Now that I have some other projects out of the way, I finally found the time for some selfish sewing and testing the Concord T-Shirt from Cashmerette. I have not been this excited about a pattern or collection of patterns in a very long time. I am so tired of trying to find some way to alter a standard B cup bodice to fit around my girls, 50F’s.
Using a coupon code, I ordered the paper printed version of the pattern. As large as I am, I knew there would be no way I would have the patience to tape that entire grid of pages together. Let me say that was a very good decision. The paper pattern comes in a nice card stock envelope and the instruction booklet is of better quality than necessary. It was worth the extra money.
I began by tracing a size 28 with the G/H cup size on some very thin scrap sew-in interfacing. I graded the pattern up to what I estimated was a size 32 with a 62 inch bust. I don’t like my tops to have negative ease so I tended toward the larger size. I graded the waist out to 56 inches. I chose the v-neck, the long sleeve and the tunic length.
My fabric was what I hoped would be a wearable muslin. It was some sort of stretch terry that I found in the Spot-A-Bolt sale last winter at my local Hancock Fabrics. (Let’s all pause for a moment of silence for Hancock’s untimely demise. Sadness!) I usually snap a pic of the bolt end while I stand in line at the cutting table but when I cataloged this fabric into my stash I could not find it. For the first time in my life, I had the forethought to check for placement of motifs in the fabric to be sure they did not line up with any prominent body parts. I think I was successful.
Results: I am very pleased with this pattern! It gives me so much hope for sewing garments that will look good on me. I am not a fan of sewing knits but this one turned out fabulous. I have some tweaks to make on the final tracing of the pattern pieces. As one can see in my pic, the v-neck is too wide on my shoulders. It is also too long for my liking but that is an easy fix. I will simply re-draw it based on an old tried-and-true method for drafting v-neck t-shirt necks that I learned many years ago in a serger class.
The sleeves fit very well with the exception that they are too short. Nothing but a tall man’s shirt has ever had sleeves long enough for me so that was expected. I will add two inches in length there and I will be good. The most powerful thing is the shirt fits well around the girls AND fits around the abdomen!
I was so encouraged that I promptly purchased Cashmerette’s new Harrison shirt pattern. My favorite thing to sew is creative blouses using quilter’s cotton. There are so many colors and design possibilities. If I can get a basic tried-and-true button-up woven shirt pattern, the world is my oyster!
My mother destashed this crisp watermelon red seersucker and it screamed “Hawaiian shirt” to me. (It doesn’t help that I have been binge-watching 
!