Sewing Vloggers

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Vogue 8636, the Marcy Tilton Tee


This is one of those garments where the fabric and look are much better in real life. I think this top is really pretty and I love the fabric.

Pattern:
This is Vogue 8636, a Marcy Tilton design with raglan sleeves and a relatively wide neckband on what I think is a pretty high neck. I used the Extra Small size and petited the garment, taking out length in the sleeves and upper bodice. I morphed out to a size 12 in the hips, my usual.  The neckline needs a bit of fiddling to lay flat and it is actually part of the design. You are instructed to make little darts in the neck band, after installation, until it fits. I think that's a bit vague for most people and could be flummox for some. I handled the extra band width in a way not in the pattern which I will show below. I have seen others interface the neckband as well, something not called for in the pattern. I didn't need interfacing for the way I finished it.

Fabric:
 This is another ITY knit and I think this one is rayon with lycra. I love the color and very slight sheen none of which is as pretty in these photos, I had to give thought to the placement of the stripes but that was pretty simple for this design. The fabric does show every detail and clings enough in the shoulders to show the indents from my bra straps from carrying around the girls for a lifetime. I have some bras with wide straps and will make sure  I wear those when I wear this top.


 Construction:
This was pretty simple tee shirt construction other than handling the collar band. Rather than make the suggest darts I gathered the neckband up at the sleeve/bodice seam and used navy embroidery floss to stitch that up as you see above. But while cutting out this pattern I noticed this:

Crosswise strips of fabric, when pulled, curled into these perfect little non ravelling strips. Eureka!  I decided to put a little bow at each corner. Here is how I make perfect little matching bows:

First, you need one of these.

That is a potato masher you see  with a pile of those strips.
Wrap a length of tube around the potato masher.

Cross over the loops.

Pass one of the tubes under the part of the tube that is behind the potato masher.

Tie a knot.

Voila! A bow with both side perfectly matching . Slide off the potato masher and stitch to your garment.

These were attached in those spots where I did the embroidery floss which now can't be seen and the looseness of the collar band is under control.

Conclusion:
All in all, this is a great raglan tee. I need to finesse the fit some more and think that is simply a matter of making it out of the envelope with a bit of FBA. I will definitely make this again. I am pretty sure next time will not have the collar band and I will scoop the neckline lower. Most who made this the second time around, per PR, did that. Once I get this to Tried and True status I can see myself making it over and over. Nice pattern!....Bunny


12 comments:

  1. Using the potato masher to tie a bow is GENIUS. I will be stealing this tip :)
    Thank you!

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  2. I have this pattern and have never made it. Well, that's like a lot of the patterns in my drawers! I of course love your fabric, you know how much I love an animal print! It's a good looking t with something a bit different.

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  3. I'm so impressed by the bows and the potato masher as the bow maker! Really cool! The top is very nice also - especially the fabric you chose!

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  4. Another great little top! And thanks for the potato masher tip! My potato masher is round with a grid so I will have to figure out a substitute.

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  5. Genius! I love the tee on you, and the colors are super.

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  6. Just want to add that on a regular bow if you try to adjust the size of the loop and pull to do that the knot gets tighter and smaller and you really don't get much adjustment. With this method you can pull out the loops as much as you want without affecting the tightness of the knot at all. It is more easily adjustable than a regular bow.

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  7. Those bows are so clever. I've had this pattern forever and haven't tried it yet but your version is inspiring me. Wonderful.

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  8. Thanks for the bow tip.

    I made this pattern up and it was a disaster. The armhole comes up uncomfortably high and cut off circulation. I should have known from the pictures on the pattern envelope with armpit creases even on an armless dummy. But, others have had more luck on PR.

    I recommend Kwik Sew 2874 if you want a more relaxed sleeve raglan.
    http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2013/06/kwik-sew-2874-gallery_8.html
    http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2014/02/chainmail-sweatshirt.html

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  9. Love the top Bunny, and thanks for the bow tip. I think I still have one of these mashers.

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  10. More enthusiasm for your potato masher creativity here-- and the top looks lovely

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  11. Great way to make nice bows...getting my masher out...thanks!!!

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