Hey y’all, today I’m participating in a fabric tour for my friends, the girls over at Simple Simon & Co. This print is from their new line with Riley Blake, called By Popular Demand.
The By Popular Demand fabrics are a few basic patterns in a range of colors. I’m wearing the arrows in gray. I originally planned to sew something for my boys when I requested this fabric, but when it came down to it I decided to be selfish and sew this arrow print for myself.
And I’m wearing another one of my friend’s designs in this t-shirt – my friend Dixie’s Summer Concert Tee.
After I decided I wanted to do a lace insertion technique, I started thinking about what garment I’d want to do the lace insertion on. I wanted some thing comfy and basic, and I thought of Dixie’s pattern because the shoulder/sleeve seam seemed like the perfect spot for a little lace. And I love how swingy this tshirt is.
The top is a very easy sew. I did alter the pattern a little, adding 3 inches to center front, tapering to 2 inches at the side fronts. That meant I had to add 2 inches to the back side seams too.
I also cut a longer neckband from self fabric on the bias. One of these days I’ll do a tutorial about why I prefer to cut neckbands on the bias most of the time, but for today I’ll just give the short reason, which is that I think doing that makes the neckband lay flatter.
Other than that, the only other change I made was to double the length of the sleeve cuffs, so that I could fold them up and encase the sleeve edges instead of hemming the cuff.
I do wish I had done a forward shoulder adjustment for myself so the lace would lay on my shoulder instead of behind it, but I still see this top getting a lot of wear. And I kind of like how it looks like a sort of plain top from the front and then from the side or back you see the detail.
Emily
I love it!!! You added to the length, did I read that right? I own this pattern but haven’t sewn it yet. I do always think of your bias neckbands whenever mine don’t turn out. I look forward to your post.
Cherie
Hi, Melly, cute top! BTW, I can’t stand the floating menu bar on your site. It makes the viewable area even smaller, this on a lap-top. I don’t know how to get rid of it, it follows right down the page as I go down.
Susie
Love this top. Love the fabric and it looks great with your cute gray booties!
HW
I would love to see a tutorial on how to do a forward shoulder adjustment with dolman sleeves. The lace inserts are beautiful!
Melissa Mora
It’s the same as for any bodice, you take some off the front shoulder swam and add t to the back shoulder.
HW
When I wear the top without the adjustment, the seam falls off the back of my shoulder but is closer to the right spot nearer the neckline and at the end of the dolman sleeve. Which part do I measure to know how to move it – the neckline or shoulder point? And do I move the whole seam an equal distance? Thanks so much!