First off, anyone else hard on their summer clothes? I am terrible, spill things on them, get home from work and start pulling weeds in the garden. Oh, guess what something on my shirt and it won't come out. Plus I just wear certain things so much, they just get "tired" looking. Which I can relate, some days I just get tired looking!
I like to freshen up my summer tops in July, give myself some new looks for the rest of the season and retire some of the older garments. They can become permanent garden/work at home tops.
I have several knit fabrics to sew up and the first one I went with Sewaholic's Renfrew Top. I really like this pattern and have it just about to the perfect fit. I do see a wrinkle just above the bust, which I think means I need to do a bit of a full bust adjustment. Fitting gurus out there is that what it means?
This is a quick sew and on the neckband, I used the bias for the stripe. Just adds a bit of visual interest to the top.
The fabric is a deep aqua blue heather gray jersey/rayon knit from Girl Charlee
I went back and looked at the other Renfrew tops I have made and thought I would give an overview with links.
A red 3/4 sleeve Renfrew - I love this top and wear it quite a bit. It feels perfect and the fabric is wonderful. Plus as you all have been telling me in the comments - red is my color! Ha ha!
Navy-white stripe short sleeve Renfrew - My all time favorite Renfrew, it fits perfectly and I think the feel and style of the fabric makes it my favorite.
Navy-red Stripe short sleeve Renfrew - the first Renfrew in this blogpost. I like this one okay, but the fabric has a metallic stripe and I don't really like that. I really don't wear this one very often.
Pink stripe short sleeve Renfrew - The second one in this blog post. I wear this quite a bit, don't love the fabric, it is a bit heavy but I do like the color and fit.
White short sleeve Renfrew - I like this one but I see the wrinkle in this one, should of dealt with the fitting issue earlier. As I mentioned earlier about being hard on clothes, I stained the white shirt and it would not come out. My solution, I used some RIT dye and made this one a dark plum color. It works nicely for fall with the color and I saved a garment.
Abstract 3/4 sleeve Renfrew - This one is a winner, I wear it so much in the fall/winter and it is always is perfect. Love the fabric so much.
Floral 3/4 sleeve Renfrew - I didn't keep this one around long. It was donated. I liked nothing about this one, the fit, the wide neckline the colorful overpowering fabric. It just wasn't me at all. I kept trying to wear it but I never seemed to leave the house. I believe on the neckline, I just cut the neckband too long and it didn't draw the neckline into the body.
So there is the recap of Renfrews hits and misses. As I compiled the list, it really was all about the fabric if I liked the garment or not. What about you on pattern you tend to make several times....
- Do you like everyone of the garments?
- Is it the fabric that is the culprit?
- Or is some bit construction erro?
My pile of retired garments, labeled 'for gardening only' is enormous. Yet I find myself kneeling in a flower bed in my best white jeans on a regular basis. So yes, guilty of being hard on my summer clothes! When sewing with knits I always blame the fabric for different outcomes. Slight difference in weight or stretch percentage immediately influences the results. I really like this new Renfrew!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marianne, you and I sound so much alike. The fabric is what seems to really make a garment.
DeleteSo, Lori, would you say that you like the Renfrew top? LOL .
ReplyDeleteI make mostly clothes to wear around the house, not by intention. For me, fabric choice is often the culprit. I keep trying, though.
I do love the Renfrew for sure. I always seem to get hooked on a knit pattern.
Delete"Tired looking"...I feel you! Such a cute summery top! Can NEVER have enough of these...this top looks like a "must try"!
ReplyDeleteIt is a summery top and is a keeper!
DeleteJust dumped half my breakfast egg down my front. I can't get rid of any tops, even the less successful ones; I have to change them too often! Love this post.
ReplyDeleteOh, Annie, that is too bad about your breakfast.
DeletePretty top and there is nothing like a great top that works with your wardrobe lifestyle. I am notorious for refashioning. Most of the time its about the fabric and the rest pattern. Of course, there is the necessary evil of bad construction.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric seems to be the key of it all and I always admire your refashioning.
DeleteGosh, I need a big collection of knit tops like you. I never make them, but it certainly is a glaring wardrobe hole.
ReplyDeleteI love my knit tops, they work perfectly in my wardrobe (work and casual) all summer long.
DeleteLori,
ReplyDeleteI love your tops. I'm trying to beef up my selection of tops. Like you, I'm retiring clothes because they look worn. I think you are right about the FBA. The wrinkles point to the problem area.
Thanks, I will try FBA and see the results.
DeleteWent out in the yard to pick up some tree braches that had come down in a storm ended up with tree sap on my good work pants! could have kicked myself!LOL I like the abstract print the best. Not sure what to say about the crease could be FBA or but the shoulders fit beautifully. I may have to get this pattern for myself, since it seems to be a great go to pattern for you!
ReplyDeleteOh, Joen, that is too bad. I always think I won't get anything on me then that proves wrong! I think I might try a FBA next
DeleteThis is a great summer top! It looks so fresh with your white capris.
ReplyDeleteWhite capris, pants and jeans are the best for summer. Thanks.
DeleteCute top - that pattern looks like a winner! I really like the similar KS pattern and haven't bit the bullet and bought the Renfew yet since they are so similar. I think for me it's usually the fabric that makes or breaks my love for something.
ReplyDeleteI think you would be good with the KS top and the fabric makes all the difference.
DeleteCute top! The wrinkles below the bust say FBA. The one above the bust well I always thought that it was the shoulder line not matching with your own. Can you put a little shoulder pad in there and see it the wrinkle goes away?
ReplyDeleteFBA is a winner for the recommendation. Good idea on the shoulder pad, I will try that.
Deletecute top! I had the same wrinkles above the bust and thought I needed and FBA. But I found that it meant I had excess fabric in that area. I pinched out about a fourth of an inch and redrew the patterns piece. Worked great!.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good point, Shannon, that was my first thought. I will try that out.
DeleteI can't imagine that you'd ever look tired!
ReplyDeleteI have armpit wrinkles on my renfrews too and have heard that I need to lower the armpit (said one person), while another was in Shannon F's camp above (pinch out the excess fabric). I lowered the armpit and had less wrinkles but still had wrinkles.
I am going to try the pinch out technique first. Oh, yes, tired is a side effect of being 51! LOL
DeleteHi Lori, I have that same little annoying wrinkle myself and what I am going to try is pinching out that fabric above the bust. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI am going to try that, too, let me know how yours works out.
DeleteHi Lori, here is the you tube video that explains the excess fabric issue: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEfmKfUauZc. I find I have to do this alteration often on t-shirts and fitted tops. Hope it helps.
ReplyDeleteThanks, so much, Shannon, I will watch that for sure.
DeleteGreat top ... wonderful color combo. You are always going to have folds in a knit (or any) top that doesn't have sewn darts as a result of fabric going over a 3D "curve" and forming an unsewn dart. I wouldn't stress over it ... the tee looks great and not different from any other with no darts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debbie, you are the fitting queen so thanks for the information. I also purchased new undergarments, that will get the girls in the right place and help a bit I believe! Ha ha!
DeleteWhat Debbie said. I don't like darts in knits unless the wearer is uber-busty, which I am not, and I think we can be less finicky about knit fitting. This Renfrew looks great on you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with less finicky and no darts, they are casual garments. I just have been noticing the wrinkle and thought I would ask. Thanks so much.
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ReplyDelete