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Getting it done, part 27

I've been avoiding the BIG project I need to work on, and I think I'm almost out of excuses.

Last week I sewed two shirts for myself -- a wearable muslin (oops, it's a little too long....but I'm not re-hemming until I know for sure it won't shrink in the washer) and a fraught-with-un-sewing "real" version of the Jade tee by Made-by-Rae. 

The "muslin" version went together with hardly any trouble.  I noticed that I sewed the neckline with a 3/4" seam instead of a 3/8" seam, but I liked how it sat when I tried it on, so I chose to leave it that way.  Instead of sewing the side seams before hemming the sleeves, I hemmed the sleeves before attaching to the body of the shirt, and then sewed the sleeves and side seams all in one go.



The "real" version was a little more complicated.  I learned a lot of things from making it! For example, I learned that not all knits stretch the same.  This one stretched A LOT with almost all of the stitches I tried, which was very frustrating.  I ended up sewing most of the seams with a double needle and a walking foot. In the end, there was still a little bit of extra stretch in the neckline (which I sewed with a single needle) and around the bottom edge, where I added a little ruffle instead of using the curved hem of the original pattern.  I am hopeful that the ruffle will soften up a little (and stand out to the sides less) and the neckline will shrink back into shape after a good wash and dry. This was one of the items on my 2020 "make nine" list -- a project I had planned during 2019 and run out of time to execute, a wardrobe builder (t-shirts are definitely staples for me, and now I can make my own!), and also a use-up-some-stash make.  Also: a skill builder, as I have very little experience working with knits.  (Honestly, if every experience working with knits is as frustrating as this one was, I may not continue making my own t-shirts....but the first one was significantly easier, so maybe I just need to learn more about types of knits?  What works well and what to avoid? Time will tell.)




I'm generally pleased with the results....and also....generally avoiding taking the love seat apart!

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