Hey, friends! Long time, no project! That hasn’t been intentional. I have a bit of a backlog to share with you, so let’s get started on this week’s project, a wool/Lycra knit Lark Tee from Grainline Studio.
This is my first Grainline Studio garment since the Hemlock. I wasn’t in love with that particular pattern (or its instructions) and so I shied away from the company as a whole, but they do have a number of pretty great-looking patterns, and people seem to love them, so I decided to dip my toe in a little bit. And to be completely honest, I wear my Hemlock all the time for pajamas. I guess it just goes to show that first impressions aren’t everything, and it’s worth it to wear a garment for a while before deciding if you like it or not.
This project came about because I really need a good, versatile t-shirt pattern that can become a TNT (tried-n-true) pattern for me, and after searching the interwebs for one pattern with lots of options, I found that Grainline’s Lark Tee had the largest number of options to cover all your basic t-shirt needs in one pattern. I used to say I wouldn’t sew t-shirts when I could buy them so cheaply, but I admit to getting sucked in. A t-shirt is a great palate cleanser between more intense projects.
I still had a good amount of my green wool/Lycra knit fabric (used in this shirt), which seemed like a good match for the pattern. I borrowed the pattern from a friend, so that I could see if I liked it before really committing.
I chose the long-sleeved scoop neck view, tracing a 12 at the bust and grading out to a 14 at the waist and hips. In looking at the pictures, I think I could have maybe gone down a size, but I usually err on the side of more ease rather than less. The instructions and illustrations were very clear and easy to understand, which I really liked. Maggie at Pintuck & Purl had told me that the shirt runs long, but I decided to keep the length so I could use it for layering (for reference, I’m 5 ft. 8.5 in.). She has a great version of this shirt on the shop’s blog. Reading her post is part of what finally convinced me to try it.
My initial reaction was that the shirt was…ok. It is definitely a straight fit and not defined at the waist. Also, this fabric might not be the awesome match I thought it was. I have to wear it a little bit more to see what I really think, but despite my potential fabric and sizing blunders, I’m beginning to like it. I think it could become a wardrobe staple. I’d like to try a short-sleeved version as well as versions in other types of fabric at some point.
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***Since taking these pictures and writing my first draft of this post, I spent a day wearing this same outfit, but with the shirt tucked in and with a long cardigan over it, and I really like it. It’s comfortable and (I think) looks good.***
I have to admit, I’m kind of excited to experiment with this pattern, and I’m glad I gave Grainline another try. Looks like I need more knit fabric. Darn. 😉
Recommendations
- I think I mentioned last time that I’ve been listening to old episodes of the Sew Forth Now podcast, so I’m making lots of discoveries, like…THE PROJECT RUNWAY NINTENDO WII GAME! I’m not quite sure if this is hilarious or awesome (or both), but since I don’t have a Wii, maybe one of you can try it out and let me know. 🙂
- I recently met Jocelyn Love who is working to open “a nonprofit sewing center and reclaimed fabric store” in Gloucester, MA, AND they are having a sewing-themed sale on May 6 to raise money. If you are local, you may want to donate and/or shop the sale. Their Facebook page is here and even if you don’t have Facebook, you can see the details at this link. I’m really interested to see what this nonprofit becomes.
- Cadbury Creme Eggs. It’s that time of year, and Cadbury Eggs are my all-time favorite Easter candy.
- More seriously, though, to those of you who celebrate it: Happy Easter!
Pattern and Branch 