Pattern Review: GBSB Simple T-Shirt

Here is another top I made a while ago and had not gotten round to reviewing.

Details

  • Name: Simple T-Shirt
  • Variation: N/A
  • Design House: Book – The Great British Sewing Bee: Sew Your Own Wardrobe
  • Size I made: 14

Fabric

I used some leftover polyester crepe I had which in hindsight was not that suitable for this garment.  While the crepe quality meant it drapes nicely, it meant that it was a thicker fabric than the I feel the pattern intended for it.  As a result, I had issues with binding the edges using the same fabric cut on the bias.

Difficulty

The hardest aspect of this garment is the fabric you must use.  This top would not work with a stable woven fabric, so you must choose a more challenging fabric.

The other challenging part is binding all the edges with bias binding.  If you are not familiar with binding edges with this method, it could be very difficult, and I would recommend taking your time!

Clarity

The illustrations in the book are clear and there is a masterclass section on how to make your own bias binding as will as how to apply it.

Design and Fit

I like the neckline on this top and I think the overall shape of it, with the high-low hem is nice.  I find it really comfy to wear and I’m sure that if it was made in a finer fabric it would be even nicer to wear.

Time Taken

This took me a couple of days – mainly because the bias binding part went badly first time and I had to unpick and start over.  A confident sewist could make this comfortably in a day.

Conclusion

I would consider making this top again.  The issues I had were completely related to the fabric choice and I would like to try it out using a more suited, thinner fabric.

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Pattern Review: GBSB Breton Tee

Hello!  It’s been a while, but here is a pattern review for a top I made a while ago…

Details

  • Name: Breton
  • Variation: ‘Hack: Breton Tee’
  • Design House: Book – The Great British Sewing Bee: From Stitch to Style
  • Size I made: 12

Fabric

I used a lemony-yellow cotton knit fabric.  I do not think it has any stretch and I think there is a reasonable risk that the garment will become distorted and stretch over time.

Difficulty

I would say that this pattern is straightforward to make, especially if you have tried sewing with knit fabric before.  The hem is a bit different as it has side seam slits but it’s a nice new technique to learn if you haven’t tried this type of finish before.

Clarity

I found both the illustrations and written instructions clear for this make.

Design and Fit

I was drawn to the neckline and grow on sleeves but now I have made it, I’m not as much of a fan of the neckline.  If I made it again, I would make the neckline not so wide.  However, it is worth highlighting that it might be my fabric choice which has made the neckline feel quite so uncomfortable.  As I mentioned, my fabric doesn’t appear to have any elastane in it, so it might be stretching width-ways!

Time Taken

This top can be made in a day.  As the sleeves are part of the front and back pieces, there is not much to cut out.

Conclusion

I’m not sure that I would make it again.  If I did, I would choose a better-quality fabric and possibly adjust it a bit to fit better.  For example, I could try to stabilise the neckline a bit better.

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