New project: sleeveless shirt

Thanks for all the supportive comments on my last post. I’m already feeling a bit better. I’m really lucky; Mr Robot is, of course, brilliantly supportive, and on top of that my workmates are fantastic when I’m having one of my wobbles. Happily, I’ve got four days off next week so I’m planning to have a nice time pottering around gardening, going to the gym, and making things*. The most exciting thing I’m planning to make is this sleeveless shirt. One of my lesbian chums described sleeveless shirts as 'the ultimate butch item', which made me laugh as I see them as part of that incredibly chic and feminine 60s look – then again, I doubt she's imagining them paired with pencil skirts and kitten heels. I couldn't find a vintage pattern in my size, so went with this modern one.

I’m going to make the simplest version, version A, with no sleeves at all. The armholes are edged on the inside with bias binding, just like my rocket top is edged on the outside, so that’s a simple thing to do. Making the collar and button placket will be completely new, however – and after watching this week’s Sewing Bee, where a few of the contestants struggled with jacket collars, I’m prepared for that to be a tricky thing.


Like with the rocket top, I’m going to have a test run using an old sheet, just to practice techniques and check the overall fit. This shirt doesn’t have side darts, so the Full Bust Adjustment I’ve learned won’t work on the pattern and I’m bigger in the bust than the pattern goes up to, but I’ve seen from reviews online that there’s a good four inches of ease in the design, so I’m hoping that making the largest size in the pattern will fit my shoulders and high bust, and I’ll be able to get away with just making the vertical darts shallower if need be. A friend has suggested shoulder darts if the shoulders turn out too wide, though I’m happy just to trim away the fabric as there’s no corresponding sleevehead to worry about.

As for fabric choice… This is the sort of design I’ll wear loads, so I’ll probably end up making it in all sorts of fabrics. Dark blue to start with OF COURSE to go with summer skirts, but perhaps also a mustard or red one. Maybe a green one. You know me, I like to keep styles simple. I'm happy for most of the interest to be in the fabric. I've got some nice vintage cotton fabric that might be suitable, but I think the order of manufacture will be sheet version - modern fabric version - vintage fabric version.

 So hopefully in seven days I'll have an outfit post for you!

*I will almost certainly spend time on my PS4 because games are ace, but not too much because otherwise I feel like I haven’t really done anything. And this may be TMI but I’m also going for my smear test. If you’re eligible, GO FOR YOUR SMEAR TEST. It could save your life.