I needed a little instant gratification, so I decided to make a super-quick shirt from a pattern in my stash and a piece of fabric in my stash. The pattern is Burda 8347, View B. The fabric is a vintage cotton feedsack in a cheerful yellow floral pattern. It was pretty quick and easy. Applying the elastic casings at the neck and armholes was a little tedious, but I was still able to complete this project in less than 24 hours. I think that's a record for me!
The pattern called for silky fabrics, but the feedsack worked just fine. I was able to make the shirt from just one feedsack, but it was a tight squeeze on the layout. I didn't have room to cut the bias strips for the elastic casings from the feedsack (and I don't have the patience to cut those myself anyway), so I used one package of white bias tape instead. I also used skinny elastic cord instead of the flat elastic, and I ignored the pattern guides for the length of the elastic pieces. My choices with the elastic came back to haunt me.
When I tried on the shirt without the elastic inserted, there was plenty of room in the bust and under the arms. (It's a little snug in the belly right now, but I'm still dropping the baby weight so I didn't want to cut it much bigger.) After I put all the elastic in I realized I should have made the elastic pieces longer and therefore looser. As you can see in this photo, the whole thing creeps up and bunches under my arms. I may replace the armhole elastic with longer pieces, or I may just cut it and leave it in the casings. I think I can live without the elastic at the armholes.
This was my first time working with a vintage feedsack fabric. It reminded me of my Aunt Joan, one of my dad's nine siblings. She has a great sense of style! When they were growing up on the farm, she would make of point of choosing the nicest feedsack prints for the family's wardrobe.
I have another feedsack shirt project in the works - this time I have two matching sacks to work with!
Here are my boys checking out the trees... What a pair!
4 comments so far. Please leave one!:
That's a really cute top. Love that vintage feed sack fabric.
I like the pattern/fabric. Very cute! And your boys look cute too! ;-)
This reminds me very much of a pattern my sister and I liked in high school. The tank had armholes that came together at the shoulder as a tie. I think there was elastic across the neckline to offer the same gathered/ scoop. And then there was a drawstring at the waist. Maybe it's still in my box. It was a great pattern to line with a complimentary fabric and make reversible - the shoulder ties showed both faces. Looks cool!
Love the feedsack top. Hope you have resolved the armhole issue. The picture of the boys is great! When will you and Henry finish that green wool coat?
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