Santa Monica Tee

This is a pattern that I haven't made for ages and I wore the previous version a great deal, so I am not sure how it came to be overlooked. It is pattern number 1211, the Santa Monica Tee by Textile Studio Patterns.

I actually made two, both in the same fabric, one with three quarter sleeves (shown) and one with a cap sleeve. The fabric is quite a heavy bamboo jersey. Its gorgeous fabric but sadly had many little dark coloured marks all over it so I had to cut quite carefully to try and avoid the worst of the marks.

This is a very quick pattern to sew. It took longer to coverstitch the hems than it did to sew it up. I should note that this is due to my coverstitch machine and I having a falling out. It felt that it was acceptable to sew half a hem then throw a fit and chuck its needle thread out. I felt this wasn't acceptable behaviour but was unable to persuade it to refrain. I really should sit down and get myself familiar with the coverstitch function by creating lots of little scrappy practice things. I am seriously bad at doing this. I always plan to... its just sewing an actual item seems more exciting.

The pattern has a raglan sleeve which is darted and I find this very comfortable to wear. It looks as though I've moved the dart angle in the past to accommodate my forward shoulder and it appears this was about three quarters of an inch of alteration. However, its so long since I made this, I can't be sure of what I did to it. Judging from the pristine tissue, not a great deal and it appears to be a straight xs size with only the dart altered.

Despite the coverstitch problems (most of which I fixed by hand with varying levels of success) I am pleased with both tops and am sure I will get a lot of wear from them. They fit really nicely. Quite a snug fit but I tend to like that in a top.