Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Thoughts on Blank Slate Rose Tee


I like knit top patterns that are more than a basic tee, such as Jalie 2806, HotPatterns Sunshine Top, my beloved Ottobre tees, etc., and which have a bit of design "fullness" in front to cover my own "fullness." Enter the Blank Slate Rose. I bought/downloaded this pattern about 8 months ago and it's been in my queue for a while. Finally, its turn came.


The pattern calls for a woven fabric to be used where you see a print in the pattern photo, and the designer and most others I've seen who've made it (#bsprosetshirt) have used solids for the rest. If you know anything about me, you know I'm a prints and knits girl. Give me All the Print Knits!


I had some Liverpool scraps left from my Slouchy Cardi which I used to "opposite" color block. I did interface, (with a non-stretch fusible) the pieces which called for woven to be used, mostly because the b/w print is a *very* drapey, silky knit and it definitely needed some stability when used around the neckline. There are front and back facings on the inside which I also interfaced, but with a knit fusible on those, for a bit more "oomph." I did not interface the solid black pieces at all.


I'm very happy with how the neckline turned out, even though I generally hate facings in knits. The shape, width, and depth are perfect for me. Next time, I will definitely just bind the back neckline or turn and coverstitch, but a facing on the front in this design is actually needed for stability, and to cover all the piecing so the insides are pretty too.


The pattern went together well but it's not for an abundance of accurate markings. Look at the notches above ... they aren't even close to being correct. Sigh. I suppose it's a good thing these notches weren't even mentioned in the instructions, right? :-) Speaking of which, the instructions are  illustrated with mostly photos, which is OK, but the instructions for attaching the facings are just plain a bad method and will give you a lump at the shoulder seams if you follow them. My advice is to sew the facing shoulder seams together/press and the bodice shoulder seams together/press, and then join the facing to bodice at the neckline, RS together, stitch, and turn. In other words, the usual way. :-)

As usual, I laid my TNT Ottobre tee over the pattern pieces and compared. Below is the back. Can you see how straight up/down this original pattern is below my TNT? I'm not that shape, so I reshaped the armholes and waist/hip curves. I did the same for the front, which was also straight up/down.


Below is the pattern sleeve behind my Ottobre sleeve. Yikes. Good thing I was already planning to use my Ottobre sleeve.


I've been wanting to add a flounce to a short-sleeve knit top for a while and finally I did. Watch out, because I love it and I'm going to add flounces to all of my short sleeves. Maybe kidding.


Seriously, how fun is this?


I dug out my 1/4" downturn feller for my coverstitch machine …


… ran the flounces through it before they were attached to anything …


… and Voila! Perfect hems on a curve. Now I'm really adding flounces everywhere. :-)


I'm very happy with my top and will definitely make it again because there are a lot of color/print blocking possibilities with the neckline, and all of those pieces were accurate and sewed together well. But if I'm being honest, I don't think this top would have fit me as I prefer below the neckline without sewing a muslin and tweaking if I hadn't substituted my TNT shaping. I'm just curvier than it is (was).

After finishing the top, I had some scraps of the print left. Too big to toss, but maybe too small to be anything. Well, with some creative cutting and thanking my stars that the fabric is 4-way stretch, I was able to eek out a McCall's 7386 skirt. I love this skirt. I must have at least 8 of them in my closet now. I love the slightly flippy, slightly pencil, slightly A-line shape all in one skirt. It's perfect for the office. I'm sure I'll keep making it for years.


The finished 2-piece dress on Zillie …


… and on me with those awesome work bathroom selfies.








Oh, and remember I said I had to creatively cut the skirt pieces? Well, I also had to piece a section, which turned out to be the CB hem area, which hardly shows now. I'll never point it out off this blog.



23 comments:

  1. This turned out really cute, but I just came here to say: Is it seriously sandal weather there? Grrrrr. Also, that side seam drafting is seriously questionable??

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    1. Hahaha! Yes, almost 90 degrees today! I'd trade for a snow sew day. 😁

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  2. Lovely outfit. I haven't tried that pattern company yet.

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    1. Thank you Darla. This was my first Blank Slate pattern. I'm not sure I would recommend this company based on this pattern, but maybe there have been improvements since this early release.

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  3. Your outfit turned out great. I made this top years ago. The muslin was horrible in the sleeves, arm cycle. Then I did as you and altered it using my tnt T-shirt pattern. After that it was a comfortable top. Be glad you changed it before cutting. This top has actually kept me from try anything else from this company.

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    1. Thanks Ginger. I agree with your comments. This top definitely needed some fiddling.

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  4. Nice review of this pattern. I made a Blank Slate Austin Tee that turned out well. I don't remember how the bodice was shaped. I liked the results but have not had time to sew another one. I have to make numerous changes to all sorts of patterns and my shape is a rectangle more/less so straight is not so bad. Happy to see your post.

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    1. Thanks Linda. How's that hoodie coming along??? 😁

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  5. I love this outfit and even more I love your conversational interesting writing. Also so fun to read anything at all you write. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks Barbara! I feel the same way about you/your blog! Enjoy the RV road trip!

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  6. Another great outfit! Nobody but nobody does knits like Debbie! I really like the flounce, too.

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    1. Thank you! Yeah, I'm seriously considering adding a flounce to everything.

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  7. Debbie - this outfit is so you! Pretty print in a 2pc garment...thanks for a great review of the top and how you used your TNT tee pattern to make the top work for you.

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    1. Thank you Carolyn. Yes, I think this is definitely a "me" outfit. 😁

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  8. You look fabulous in this, and your smile says it all! I really enjoy reading you blogposts and seeing what you make. You may have just inspired me to give this top a try!

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  9. Great outfit, I really like how you've done the colour blocking at the neckline, kind of looks like jewellery & that coverstitch curved hem is a thing of beauty!!

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  10. I love the print with the black at the neckline! This top would also look wonderful with a black skirt. I really like your flounced sleeves, too. I've just done flounces in lieu of sleeves, but never one at the hem of a sleeve. Jealous of your hem finish! :-)

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  11. I love your blog!!It is fantastic!

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  12. Ok, you are a genius! I love your top but thank you for reminding me to get my downturn feller out!!! Great blog post and I enjoyed your pattern round-up this morning.

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  13. I've got to find a downturn feller for my machines. You do great reviews!

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  14. I am delighted with this dress. The dress is wonderful. Now I will follow your posts and your work more often! I wish you good luck and look forward to the next great finished projects.
    Regards, ctnbee.com

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  15. The outfit looks awesome on you. Wish I could wear knits and a cleavage. Unable to do both. Will keep searching for cotton woven patterns for myself.

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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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