Sewaholic Renfrew(s)

This is another pattern than everyone has made, including myself. I have a small pile of fabric that is set aside and marked as "to be made into Renfrews". Its part of my plan to make all of my everyday clothing (excluding drawers) and eventually get rid of my RTW tees (which are aging and getting holes anyway). So, some Renfrews!
Mix and match.

This is a simple knit top pattern with a variety of options for neckline and sleeve length that you can mix and match. I cut a size 6, which is my normal Sewaholic size.  The only adjustment I made was to take about 1" in length out of the bodice after my first version.
Renfrew 1, v-neck:

It's a little long, so I shortened it for next time.
I bought this fabric off of Etsy, and I swear I saw it everywhere this past summer.  It reminds me of cross-bedding (geology!).


There's not a whole lot to say about these - they're easy to make and easy to wear. The band at the bottom makes it look a little nicer than a plain tee, a little more finished.

Version 2, crew neck:

I made this with the leftovers from my Jalie scarf top. I had just enough! Two shirts out of 2 yards of fabric ($20) - not bad.  Its a poly-spandex super soft jersey from Mood.

It's a great pattern for a funky print. When I get compliments on this shirt I feel guilty, because the fabric is really doing all the work!

Version 3, the cowl neck:
I was undecided about this one. I didn't know if it was 'me', so I made a wearable muslin, figuring it would at least be comfy and cozy to wear around the apartment if I didn't love it.
Yes, its wrinkled. Sue me.
I didn't put a band on the bottom hem - actually I did but didn't like it, so I took it off.  I used some poly jersey from Mood fabrics - I didn't have enough, and I thought I could make it fit because I usually can, but those cowls are fabric hogs! So I decided to use black jersey as the inner cowl, and actually liked the effect!
Fabric hog. Those cowls are huge.
In the end I did like the cowl, and will make it again.
So 3 Renfrews, with more to come. I plan on making some without the bottom band, to be tucked in, and I may take it in at the waist for a more fitted look (but I like the relaxed casual fit too).  You could do contrasting neck and arm bands, solids as wardrobe staples, fun prints, whatever.   Easy and good for every day clothes.










Popular posts from this blog

A Carhartt-inspired jacket : (modified) McCalls 7638

Image
We recently received a catalog in the mail that contained a selection of Carhartt jackets, among other items.  Tim liked the look of this one: a sort of classic, basic mens' work jacket: So of course he asked if I could make him one!  He has a couple of handmade coats (a faux shearling from a few years ago and a Goldstream peacoat I made in early 2018) but wanted something a little more casual for everyday - but also warm enough for Syracuse winters. I found my fabrics first: Carhartt Expedition canvas from The Rain Shed with a faux shearling lining (from my stash, originally from Mood Fabrics.) For extra warmth, I tried something new: interlining the shearling with Thinsulate! I ordered a swatch set from the Rain Shed and chose CS100. The website information claims that "the Polyolefin microfibers trap body head and keep you warm even in damp conditions because its fibers absorb less than 1% of their weight in water." OK then! I couldn't really find a
Read more

Carhartt Canvas

Image
A version of this post originally appeared on the Cali & Co blog   I was beyond excited when I saw that Ron had listed Carhartt canvas in some 20 (20!!) colors on the Cali Fabrics site.  If you aren’t familiar with the brand, Carhartt is known for high-quality, premium-yet-affordable workwear in sturdy fabrics like denim and duck (aka, canvas). You may have seen their recent feature in Threads magazine, with a tutorial for the Detroit cuff. I knew this would be fantastic quality canvas and Cali Fabrics has it at a great price and it’s 69” wide! So, the fabric: the description online is very accurate. It is a 12 oz. heavyweight but it has a softer hand than you would expect – it isn’t stiff.  I washed it in cold water and tumble dried on low – this fabric really responds to a hot steamy iron especially when it is just a bit damp.  I recommend serging or pinking the edges pre-wash because it will fray a bit. The color didn’t fade or bleed at all and was very satur
Read more

Boss Blazer - Pagoda Shoulder Jasika!

Image
Looks like it’s time for what has become my annual blog post! I thought I’d share some details of my pagoda shoulder blazer.  A little history? Pierre Cardin is the inventor of the pagoda shoulder. The name refers to the cornices of Chinese towers. Cardin created new shoulder silhouette that dipped from the collar along the shoulder line, before rising again several inches from the edge. They became popular in styles for both men and women. Pierre Cardin himself was known for wearing the bold shoulders throughout the 1980s.   Pagoda shoulders later became a signature for Alexander McQueen, particularly in his menswear, but they were more subtle than the Cardin style.   Today the pagoda shoulder may be most commonly associated with Balmain, who often uses a highly exaggerated and sculptural version of the design.   Which brings us to my jacket – the fabric is Balmain deadstock from Selvedge and Bolts, so I thought I would do something with some Balmain flair. I started with the Jasika
Read more