Vogue 8877 vs The Mix it Up Tee

 

I enjoy watching sewing videos in my down moments. I particularly enjoy the British sewing videos. I watch them with envy. They have such a vibrant community and so many options to obtain gorgeous fabrics in person. It makes me quite  envious. Another aspect of their community are what they call "socials". I can't seem to pull from the videos too much about them other than they are a regular part of many sewist's lives. They meet maybe weekly or monthly in a communal space with their machines and projects and just sew and share lunch. They have swap tables and usually a few members with great experience. All share and I think they may pay a small fee to cover the space used. They go for an entire day and may cap it off with a bit of fabric shopping. It all sounds positively glorious. I'd be lucky to find one sewist in my town to commiserate with, of which makes me appreciate you, dear readers, even more!

 Anywho, one enterprising Brit woman has started the virtual Weekend Sewing Club, basically  a virtual social for those who can't make it to a real one. Popping up in other vlogs were examples of a free tee pattern that came along with her marketing. I wanted to joining but the timing just did not work and I found the content not quite in line with the  type of sewing I enjoy. I do applaud her. This would appeal to a new sewist in particular and is definitely worth investigating.  I was also very impressed with the tee pattern, given out for a limited time, that I saw made by other vloggers.  It looked simple, quick and a great scrap buster, inviting creativity. I downloaded my free pattern and started pulling together scraps. What fun! The plan was to cut it and sew it the next day.

 Well, I had one of those "in your sleep" Eureka moments that sewists often get! I woke up the next morning with a little voice telling me I had a pattern just like this. I did. It was Vogue 8877 © 2013. It is still a current pattern,  however. I didn't bother with the PDF from Weekend Sewing Club.  Who wants to put a PDF together when they don't have to? I proceeded with the Vogue.   This was a really fun make. 

The first top was the brown one. I used Kaufmann's Essex yarn dyed linen for the bottom bodice,  neck binding and cuffs.  It  is brown with black thread so a mud color which I really like. The top is a 100% linen print, maybe Stylemaker?  There are no closures on this top and it is so simple to make.  It is boxy and has cut on sleeves. I cut mine way shorter than the pattern, 19 inches length. I cut the sleeves the full "short" length.  I really wanted them  shorter but like them like this in the end. I found, as you will see, that the very short sleeve is too open and shows your bra. You can see piecing in the sleeves which looks fine.  The hem was interfaced, is an 1 1/4  inch deep and topstitched. The yoke was seamed at CF and CB to accommodate piecing the red linen. Again,  great scrapbuster! The binding on this red one is a French fold which really was too heavy, but ok. The cuffs were attached and folded up. 

This fabric "put together" really had me going. I was on to the next one. What fun! We always learn on the first one anyway, don't we? The bodice on this one is a black handkerchief linen. I will wear a black tank  with it next time as the photo reveals it to be rather sheer and with the short sleeved version there is bra show thru. Next time I will cut the sleeves so  that is not an issue.  

The yoke is a cotton sateen Retro design. I love that print and have saved every scrap of it for years. This is the last  of it! 

I added the more narrow neck binding, using a single fold 1 inch strip of bias linen that I interfaced with Fusi Knit fusible tricot. 

I used 1/4 inch seams and it made a nice trim finish. The little bow made a sweet addition to the retro print. The cuffs were straight of grain and simply folded up. 

I stitched a little box in the underarm seam to secure the seam allowance there and keep the cuff from turning out. 

All seams were stitched and serged on both tops. 

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These two little tops were great fun to make. They were palate cleansers and stress relievers. I have been battling the Mersis Dress for nearly 2 months now and it is finally done. It is the only garment that has forced me to break my "one project at a time" rule. I just had to walk away. It was that frustrating and in the end it looked awful on me. BUT, I made it work into a beautiful dress with a nod from Ralph Lauren. Here is a sneak peak on the cuffs. The sleeves are the best part of the garment. I can't wait to share. We have to go out of state for a family double funeral this afternoon so as soon as I can get photos  I will get the Mersis review to you all.  It all ended up good. I highly recommend Vogue 8877 and Happy Sewing all!..............Bunny