Tessuti: Mandy Boat Tee

Sewing knit basics was part of my Me-Made-May'14 pledge and I've been really enjoying getting back to basics while learning how to sew with knits and use my overlocker. Because I've only really sewn with woven fabrics previously I don't own any knit patterns. Enter free knit patterns!

The Cloth Shop has a really great range of good quality knit fabrics (and it's a short walk from my house!). I bought this beautiful red and white striped jersey recently with a top in mind. In the end I decided to try out the free Tessuti Mandy Boat Tee pattern. 

This pattern is one size fits all. It's designed to be boxy and floaty in the torso and firm on the sleeves. I knew I'd find it just a touch too long and too boxy. I adjusted the pattern by removing 5cm from the length and 2cm from the body width front and back (this equated to 4cm front and back). The fit is still loose and boxy but I don't feel like I'm drowning in it.

The instructions provided are incredibly detailed with clear photographs of every step. I wouldn't normally expect so much from a free pattern so it was a nice surprise to be hand held through the whole make. I followed the instructions exactly.

Mandy took approx 1.5 hours to put together as I took it quite slow. I can see myself make a few more in different stripe and colour blocked variations.  I really like the fit. The sleeves are reasonably firm, perhaps a little too firm. I'll see how it wears over the day. You can see in the photo below that I almost pattern matched the stripes. I didn't put to much effort in to this so I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out.

I finished the top this morning and wore it to my sister's for morning tea. She kindly took some photos while battling the crazy wind and my niece sneakingly running towards the road.