MÉLILOT SHIRT (Swans)

MÉLILOT SHIRT

I've had this swan fabric for 2 years or so and have only made Emily a dress (click here). The reason is I love this fabric SOOOOO much and finding rayons that have a cool print is hard to come by. I don't understand why there aren't more. If they put out a fabric with a cool print then the color is odd. 

Anyway....I finally found THE pattern. I was looking through Jenny Gordy's instagram page (wikstenmade) and saw a photo of her and her husband. She was wearing a shirt that looks just like this one (the style not the print and it was buttoned at the neck)! I trolled the internet for a pattern and even bugged Adrianna to see if she knew of one. Then I stumbled on this shirt pattern from Deer and Doe. It's the Melilot Shirt.  If you saw the shirt I was inspired by you'd say I did good finding something similar!! Even the sleeves look the same. I included the line drawing of the shirt so you can see the seams. I made view B and the collar from view A. I made a large but maybe could have gone down a size. Because of how the sleeves are, it fits weird when I put my arms all the way forward so if I went down in size I was worried I wouldn't be able to move my arms. It's made from a really drapey rayon challis bought on etsy from a shop in Hong Kong I think. About 2 years ago.

Below is why I cut my head off . Angry much? The sun was in my eyes. Sort of. that's actually my RBF.

So  below I'm showing it buttoned up. I won't be wearing it like this I don't think. 

And below is the pièce de résistance! A hidden placket! Because of the placket but mostly because I have to do this for fit, I made a toile. It helped me figure out what the instructions were trying to say regarding the placket. I loved the pattern but my only complaint is the instructions aren't as detailed as I like and I haven't done a hidden placket since the 90's! So making the top (without the collar) in a cheap fabric really helped. I don't make the whole top when making a toile. I usually do one sleeve and if it has a collar I leave that off. I don't do the buttons or zippers (I do zippers if it's a really fitted item) and don't hem it. I only  make it to see what size I am. I'm curious what others do. You should see my toiles! This shirt I think is made from a yellow cotton and a hunter green cotton. It's hideous! I just made the Carolyn pj shorts from 3 different green cottons.

peek-a-boo!

Sally Dress or 90's baby doll dress

The Sally Dress.

Pattern by Very Shannon, Fabric from etsy.

The fabric is a rayon challis and like butta. 

I made this for Emily after finding a really super cute one from H&M that is black with kitty heads all over it and it instantly reminded me of my youth. When working at Yardage City starting in '92, I sewed so many of these for myself.  I had one with sunflowers all over it, paint splatter, hats, etc. I LOVED them. I would wear them with Docs or tights and flats. So when I saw this one at H&M I had to get it and make her some more! The Sally pattern was the closest pattern I could find without going to Joanns and looking at the pattern books.

*it's about 90 degrees out and i made her put the sweater, tights and boots on to model this. Is that mean?

The modifications I made are this:

I omitted the huge pockets on the sides and added in-seam pockets.

I added a key-hole opening in the back only because the H&M one had it.

I didn't line it or use facing but instead used bias tape made from the same fabric.

Emily is 9 and has a chest of about 23" so I made a 5t. I probably should have made one size bigger but I didn't want it so huge the neck was gaping or it looked messy. 

I also shortened the sleeves quite a bit. Those things were big and boxy! Like a guys t-shirt sleeve.

I think that's all I modified...

Isn't this fabric the cutest???? Why can't I ever find rayon like this? I had to get it from a seller in Hong Kong.   I bought this many many months ago and just finally got to it but Target has a whole line of clothing for women made from the print!