A Make a Month – February

It seemed as if this tunic would never be finished, but it is and I’ve learned some valuable things in the making.

The most important one is that the adage ’sew for the body you have’ does not apply to new mothers. Your sewing time might not come as frequently as you desire so it will take you much longer to sew a garment than you anticipated. This means two things. The first is that the winter top you were making might seem a little warm when you finally finish the top well into spring. The second is that in between starting and finishing you might do something radical like finish breastfeeding and discover that your bust measurement is now a good three inches smaller.

Dear me. It flaps about a bit. Which is a shame, because I do like the fabric and I do like the design, but I may as well be wearing a kaftan for how glamourous I feel in it. I remember reading somewhere that Hot Patterns sometimes make up big, which is another way of saying they have a generous amount of ease, but in this case I could do with rather less. I’m thinking that I might have a go at taking the side seams in a bit, and see if I can give it some shape. Another thing, which is possibly related to the general tent like proportions, is that it is rather revealing in the boob area and could not be worn out without a cami underneath, lest I wanted to get myself in trouble. (There is an option for a modesty panel but I declined to add it.)

Pluses are that I like the tunic length, I like the gathering for skimming over my  midsection, and I like the rouleau loop and button fastening on the sleeve. Would I make it again? Possibly, but about three sizes smaller…

I also realised that I need to practise a lot more with the overlocker, and with knits in general, which has led me happily to my make for May. Perhaps that’s the other lesson I learned – sewing begets sewing, and the more I do the more I realise my potential and limitations when it comes to sewing time, which is making the whole process much less fraught than it was a couple of months ago. Onwards!

Don’t forget to vote today, UK folks!