It is interesting to see what everybody is sewing these days. The whole cake versus frosting attitude, sew for now, sew for later?
This project very much falls into the "basics" group. 3 wool singlets. I haven't sewn with wool that much. I haven't even worn wool that often. There wasn't the need when I lived in Queensland. Now that I am in WA, it has a little more appeal. Though, I have seen a few very big silverfish in my house lately, so I am worried how long these garments will last.
I did sew a merino shirt last year that I don't think I ever blogged. I remember hating wool as a child, because it was so itchy. My merino shirt does feel a little prickly when I first put it on, but then something strange happens and it feels really good to wear. Some sort of breathability, air layer thing. Not sure exactly what, but I did wear that shirt much more than I expected to last winter, and do prefer it for exercise than my expensive RTW running long sleeved shirt.
I bought a 1.4 m wool remnant from Pitt Trading, and thought that I would try wool singlets this winter.
For the first one, I used Jalie 3245, with my usual modification of lowering the armholes and reducing the front hem curve. I have also removed the seam allowances from the neck and armholes of the pattern, as I tend to add binding. The neckline of this pattern has a really lovely shape. I used fold over elastic on the armholes. I was in two minds about this. I didn't know how well the merino would work with my binders, so was hesitant to set up the coverstitch machine (lazy!!). I also worried that the elastic was a bit too stiff and heavy for the fabric. In the end I used the elastic on the armholes, but made a neck band. I didn't use a binder, but sewed the neckband on in the round. I went for a wider neckband than usual. The wool actually behaved really well and the neck band sits beautifully.
I didn't have enough fabric to make a second one of these, so I dug out Jalie 2568, which is shorter and closer fitting. I had to adjust the front neckline of the pattern, as I didn't have any stretch lace in the right width on hand. For this one, I finished the neck and armholes with lingerie elastic.
After this, I had some largish scraps left over, but not enough to cut another Jalie 2568. After a bit of playing around, I found I could cut a back of Jalie 2568 (just a smidge narrower), and I could modify the pattern to cut a front with a lower bodice and two upper bodices. The upper bodices are not quite on the grain. There is some ease across the bust seam, as much as I could fit, but not enough to show up as gathers. I finished the neckline with elastic, but did not have enough for the armholes. I didn't have enough fabric to cut a proper binding, but I managed to cut a narrow strip of fabric that I applied as a single fold binding, not a double fold binding. I didn't use the binders, but I did use the coverstitch machine to sew the binding in place. I think it turned out pretty well for sewing up scraps.
So that is my cake, but I do have some frosting on my sewing table at the moment...a Liberty silk blouse that I am hoping to get to this week.
Happy sewing and stay well xx
