Vintage Market Shirt

A few months ago I felt an urge to make a bunch of tops. So, as I am wont to do when such an urge strikes, I bought several patterns and yards of different knit fabrics. I made this top first, and had it out of my system, so the others felt a little more like work. However, I have (almost) five new shirts to share with you. So here's the first.

Disclaimer: some people can manage to take great photos of themselves; I am not one of those people. I hover between looking maniacal and looking exhausted. You have been warned.

I used Jalie's Gathered Scoopneck Top pattern for this. There were two options (I've made both) but this one has a gathered neckline (they call it ruched). The fabric is Riley Blake's Vintage Market in navy. Navy is one of those colors I find difficult to photograph, just like certain shades of red and pink, so you'll just have to trust me that it is indeed navy.

I had a stinker of a time getting that neckline right. Gathers are rarely my friend, and this time was no different. I also would have preferred the neckband to be just a little bit thicker as this feels like it wants to flip itself inside-out, but hasn't done so yet, so it's just a mental issue and not a real issue. And while I do love this fabric print down to my toes, I don't love the fabric as much. It seems to fade and pill more than what I paid for it should allow, and you can see the whiteness of the wrong side of the fabric showing through the stretch of the neckband. But that print! I love sweet little vintage prints like this, so no regrets.

The sleeves are tulip sleeves. I've never made this style before and they are super fun. They have this nifty overlapping thing you do to sew them into the seam. I'm used to making knit shirts where you sew the side seam and the underarm seam all in one shot. I thought I'd have to set this one in with gathers and so on (something I am NOT good at), but this matched the points perfectly and went in nice and smooth.

I don't know how well you can see it in the photo, but the hem is a banded hem. I like that kind of hem best, as I like that snugness around my hips and bum.

While the pattern is pretty much perfect, I wish the scoop of the neckline was a little less deep, as I have to be a bit more mindful of certain things when I bend over (which I realized at work today, but when no one else was around, thank heavens). Otherwise, the fit is good (I made a medium) and it's pretty comfy (even across the shoulders, where I sometimes experience some pulling).

This was my first Jalie pattern I've ever made, and I really like it. I've got another version of this shirt to share, as well as another Jalie pattern that might be my favorite from my recent dive into shirt-making.

So, what about you? Have you made anything new for the warmer weather? Or the colder weather, for our friends down under?