash....
ReplyDeleteI've had this mesh fabric for quite a while, but I can't think of anything to do with it except as little accents in pieces like this. At this rate, it's going to take years to go through all of it!
DeleteIt is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteCute! And btw, my husband walked in the room and saw it and loves it so much he wants me to make one for myself, hehe. (He's always had a thing for sheer sleeves on girls.)
ReplyDeleteYou should totally do it! Do you want some of my net? I've got tons and will probably never use it all.
DeleteMy husband was weirded out by the sheer sleeves and doesn't like this top, so I guess it's an acquired taste!
I think I might have some stretch lace that I could use, but thanks, I might let you know if I need some! We will see how long it takes me to get to that project on my forever growing list! =)
DeleteLove it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
DeleteI think I prefer your version. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure mine is more wearable...but hers belongs in a dream!
Deletethis is so nice! love that u got inspiration from the duchess! haha! shows how versatile your pattern is! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I saw that picture of hers, or this would never have gotten made!
DeleteI absolutely love it! That last photo- it really does look like Gollum is mimicking you!
ReplyDeleteYes! And I didn't even notice that I was waving right in front of him until I went over the pictures!
DeleteThats so fun! I wish Kate did throw a little more whimsy into her style- can you send her one?
ReplyDeleteHahaha if Kate wore a random blogger's baseball tee, that would be awesome!
DeleteInspired combination of fabrics!
ReplyDeleteThanks to the Duchess, or I guess thanks to Temperley?
DeleteLove this! A baseball top is on my list to make for fall, but I would have never thought to put these fabrics together!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have thought of it either, so I'm glad it works!
DeleteVery nice!! I didn't know that raglan sleeve top was your pattern. I've had it in my "Burdastyle stuff" for a while. I hadn't gotten around to printing it yet. I'll definitely have to use it soon. Especially after seeing this cute little top. (^_^)
ReplyDeleteAww thanks! Just so you know, the top on Burdastyle is much swingier than this version, so you'll have to take it in a quite a bit if you want a baseball tee look. Let me know if it works for you!
DeleteWhat a great top, I love the colours they fit you perfectly! What a great pattern to use with different fabrics.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm not a fan of colorblocking, so this is probably the closest I'll ever get to it!
DeleteThis is the most delicate, feminine 'baseball' tee! Fit for a princess ;) And that colour really suits you.
ReplyDeleteThat is so kind of you to say!
DeleteDear Mrs. Chan,
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled to find out that you have a blog through your facebook page. I am taking a Chemistry class this semester, and I've been thinking a lot about you because you are THE best science teacher I've ever (and probably will) had and one of the best teachers I've ever known.
I remember absolutely loving your class, and all the knowledge I have about science comes from your teachings.
You are so incredibly talented in so many areas, and I adore your sewing works! Especially this new top. I'd like to buy it if it was for sale.
I miss you, and I hope you're doing well =).
Blessings,
anna
Very chic Cindy!
ReplyDeleteUm, I LOVE this! Baseball tees are my signature look, by which I mean you can find me in little boys' plain raglan tees basically every other day. I've been thinking of making one in neutral colors, trying to make the look more adult, but I LOVE that you've gone even further by making the baseball tee girly and sweet!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I used to love shopping the little boys' section for their awesome graphic tees, but I never looked at their baseball tees. If you're successful in making one look grownup, that would be awesome!
DeleteOMG. i think this is actually one of my favorite things you've made, because it is so practical, accessible, and yet has a wonderful sense of fun and whimsy (like all of your best work). more importantly (for me) it is really inspiring for one of my own stalled UFOs, inspired by a dutchess...or at least a countess. of grantham. :-) i'm now officially obsessed with finding a good sheer overlay fabric!
ReplyDeleteOoh, the Countess of Grantham -- I can't wait to see what that looks like! If you want some of this sheer net, let me know, as I've got plenty.
DeleteI'm surprised, myself, at how much I like this normal tee...it's not a out there as some of my dresses, but maybe that's what makes it work!
I love it! The sheer sleeves are totally fabulous, and the color is pretty on you. I'm definitely a fan of your princess expressions :) Definitely an ensemble fit for a royal!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Meg! My princess expressions are really just "try to space out and not look at the camera!"
DeleteThank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I love the color and use of the sheer lacy fabric! Very Royal!!
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong that I like your tee better than her dress? You look very calm and princess-like in a much more approachable way ^__^ Love the golum mimicking too! ^__^
ReplyDeleteThat top isn't cute - it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI never would have thought of doing this with the idea of a baseball tee, but I love how it turned out! Very classy :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this top. I am a big fan of tee shirts. They're the most comfortable thing in any wardrobe, so I'm always looking for ways to make them unique and more of a 'style choice' than a lazy outfit. You've absolutely done it with this top. I love it. Hopefully your husband will grow to love it, too!
ReplyDeleteThat has gotta be the prettiest baseball tee ever, and I think you translated the inspiration perfectly! Ah.. How serene art thou in those pictures, loveleh!
ReplyDelete