This was one of those projects where I just wanted a new top. Fast. I only had a small piece of this gorgeous ponte. Not enough to cut a separate body and sleeves. But I didn’t want e sleeveless top either. A short kimono sleeve is a good workaround and can save the day in these kind of scenarios!
I lengthened the short kimono sleeves further by adding cuffs made from the off cuts. The waste from this project was practically non existent…
It’s a simple hack on an existing tee pattern. This is a tracing of the hemlock tee from Grainline. Using the body pieces as a guide I cut a kimono shape outide of the pattern piece. For the shoulder I simply followed the angle of the shoulder line as far as I could (given the limitations of what fabric I had). When it comes to the underarm curve note it’s position in relation to the original underarm point. (Which you can just about make out in this pic. You’ll note that the underarm curve starts 2-3″ below the original underarm point and the sleeve is overall much wider.
Unfold and use as a template to cut a second identical piece…sew RS together at the shoulders. You can press the seams to the back and top stitch the shoulder seams for a nice finish. (I do this on most of my makes).
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Sew the underarm curves on both sides as pictured….
Neckline is finished with a simple neckband as per this post…
Cuffs are loops of fabric the same circumference as your sleeve hems, folded in half WS together…
Then pinned to the sleeve hems with raw edges aligned, sewn together and pressed away from the garment, with the SA top stitched in place. I had a little bulk at the point where the underarm seam met the join in cuff . Rather than force it through and make the machine “climb over it” (Even with a shim it never makes for a good stitch); I started the stitch one side of the bulky area and finished it the other side. Topstitching in this instance is really only decorative. So a little gap in the line of stitching, in a spot that won’t be noticeable during wear, is no biggie in my book!
This has turned out to be one of those fail safe tees. Throw it on for immediate comfort (and hopefully style!) Yook me about an hour to make as my machines were already threaded up wth the right colour thread from my previous make. (Love it when that happens…
Here’s a close up of that fabric. Lush right? I think it’s out of stock currently but their range of pontes and other jerseys is always ace.
I like quick projects like this sometimes. Every now and then you just need a quick sewing fix that doesn’t tax the brain too much and gives you a wearable garment at the end!
From where does this fabric come?
I absolutely love this shape and this sounds simple enough even I could make it! I am determined to make myself at least one garment this spring, and one for my baby… and therein lies the problem – a 7 month old baby, plus I’m already back at work snowed under with freelance projects (a happy place I suppose!), means no time for sewing, especially when you’re a novice and it all takes ages! We’ll see. 🙂
Love this. . .who made the fabric please?
Looks great! Sometimes the simplest projects that highlight the fabric are best.
Looks great and thanks for the instructions – I’m going to give it a go!
I love this! I made something very similar just a few weeks ago, except it yardage made the kimono top a bit too short for my liking. So I did what you did to the sleeves….. I used leftovers to make a wide band/cuff to add to the bottom. Fast and perfect!