Another T-Shirt

I made most of this yesterday afternoon, but had to finish off the hems this morning before I could get dressed:

I used a different pattern for this version, Ottobre's Creative Workshop 303, Women's Best Tops. I think I will just use this one from now on, as the fit is much better. I was given the fabric years ago, in a bundle of sample pieces from textile printer. None of the pieces were big enough for an adult garment, but after watching the Craftsy class with Katherine and Marcy Tilton in their shirts made of multiple fabrics, it seemed perfectly normal to use different fabric for the body and the sleeves!

T-Shirt Finished

Because I had cut the sleeves a bit short (or not lengthened them enough) turning up a hem made it look as if I'd grown out of the shirt. So I used the same binding technique as I used for the neckline (see previous post):

That added just enough I think. It's too cold to get undressed and try it on now!

I picked up a few tips and tricks in the Craftsy class (The Ultimate T-Shirt), one of which made it easy to get a nice twin-needled finish on the hem without the stitches tunnelling:

This is not the best fitting t-shirt I've ever seen. But if I had made it according to the pattern it would have been unwearable - baggy in the body, with sleeves too tight to get my arms into. For my next t-shirt I will use a better pattern and incorporate the ideas I gained from this class.

In general I would rate the class as OK. It did give me some good ideas, but the class description said that it would focus on making the shirt fit, and there was very little information given on that topic. In fact, the instructors just said to do another class on fitting, or consult books, to deal with most fitting issues. So I think the class description needs editing to reflect that.

I could have saved the cost of the class by using a pattern I already had, and consulting this Threads article:
Not Your Ordinary T-Shirt. It was written by Marcie Tilton, one of the instructors of the Craftsy class, and contains most of the tips she gave in the class. Watching the video classes was much more entertaining than reading a magazine article, though.

Neckband Done

This week, amongst all the other excitement, I've been doing a Craftsy class called "The Ultimate T-Shirt". I bought it when their classes were on sale a few weeks ago, but had to wait until the pattern arrived from the US.

As I'm watching the class, I'm sewing along with this remnant piece of fabric I bought earlier this year. This afternoon I got the neckband done:

This fabric doesn't have much stretch, which is why I cut the band on the bias. I'm hoping it will sit flat when it is on, but I won't know for sure until I get to the last lesson! For now, I'm up to putting on the sleeves.

Offers

Last night the agents presented me with five offers for my house.

As you can see from the red banner on the ad, I accepted one of those offers.

Won't celebrate until after the cooling-off period, but I'm very happy with the price, and a bit stunned by how quick it has been. Five days from the ad appearing on the internet to a signed contract!

Erected on Monday...

Blown down on Tuesday!

Sewing Room

Did my first bit of sewing in my new, temporary, sewing room:

It was just patching a dog bed, but now the machine is set up and going, I'm ready to tackle something a bit more challenging.

Bulb Bud Progress

The bud on the mystery bulbs is now starting to open:

We are getting closer to identifying it. It looks like the flowers are pink. But it looks as if something has been having a nibble at it already.