We recently had “March Break” aka. the only mid-year vacation besides Christmas. (Brits, I’m in permanent envy of your school year schedule. So sensible.) Of course, I spent most of the week sewing! (I can’t really remember what I did on vacation before sewing!)
The first thing I made was another circle scarf:
The floral is a polyester slithery fabric, and the teal is rayon knit. It used just 40cm of each, and took about 20 minutes (max) to sew. I have winter scarves with this combo of navy, pink and teal, but I wanted something that looked spring-like that would still keep me warm while the weather is below freezing!
Next up was the top you already saw in my cuff tutorial:
Would you believe this interlock knit came from the thrift store? Score! The cotton lace is from my local fabric chain, and the cuffs and neckband are the same knit I used in the scarf above. I could be so matchy matchy, especially with the teal pants on my sewing table right now…
Stripe matching on raglans is so satisfying – even if it is secretly really easy! I don’t really worry about the stripes when I cut. Instead, I just slide the arm piece up or down the body piece until they align. That means the neckline and armpit edges don’t match up perfectly, so one or the other piece needs to be trimmed… but on a stretchy t-shirt a centimetre here or there doesn’t really affect fit. That’s my theory, at least!
Truth be told, I nearly wimped out on using the lace and contrast fabric… had to give myself a pep-talk that it would be really boring without! I trimmed around the floral motif, and glued it to the jersey with quilt basting spray. Love that stuff! I used a small zigzag stitch to catch down near the scallops. We’ll see how it lives through the wash! (Last time I made a similar top I drafted a yoke instead, which is nice because then all the lace edges are caught in seams.)
I’ve got enough lace to do a front or back of a shirt, but I’m worried because it has no stretch. Have you adapted a knit pattern to use a woven for one part? How much more ease should I add? Or is it better to start from a woven pattern with a dart? These are the mysteries of my life, people. Help me out, please!
Crafting A Rainbow 
Gosh Gillian, I adore that navy & teal color combo — great top! Super stripe match-a-roo too :D! In regard to combining a knit and non-stretch fabric, I’m currently sewing up (my first) Thread Theory Camas Blouse, and it is supposed to be an appropriate pattern for combining knits & wovens. Maybe your pretty lace would work great for that top if you the style :D. http://threadtheory.ca/products/camas
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That’s a great pattern suggestion! I’ve seen some really pretty versions… and I imagine it’s a very flattering design. Now to get over my irrational fear of buttons…
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One of the suggestions included in the Camas instructions is to skip the buttonholes, and just sew the buttons on through both bands — the top will slip easily over the head — which is a great way to sidestep the fear :D. I’m definitely planning on that route since the one I’m currently making is from slippy rayon knit.
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This is a really nice colour combination. I love the lace detail and the matching cuffs. Your scarf is lovely. The polyester fabric is a beautiful pattern.
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Thank you! I was eyeing a bunch of different poly floral prints in the store, but I’m glad I went with this one for the scarf! 🙂
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I love what you did with the lace! Great job.
Um, I’m experimenting with woven/knit combos too… such mysteries. My guess would be if you used it on the back with a stretch front it might work. You would probably need darts to give it shape if you used it on the front as well as adding ease. Interesting dilemma. I look forward to your results!
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Using the acae on the back is a good idea! I was picturing using it on the front, but bewbs will just make it more complicated. I’m curious to see your results too!
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Lovely navy and tael detail. Makes a classic top really interesting, but still highly wearable 🙂
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Hehe – with a blog name like “Navy Blue Threads”, you just *have* to like my top! 😉
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🙂 Hadn’t even thought of that, but you’re right of course!
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😉
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Love what you did with the lace, lovely!
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Love the addition of lace on this top! The colors are really great too. Around these parts, the kids have Christmas break, February vacation and April vacation… the Feb vacay is particularly irksome since they usually have several snow days late Jan/early Feb. The poor teachers complain that it’s hard to get any momentum going with all the days off, then the school year is extended until the end of June.
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Two breaks in the spring, and none in the fall? That seems unbalanced! We have a lot of snow days too, depending on where the school is, but they don’t get added to the end of our year. How can you plan vacation stuff if you don’t know when school will end? That’s tough!
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Even though I’d seen that top before it still made me squee a bit. Love the color combo and the lace.
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I”m so excited about colour now tat it’s (at least technically) spring. Why do I let winter depress me into wearing darker versions of the colours I like?
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I love this top with the teal lace and the stripes – such a great combo!! I love how you did the lace appliqué too! When I did my lace front Linden I didn’t add any ease at all. To be honest, I never even thought about it. The lace is a plain cotton with no stretch and I cut it the same as the the regular front piece, and then I just sewed them up together as if they were one. It worked and has washed well. The linden is not super fitted though, so it might be different with a more fitted top.
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Ok, that’s good to know! I liked your lace Linden a lot!
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Wow, beautiful combo on that scarf. But the shirt? Mwah! Amazing! I love the colors, the different textures…
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Thank you! I make so many boring basics that I’m trying to push myself a little this spring to add extra things to make them more fun!
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Cute top, great pattern matching and I love the lace detail. I think this is a true winner. I think you’ll be OK using non stretch lace on a stretch tee. I normally just add a cm or two to the centre front and hope the back and armscye will accommodate the rest. 🙂
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Thanks for the tip! I think if I added a bit at centre front and maybe a bit under the arms I’d be ok with a lace front?
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I know I said this elsewhere, but I really like the lace detail on the shirt. Takes it up a notch with little extra effort.
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Thank you!
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beautiful combo! i always go reverse– use a smaller woven pattern for a knit fabric. so no help here– but i like the idea of using it on the back, way less stress!
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Seriously, I may not have sewn a dart in over a year. Lace on the back might be the way to go!
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Pretty! Love the green lace. And yes, that knit was an awesome thrift store score!
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I should have bought the other strip fabric at the thrift shop that was navy and teal! Why, why, why didn’t I? SIlly me.
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Great idea, I love the lace trim on your sweatshirt. I’m going to try that.
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