I am still attempting to perfect my pattern for the sleeveless, stretch cotton shirt.  I redrew the pattern, adding more to the bust, but added it too high up.  Of course!  Thankfully, I only cut out one with that pattern.  I was actually thinking.

Here is that first version of the new version.  It is made out of a poly cotton.  I added a small shawl collar to it.  Like I said…it *almost* fits.  The other shirts I did a narrow hem on the arms, but this one I used fabric on the bias for the arm hems.

In constructing all of these shirts, I first sew them on the sewing machine, then serge the seams, and then I topstitched the middle seams on the front and the back.  Lots of stitching, which takes a bit longer, but it makes them look more finished.

I have had that fabric for a few years…and I think I bought it to match these shoes. (I have a bit of a shoe addiction to go along with my fabric addiction) I finally got to wear them! LOL!

Back to the drawing board…

This is one that pretty much fits, though I need to move the neckline up a little bit.  It is a little too “Hi there, I can see your bra when I stand above you!”.  I made a larger shawl collar on this one and it makes me look a bit like a linebacker.

Exhibit A (notice the top matches the boots…that may have been planned. )

It would be better in a drapey type of fabric, but this has quite a bit of body to it.  No drapeyness here.  The outside of the collar is the fashion fabric and the inside is a white polyester with no stretch.  I was trying to buy a white stretch poly cotton.  That right there would be why I don’t buy fabric online very often.  I suck at it!  Not sure what I’m going to do with the rest of that 2 yards.

When I got home from work I figured out where the center of the shoulder was (as I was conveniently wearing it), and then I pulled in the collar and sewed it underneath.  This gives the collar some volume and an interesting shape.  NOW, it looks much better (ignore the wrinkliness…I did wear it all day).

Then here is another top that doesn’t fit all that great. Big bummer since I love this fabric. You would think I would remember that the last time I sewed up some tanks from this pattern that they were TOO TIGHT in the bust. Nope! I am going to try to stretch the fabric out a bit when I wash it. I am also going to mark on my pattern to add some width to the front.

I will probably enter at least one of these tops into the Spring Top Sewalong…it’s that time of year!