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Saturday, July 14, 2012

The Escher Shirt

I've got a new obsession: geometric prints. I think it started with this fabric, bought in May at the market. It reminds me of M.C. Eschers prints of impossible objects. For a long time I wasn't sure what to make with it. A dress? Pants? It felt like I had to be careful with this one, it might become twee if I chose the wrong pattern. Then, remembering my 'Don't think, sew' - resolution I cut a square, made an incision at the top and tried to turn it into a simple tunic/dress resembling Sweet Verbena's Maxi dress. Well, that didn't work. This patterns does not need gathers, there's already enough going on. I guess sometimes overthinking something isn't such a bad thing. So I decided to keep it simple and just make a batwing top. I was lucky to be able to squeeze these sleeves out of the square.


I used the Renfrew as a sloper and drew mini batwing sleeves (as done with the batwing sweater). I'm using these a lot lately, I like the style and I can forego setting in sleeves which I still haven't quite mastered yet. Added cuffs and a waistband à la the Renfrew and that was basically it. I thought of making a wide neckline, but these tend to slide off one shoulder and I wanted to be able to wear this to work. I think a pattern like this doesn't need a complicated design anyway, it's interesting enough in itself. And I need some basic shirts that you can just throw on.

One question for you: how do you finish raw serged edges like these? Now I hand sewed them flat at the end, but maybe there's a better way? I'd love to hear your tips and tricks!

P.S. Number 3 of the 15:60!
P.P.S. If you like it too, I saw this fabric somewhere in an online shop, but I forgot where. I do know they had badly photoshopped examples of garments made with it. Anyone know which shop that is?

6 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 14, 2012 at 8:34 AM

    Love it love it love it! It's got all of (what I think of as) your colours yellow, orange, olive love it! I love this sort of fabric. One of my earliest Etsy purchases were two remnants of 70s fabric (one orange and blue the other yellow and green) in this sort of arrangement. I seem to have lost them X...P Every couple of months I get into a mad state looking for them everywhere then give up XD. I know they'll turn up when I move. If not.. well.. I'll just have to deal XS

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  2. Feeling groovy...July 14, 2012 at 8:35 PM

    Love it and it looks great on you. Did you attach the neck binding and then serge the shoulder seams? I usually do shoulder seams first and then neck binding so I've never had that issue with the serged end.

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    Replies
    1. LisaJuly 18, 2012 at 2:34 PM

      You know, I usually do that too. But I really can't remember why I didn't this time.

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  3. Tanit-IsisJuly 15, 2012 at 5:38 PM

    It's great! I should make some batwings, they're one of those things that I always like on other people but feel hesitant about myself. The simple shape is perfect for that awesome print.

    I've read a couple of tips for the serger ends, including sealing with fray-check and snipping. My favourite is taking a tapestry-type needle (blunt tip, big eye), threading the whole tail into it, and using the needle to thread the tail back inside the serged seam for an inch or so.

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    Replies
    1. LisaJuly 18, 2012 at 2:33 PM

      That sounds quick and easy, thanks for the tip!

      Delete
  4. AnonymousJuly 27, 2012 at 10:07 PM

    great top! and I love your photos.

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