Pages

Tuesday 17 May 2016

A sporty Concord tee


Just a quick post to show another Cashmerette Concord T-shirt. I needed a new shirt for the gym and since my wearable Concord muslin gets a lot of wear I thought I'd give the longer version a try.  

Concord tech drawing

Scooped neckline, mid length sleeves with tabs, curved hemline. In addition to the shoulder adjustment I made for the muslin I took out an extra 3/8" halfway between center back and shoulder on each side of the back neckline to fix a bit of gaping. The neckband was cut on the cross grain.
The fabric is a cotton jersey, bought last autumn with a Plantain in mind. 

The sleeves were a bit short on me, next time I'll lengthen them so that I can make decent hems that don't roll every time I bend my arms. I just forgot to add the usual inch for my long arms.
Eventually I didn't use the tabs. There's enough going on with this print, and I liked the look of the sleeves as they are.




The curved hem is finished with facings. The pattern instructions tell you to finish the hem and topstitch the facings before closing the side seams, I prefer to do it the other way around. Close the side seams, stitch the facings together at the side seams and attach them in the round, then make a continuous row of topstitching.

There's something about this shirt  that doesn't feel completely right and I can't quite put my finger on it.

Should I take it in at waist and hips?





Or perhaps shorten it?




Or just leave it as it is and wear it for my weekly workout?




I'd really like to hear your opinions!


25 comments:

  1. Lovely shirt! I do like the shorter length better, but only after you mentioned it as an option..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Charlotte. It was an afterthought for me as well ;)

      Delete
  2. I prefer the shorter version too. Anyway you look great !

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's probably perfect as it is for working out - you don't want it to show anything as you lift your arms! But as a t-shirt, I think a little longer would be a better tunic length for you, and shorter would make a better t-shirt. You are so tall compared to me! :P The medium version fits me like the long version fits you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At 5'8" I'm by far the shortest of the family! You are right about lifting my arms, it was really comfortable during the workout. Not sure about the longer tunic length, tunics make me look top heavy with weirdly short legs!

      Delete
  4. I think it's great as is, but when you asked about tweaking my first instinct was to shorten a bit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, my idea too! I already had my doubts while cutting the longer length, but I'm not sure it's bothering me enough to unpick and redo the facings of the curved hem!

      Delete
  5. That fabric 😍 I like your shirt a lot and I think the shorten length is better. I'm not sure why but I think it has something to do with the colours in the print. The pink dress way more attention then the blue, and the longer length has like a half repelt of pink at the hem. I think it looks better with the blue at the hem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The print was a bit strange to work with! The hand painted look made it hard to get perfect print matching, yet is was too obvious to ignore. Also, the colour stripes aren't horizontal. A little bit longer and green would have jumped in at the hem. The blue line is on the short side for the gym and anything in between does not make sense colour wise so I think I'll leave it as it is.

      Delete
  6. I like the shorter length too. I have made 4 Grainline Lark tees which are quite long and I have shortened then all by 5cm. I usually have to 5cm to the length of anything.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The shorter length is what I used for the wearable muslin and Concord #3. Better overall proportions, I think. I'll wear and wash this tee a few more times to see if it's worth unpicking the facings, It's just active wear and there are no mirrors in the gym 😄

      Delete
  7. I like your shirt, and I think it will be even better if you take a bit in at the waist and hips: with these great colors it is a perfect tunic length. Let us know what you will do with it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will go down a size at the waist and hips for my next Concord, not sure if It won't be a bit restrictive for active wear. I need room for my growing muscles :))

      Delete
  8. I think shorten it too. Just better proportions I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I added a bit of length to the neckband, bingo!

      Delete
  9. I agree - the shorter length is more flattering, but if you are just wearing it to work-out, I'm not sure it is worth the bother. Either way, you'll be one of the more nicely attired, I'm sure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the compliment! You're right, I can do better things with my sewing time than unpick a curved hem!

      Delete
  10. The shorter length looks like a better proportion for your body. I think maybe the longer length might be good if the pants were more fitted as in a legging.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never owned a pair of leggings in my life! Not sure it will be a good look...For my next Concords it's back to the muslin length!

      Delete
  11. It's lovely Marianne and a perfect length for working out. I think the shorter length is probably more flattering on you so I would make that next time but this one is fine for the gym.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great pattern. It could easily be lengthened to make a very easy to wear dress. As for this top, if you are wearing it only do the gym, I would leave it long, to keep you covered during certain moves that might hike up the shirt. However, for every day wear, the shorter length would make your legs look longer. Re taking it in at the waist - if it is only for the gym, I would not as it could get uncomfortable during a work-out. For every day wear, I think it looks fine either way: more tunic-like in its looser configuration, fitted tee when taken in a little. Great job. I am adding this pattern to my wish list.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think for the gym the longer length is perfect - when you lift your arms you won't expose your tum and b()m. For a top, shorter. And tabs would have been visual overload I think!

    ReplyDelete