Monday, June 19, 2017

Laundry Day Tee. Or Not.

Yes, I'm actually posting twice in the same month. I'll wait while you get off the floor.

So apparently one of the best ways to kickstart a missing sewjo is to write a blog post about how little desire you have to sew. And in a similar vein, when in that same blogpost you lament about not liking any fabric choices you've seen lately … well, you know where that's going. Yep. A few yards may have jumped into my shopping cart during Fabricmart's latest Pyramid sale. And then possibly a few more a week later during the Knits sale.

That's all good news. But I am not without hiccups and speed bumps in this story.

Let's begin.

First, last year I had bought a crap-ton of patterns during one of the BMV all-brands sales. My order arrived. I ooohed. I ahhed. I made plans. I bought fabric. I dreamed. I put the patterns … well, that's just it. I have NO IDEA where I put those patterns (or a few others) and I've been looking for them on/off for MONTHS. My house is not big. I'm fairly organized. I cannot solve this mystery. I give up. I've decided I'll repurchase some of them during the next BMV all-brand sale. (And then I'll find the missing stack.)

So I moved on for the time being. While I may not have been sewing myself these past months, I still have been reading sewing blogs and websites and checking into Facebook sewing/pattern groups regularly. I've seen more than a few Love Notions Laundry Day Tees made up and modeled, with lots of raving about the pattern. Being the lemming that I am, or maybe because it was free when you join the LN Facebook group, I downloaded the PDF and printed it last week, with plans to use some of the newly acquired Fabricmart yardage.

Yesterday, I got the pattern out to tape the sheets together, which I did. I know it's free and all, but I wasn't extremely impressed, starting with the fact the PDF is supposed to be "trimless." This means you don't need to slice off unprinted page margins to accurately join the pages into one cohesive layout. I found I still needed to trim. Not a big deal. I'm used to it. I'm not ready to blame Love Notions on this yet because I haven't double-checked my printer settings (and I'm not sure I will spend time to do so), but do be warned in case it's a legit problem.

What really bugged me was the pattern itself. See below.


First, the front and back aren't separate pieces. If you're away from your printer when you realize this and can't print a quick duplicate, it means you have to trace or tape the jigsaw puzzle back together. It also means you're going to be ticked off. I absolutely do not see the point in this (the print layout, not the being ticked off). Well, OK, there is a slight point if you're printing to a commercial print house's large format printer and paying by the sheet, but even then, give us the option of more sheets with the other half of the damn pattern so we can decide for ourselves which pages to print.

Next, it should be obvious that if the front and back pieces are identical,  except for necklines, there's a good chance it won't fit a curvy body. Pretty sure my front and back aren't anywhere close to identical. I won't even talk about the sleeve being cut on the fold. Guess it's a good thing after all that I didn't do all that "extra" printing. ;-) I'm not truly knocking this pattern because (1) I haven't actually sewn it and (2) it does get lots of love and I have seen some very nice finished tees. But I did conclude it wasn't for me and the symmetrical drafting makes me hesitant to try a paid-for LN pattern.

Side note on the LDT - Does anyone understand what the heck is meant by this? It totally does not make sense.
I decided what I was really after was the overall trapeze shape of the LDT and looked for my Cashmerette Concord pattern to just do that simple hack. Apparently my paper version of the Concord is with the other missing patterns mentioned above. Grrr, that MIA list just keeps getting longer. But I knew I also had a PDF version (from testing) that was already trimmed and ready to tape, and I was able to locate that one. Except … I was missing at least 6 of the pages. Six pages that would fall right across the bodice. I have no idea how that happened. Apparently, I'm getting old and senile. Missing patterns. Missing pattern pages. Missing brain.


Instead of giving up, I reached for my so very trusty TNT, the Ottobre Woman tee from the 02/2007 issue (cover below) and added the flare and length of the LDT.




And then I cut it out of this, with enough left for a matching skirt cuz I love me some 2-piece dresses. Yes, I know it's only a skirt and a top. I just like saying 2-piece dress. It sounds fancier. Humor me. :-)



And then I was done "sewing" for the day.

I've made a deal with myself to spend at least 15 minutes a weekday on this until it's done. I think I'll stick with it because I'm excited about the print placement for this one and want to see it finished. If I had started with the Ottobre, I'd be done by now. I hope I learned that lesson.

56 comments:

  1. LOL. I am shocked that you love this black and white print. I of course adore it. I like two piece dresses. They are so versatile. You can get dressed easily like it were a one piece dress, but you can wear the top with black or white pants or skirt. I made a black crepe top and long skirt for a wedding. But, I bought enough fabric for pants and it turns out I had enough for cropped pants too. It's very versatile for me. I can wear the skirt with a print top and it's instantly not so dressy. Maybe you'll get to the sewing part that comes after the planning. We've all been there.

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    1. Ever since I've been back in the workforce, lots of black has crept into my wardrobe.

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  2. I love the fabric that you are working with and can hardly wait to see the finished look. Enjoy the process.

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    1. Thanks Paula! The fabric is really cool. The scale is huge so it's totally different than what I was expecting from photos.

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  3. Have you tried the deer & doe plantain? I've had good luck with that, including extending it into a dress pattern.

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    1. I have not tried any D&D patterns. But you just gave me motivation to at least download and look at the Plantain, esp. since it's free. :-) Thanks.

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  4. glad you are back, when I have no sewjo, I cut out patterns while I watch tv, it usually helps to get me motivated.

    Also if I spend a half hour looking at the crap that is ready to wear it usually sends me back to the sewing machine.

    Maybe if you sacrifice a pin cushion to the sewing fairies they will help you find your patterns.

    Just a thought.

    Happy Sewing

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    1. Thanks Lisa. Most RTW does send me running, but I've actually lucked out lately and found some that's not too bad. The gods must have known I just didn't have time for sewing.

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  5. What did you wear to your step son's wedding????

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    1. Nothing fancy, and nothing me-made. A RTW top/maxi and light cardi, in a turquoise print. It was a semi-casual outdoor wedding and reception at the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, FL.

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  6. Is there a sleeveless option? Could that be the instructions for how to cut the armhole facings?
    I feel ya on the disappearing patterns. I'm always missing one thing or another it seems. They did just do a Vogue sale this past weekend...

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    1. Kathleen, Yes! That's exactly it. I wasn't even thinking about the armholes (obviously).

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  7. On the Laundry Day Tee, those pieces are the binding for the tank top version. There are two cut lines, one for the sleeves and one for the tank. I love mine.

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  8. Glad you're back! Re the LDT... I too was ready to jump on the bandwagon and it's free... I downloaded it, took one look at the print preview and pressed cancel. I'm on the fence when it comes to sleeves cut on the fold - it can work for some knit things - but the back and front being the same piece... I'm not prepared to spend time and fabric on something I'm almost 100% sure I won't be happy with. Then the Rhapsody is released - I love the look but I'm not confident enough in their drafting to pay for it - Lekala to the rescue!

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    1. One good thing I can say about Love Notions' patterns is that they are much more reasonably priced compared to some of the other indies. I like the Rhapsody too, but I'm pretty sure I must have a similar pattern somewhere. If I can find it. Hahaha!

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  9. It always amazes me, the things that go on in these "indie" patterns. The free pattern is supposed to be your advertisement, basically, for your brand, the gateway drug that gets sewers hooked. You'd think they'd be tested and retested, checked and refined and proofread, but nope. I printed the LDT out last week and noticed there are no finished measurements anywhere. I'm supposed to choose a size based on my bust. Really? Even this pear-shaped person?

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    1. I so agree! I went to download Itch to Stitch's free tank pattern offered a few weeks ago to see how the bust sizes would help me and lo and behold... it doesn't have the bust sizes?? Why not... isn't that the selling point of difference?? I didn't bother and now I won't try an indie pattern that I don't know anything about and costs more they should. (I mean I print it on my paper and have to tape it together and trace it or cut it out... plus pay more than $10)

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    2. STH and Summer Flies ... I know you know you're preaching to the choir. Although I'm certainly not immune to the frenzy of new patterns. See "lemming" self-description above. Haha. But I do try to be a little more discerning, and a free (or very discounted) sample pattern helps me to make the leap. Or not.

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  10. Ahhh, you know I *relished* this post! My all0time pet peeve is sewing patterns with identical fronts and backs. I'm shocked that this pattern has been so popular with the curvy sewing crowd! We deserve better, people!!!! Glad you found a way to hack what you wanted in the end!

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    1. That popularity is what got me to download and print it. Once I saw that armscye though, I knew its moments were numbered. I'm very, very picky about how my me-made tees fit in the armpit/shoulders. It's the one place that RTW tees always let me down and I love taking control back when I make my own.

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  11. I am very busty and for sure, my front and back are not identical. A pattern with identical front and backs would not work for me at all. I like the bold black and white fabric you have chosen and look forward to seeing your creation.

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    1. Thanks Tomasa. The fabric is definitely bold, but I think in a modern, sophisticated way. I hope. haha

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  12. I have been on a sewing spree lately. I took a tee that fitted well and made a pattern from it and then I lengthened it and enlarged and lengthened the sleeves to make a sleep shirt for myself. I made 8 of them before I finished the tweaking and learning process. Now I am doing the same with a blouse pattern that I have developed from another pattern. I have made 2 recently and plan on at least 2 more in different fabrics. I'm having a ball, now if only my husband and daughter would disappear for a few days.

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    1. Hahaha on the husband and daughter comment. I love being able to just sew for days, showers and teethbrushing be damned.

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  13. Ah Debbie - baby steps back to full blown sewing, my friend...baby steps! Oh and stop losing the patterns! 😉

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    1. I know right!!! I am so PO'd at myself. I never, NEVER do this kind of thing. I'm not OCD neat by any stretch, but I've been pretty reliable about knowing where I put things. It's not even the patterns, which are replaceable but not knowing exactly WHICH patterns are missing so they can be replaced, including 1 or 2 which have already been cut/TNT'd. Sigh. Oh well.

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  14. Good to see you back. :) I also made my own laundry day tee via my wild ginger TNT shirt base. Nothing like knowing the shoulders and neck area will fit flawlessly.

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    1. Exactly! With a base that you know fits shoulders/upper chest, you can make pretty much any other tee.

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  15. I'd never heard of Love Notions but it looks like the designer has a background in custom children's clothing. Maybe that's where the idea for identical fronts and backs started. Big no for me! I'm working on a flared Concord Tee now, with V-neck front and back. Too early to tell if it works but I have high hopes!

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    1. Children's clothing ... hmmm ... now that's a good thought on the identical fronts/backs. Good luck on your Concord.

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  16. I admit I'm no fan of PDF patterns! I avoid them whenever possible but I have printed out a couple of free ones that I love - well they weren't exactly free they came with a course on CreativeBug (which is now owned by Joanne's apparently). I find all that business of printing, cutting, pasting, copying YIKES they should be free :) Reading your story just made me giggle. I've made the Concord by the way and it's wonderful! I was just thinking the other day I should make up a few more of those. I get my best fit on Cashmerette and Comfort Fit by Vogue with the bust sizes built it.

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    1. PDFs don't bother me so much since I have a decent white cutting table to assemble them and an office to print them. But, yes, they aren't exactly money savers.

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  17. I printed this pattern, taped it together and also decided it wasn't for me, besides the same front and back, the armscye is really deep, I haven't tried the Cashmerette yet, but I'm using another tee shirt with cup sizes (up to H) a pdf from Sew by Pattern Pieces

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    1. I haven't heard of that pattern/company. I'll have to check them out.

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  18. Glad to see you're back! (Coming from someone who has been MIA from the personal blogosphere for quite a while...) Yeah, TBH, I just don't get the amount of love that some of those Popular on Facebook indies seem to get. I have really liked the versions of the LN Rhapsody blouse that I've seen (enough so that I bought the pattern). Good luck with your hack!

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    1. I've liked that Rhapsody too, but I'm not there yet. If you get a chance, please look at the sleevecap and report back. Even if it's in your (much loved!) pattern round-ups.

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    2. I have the rhapsody cut out, what do you want to know?

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    3. sodapopper - I'm just wondering how the drafting is; how are the armscyes (high? low? wide?) and sleeve head (even? defined front/back?).

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    4. let me sew it up and get back to you, lol, the sleeve is not symmetrical, and armscye doesn't look low, I was between sizes and went with bigger size, the bust point is marked...but I'm still on the fence, till I can try it on

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    5. What? You're not done yet?? (Kidding!)

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  19. I am fairly busty (40DD) and the LDT is one of my favorite T shirts...I always use a knit with some lycra in it, and no problem. I also keep the PDF sheets intact and trace off my pattern onto tissue or that gridded interfacing like stuff...that way I can make a front , a back and a proper sleeve. Also if I need to make any changes it goes on my traced version. Happy sewing. Barb

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    1. I know lots of ladies love the LDT and I think that's great. I've seen so many pretty versions.

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  20. I have the LTD, and I like it, but then I discovered Agnes by Halla: https://www.hallapatterns.com/products/agnes-swing-top-dress. I wasn't crazy about the arm banding on the Agnes, so I traced the bottom of the Agnes, and the neckline, and the sleeves of the LTD, and love it.

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    1. The Agnes armsyce looks like how I prefer mine ... a little higher than what's usual.

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  21. My Mother lived with us for 12 years. She was "pleasantly confused" after having a big stroke. I was her sister and she was still in Tennessee, not Alaska. Whenever I do one of those forgetful things, my grown kids smile and pat me on the shoulder, and say, "It's OK, Nana!" Dang it, I hate when I do that, but it happens. Happy to see you posting!

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    1. Thanks Kathy. Sounds like something my sons would say too.

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  22. I love the black and white print too, and agree with the other commenters about two piece dresses, and also 'twinsets' if you make a top and a cardi/jacket. When I can, I tend to buy 4-5m of the same fabric and make all the items at once (less thread changes) as long as I can take the boredom of sewing the same colour fabric!

    With pdfs I always trace the pattern from the printout as I find printer paper rather thick and awkward to use - although more work, it saves the frustration with back and front pieces being the same. I also find that these days I tend to purchase a pattern for the style lines and not the fit, so I am sandwiching a TNT pattern, the new PDF and then my tracing paper (I am currently using opaque plastic table covering that you get for weddings, 36" wide and about 30m long. Very cheap and very strong!) and then tracing. Again, a bit more work, but I have a much better chance of the pattern fitting first time round. Long gone are the days when a pattern fit me 'out of the envelope'!!

    I look forward to seeing how you get on - I've rather lost my sewjo and have been on a sock knitting and cross stitch frenzy, but I can hear my fabric calling me!!

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  23. Good to her hear from you again. Enjoyed the review and the commentary.

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  24. When I can't find something, it's always because it grew legs and walked away. Or it's my early Alzheimers setting in. I haven't had much desire to sew, so I bought a few cheap dresses and have been having a blast altering them to suit me; I even took a maxi dress which was 6" too long anyhow and cut off the bottom half, giving me the start on a tank-style dress for summer. It made me feel good. And I'm beginning to feel the glimmer of a desire to sew, which is a good deal, too.

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  25. After reading this, I joined the Love Notions FB group and saw all kinds of lovely LDT, even on curvy women. So many people love it. So I gave it a go. I'm not sold. There are vertical wrinkles in the back sleeve, I think because it's cut on the fold. The bust is a little snug (it says to use high bust and if in between sizes to size down. I'm exactly in the middle of two sizes. I should have sized up but sized down for the shoulders).
    It's "okay"...but a TNT that you make repeatedly feels like a "free" pattern :)

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    1. Hi Tracy, I wasn't sold on the actual LDT pattern, but I do like the design (trapeze tee), which is why I morphed my "priceless" Ottobre TNT base into the LDT overall shape.

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    2. Previously, I haven't sewn enough to have any TNT patterns. Sewing was for "one off" items. But since this spring, I have been sewing a lot, and sewing multiples of some patterns. So now I think I have a TNT t-shirt! I've always enjoyed seeing how you hack TNT patterns but never thought I'd get to that point!

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    3. I did get it blogged, and linked to your review of the pattern. WHile it's not terrible, it looks RTW instead of custom sewed. http://tracykm.blogspot.ca/2017/08/ldt.html

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  26. I think the "if doing the tank" thing is for armhole bindings.

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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