This mustard knit has been sat in my stash since a few months before we moved last year. I recovered it from storage last week. It is soooooo stretchy and since I didn’t have the right colour cones for my overlocker, I opted to sew this on my standard machine. One word. Aaaargh! But hey…with the aid of a walking foot and a bit of coaxing I got there. The finish isn’t perfect. But in truth this is very much a toile/prototype of an idea I wanted to try out. So in the context of that…I’m content.
Content enough to want to share, because I think in principle, this idea works. Β The concept is essentially an easy way to give a shapeless garment definition through simple gathering. So I started by making a shapeless garment! Two simple rectangles sewn together across the top and sides with holes left open for the head and the arms. Not dissimilar to my pashmina refashion…but with less chalking (!) and plenty of width to play with…literally two rectangles…then neckline and armholes finished then hemmed…
Then I simply pinched out pleats, gathering the excess fabric into one point. Eventually settling on four pleats set off centre just on the lower bust curve. The problem I sometimes have with overly loose tops is that, because I have a largish bust, they have a tendency to hang from the bust point, disguising any shape below the bust and well…just looking a bit “tenty”. Once I’d settled on my arrangement of pleats I simply hand stitched them in place. It provides juuuust enough shaping whilst still allowing me to indulge my love of loose tops!
I could see this being useful for refashioning oversized tops and shirts…..don’t be surprised if you see this technique pop up again basically!
Somehow you always manage to make rectangles look amazing! Love this!
Ha ha! I’ll take that Meg thankyou π rectangles ARE amazing π Px
So simple yet such a great effect. I love it!!!
Glad you like Sasha! Px
What a great idea! I bet this would make a nice maternity top too! I think I may borrow this idea at some point!
Would be perfect for maternity wear Helen!
It would totally be an amazing too for pregnancy as maternity clothes have gotten better over 23 years BUT not colour and if you love colour like me this is the perfect example!!! Canβt wait to make this!
really lovely and effective – i totally adore the colour………..
I love mustard but always been a bit wary due to my colouring!
I’ve just discovered your site but I’ve already falled in love!
Ah that’s so kind Paola π Welcome! Px
Brilliant ideas! I really want to try this but can you explain how you “finished and hemmed” the neckline and armholes please? I imagine they would have raw edges so I’m interested in exactly what you did as the still seem to follow the line of the rectangles
They’re simple turned hems. For the armholes and neckline, when you press open the side seams and shoulder seams, the “sleeve” & neckline hems will begin to turn in by the same amount as your side/shoulder seams. So you just turn the same amount under all the way around each opening. Does that make sense?
Thanks, makes sense to me now. I will try this next weekend
Ah yay!
Love how this came out. I’m just starting to venture in sewing clothing, and this is one thing I definitely want to try.
Thank you Baye π Would be a great beginner project!
LOVE!!!!!!
π
The pleats have such a great artistic vibe! Looooooove the mustard color!!!
JJ
http://www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com
Such a simple detail but it really changes the shape and the look. I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for later today that links to your tutorial;
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-asymmetric-pleated-tunic/2015/03/16/
–Anne
Thankyou Anne π so glad you like π
This looks awesome! And what a great color! I can’t believe how simple it was to achieve- it looks really tricky!
Thanks lovely! I like simplicity! π
Hi. First time I’ve seen your stuff (CraftGossip). Clever, clever, clever. If this was any simpler it would be because someone else would be doing it for me.
Hi Peta! Welcome and thank you! I tend to like to solve a design dilemma in as few steps as possible, lol π
Brilliantly executed!
Thank you!!!
What a great idea for thrifted T shirts! If you see one that you like, but it is too large, just apply this procedure. You will then have a custom T shirt.