Quickie Cowl

digging the 80s vibe. not digging the big hair.

This weekend I was working on my jeans. Yeah, I’ve totally taken the long way ’round with them. Let’s call it the scenic route, to put a positive spin on it, k? K. However, I needed a quick win, and decided I’d bang out this top.

at least you know i wear my seat belt.

It was on my spring/summer list anyway, though in a different fabric. I decided a last-minute sub was the game to play, and am glad I did. This jersey blend was one of two new purchases for my sewing plan, but the rib knit is a stash buster. The stripes were very obviously off-sidesgrain, but with a pre-wash, I’m hoping that won’t be an issue. In keeping with my new love of loose and breezy for the weather, I even added more volume than the pattern allows, and sewed up a larger size than necessary. A quick search on Pattern Review told me that the cowl is nowhere near as blousey in real life as in the illustration, and that the neckline is higher.

While I didn’t adjust the height of the neckline, I did slash & spread the front to add more drape to the cowl. I’m pretty happy with it. The only other adjustment I made was to size down two sizes in the waistband, and also to only use half the length of that same piece.

The sizing down may be an issue with the recovery (or lack thereof) of my rib knit, so if you make this up, kick the pieces around for sure. Next time, if there is one, I might size down the main bodice, yet I do like the volume. I’d also cut down on the amount of fabric used for the part of the cowl that hangs on the inside. It seems a bit excessive to me, but in this moderately see-through knit, it’s an assist.

The serged construction was a breeze (woolly nylon, I love you forever), and for the sleeves I opted to use zigzag fancy footwork to echo the stitch on the back neck facing. I interfaced with tricot for the first time, so fingers crossed that nothing weird happens in the wash. I took a gamble and didn’t test. So living on the edge.

Last Wednesday was not a quick win, but awesome all the same. In fact, I stitched up this shirt in the morning, knowing I was going to some event, guessing it was at Fenway, assuming it was a baseball game. Holy amazeballs husband!!! You’ll never walk alone.

Fabric: jersey blend from Hart’s, $6; rib knit from stash

Pattern: Hot Patterns Cool, Calm and Cowl-Neck tee, free at fabric.com

Year: 2009

Notions: tricot, thread

Total price: $6