Are you all joining in on the KCW action? I thought it was a perfect time to make some basics!
First up are 3 Flashback Skinny Tees.
All three are up-cycles. This black and grey shirt was formerly my husbands. I bought it for him a long time ago but he never wore it, he is pretty fussy with shirts and complained that it was uncomfortable. I love it in this mini version! The back is a thicker stripe, I didn't get a picture so you will just have to take my word for it. ;)
The next blue one was from an op shop. I spent $4 on this shirt, it was almost new and really good quality. It was a bit of a splurge for me to spend that much on a shirt from the thrift store, but it is about the same price I would have paid for a child's shirt and I fell in love with the colour.
I unpicked all the old neck bands to reuse them. I am so glad I went to the trouble to do so because it definitely makes the shirts look super professional. Along with saving the hems from the original shirt, I think they turned out fantastic!
This purple shirt was the first one that I sewed up and I did make a few mistakes. None that were worth unpicking, but I was careful on the next shirts.
On this purple shirt I sewed the full seam allowance on the underarm and side seams, which was 3/8". On the next shirts I sewed a 1/4" seam allowance to make them a little less 'skinny'. Although I guess that defeats the the point of the skinny tee?! :)
I also decided to sew the neckband in flat instead of in the round. I did so in a similar fashion to this neckband tutorial. I didn't use a serger, and I don't pin, so my method was a little bit different, but the results are pretty good.
Although its not the super duper professional way to sew the neckband, I think that for a knit beginner it is much easier. I made the decision to sew them this way because I would rather see that lumpy seam than have to unpick and resew a floppy neckband. I guess its a question of which annoys you most? Floppy neckband/unpicking or lumpy shoulder seam?
What do you think of the neckband seam? It doesnt look too shabby? Really I mean, I am the only crazy person who is actually going to analyze my sons shirt this much haha.
x
Yes you are the only one who will analyse it that much - haha! I think the necklines look perfect! They are great - a few new tees are on my list for the girls but I don't have any jersey. I'll have to go on a thrift shop hunt to find some nice coloured tees to upcycle!
ReplyDeleteIf you sew it in round you'd still have the lump, you'd just have moved it to the back!
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of sewing the neck in flat before, but I do hem the arms and bottom in flat which you also can't tell and is much easier, so perhaps I'll give it a go!
Thanks Jodie! Definitely give it a try. So true about the lump :)
DeleteYour shirts look great! I'm a bit over-analyser myself so I hear where you're coming from with the neckband issue but no-one else will notice so who cares! I find your make the basics idea really inspiring and am going to try my best to do the same. Someone posted this link on my facebook page today and I thought you might be interested... http://www.ethical.org.au/get-informed/clothing/clothing-companies/
ReplyDeleteSo many companies who don't meet the mark when it comes to buying ethical clothes. I guess we can't expect $2 tshirts without an ethical cost?
Thank you so much for that link Nat. It was so interesting to see the owners behind the brand names. Really there is not much transparency at all is there.
DeleteI love upcycling anyway so this issue just pushes me a little bit extra to make more of the basic stuff.
I can't see anything wrong they look great! You're being too hard on yourself
ReplyDeleteYou've done a great job on the neckbands!
ReplyDeleteI think it looks fabulous! I need to make some t-shirts like that for my kids!
ReplyDeleteThe purple one is my favorite, I actually like the fit the best. And as long as he isn't fussing with the "lumpy" collar (it's not lumpy!) then who cares, because it looks great!
ReplyDeleteThey look great to me! I love the purple one. It takes ages to unpick those neckbands doesn't it?! Worth it though :)
ReplyDeleteThey all look great. I've used a few patterns that sew the neckband in flat (Kitschycoo, Figgy's Banyan Tee) so it just comes down to personal preference really. I think the fit on the last two looks better for the smaller seam allowance.
ReplyDeleteThose tees look fantastic. I have quite a few tshirt patterns so I'm trying to avoid buying this one but I don't think I will be able to for too much longer!!
ReplyDeleteLove these! All three look so profresh!
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