Sample Sewing: Grainline Hadley

Last month I was busy sewing up sample garments for classes I was to teach at Nido this fall. I already shared my Linden with you, but this is my sample version of the newest from Grainline Studios, the Hadley top! 

Sample Sewing: Grainline Linden

I think I might be the last person on earth to sew up the much-loved Grainline Studio Linden sweatshirt!

Grainline Willow Tank x 2

Two Grainline Willow tanks for your viewing pleasure... a wearable muslin and a more refined linen/cotton version.

Morris Blazer, Take 2

An eye-searing green floral Grainline Studio Morris Blazer for your viewing pleasure:

Sewcation Outfit 2: Morris Blazer

My mom's second sewcation outfit (see her first here!) will help her transition through spring... a Grainline Studio Morris Blazer!

Chambray Tamarack Jacket

I've made a Grainline Studio Tamarack Jacket!

Morris!

Finally finished my Morris! I'm not sure why it took me so long to finish it up, as it's a really simple project. Sewjo blockage + long weekend trip = drawn out sewing project.

Contributing at Imagine Gnats: Double Gauze Archer

Hey y'all! I'm contributing over at Imagine Gnats today... go check it out!

Polka Dot Knit Scout!

It's no secret that I have a mild obsession with Grainline's Scout T-shirt pattern...  I've made like 100 versions of the pattern made out of woven fabric and had always wondered what it might be like to sew in knit fabric.

Coincidentally, around the same time that I got my new serger (which makes knits easier to sew, woo!), Jen from Grainline posted a tutorial on how to sew up a Scout using knits.  Kismet?  Indeed. Thus, here's my knit Scout!

Vintage polka dot fabric is from Martha's stash.  I went down one size from my normal Scout size and lengthened it by 1.5 inches, but I think I could have gone down maybe even another 2 sizes because there is so much ease in the pattern.  It's definitely not a tight t-shirt!  My neckline is a little wonky, pulling a bit.  Maybe my neckband fabric wasn't as stretchy as I thought and thus I cut it a bit short? 

Despite these little kinks, I still dig my knit Scout and definitely plan on more in the future!

Pattern Blocked Scout Tee

Q: Which one of the three design features on this iteration of Grainline's Scout Woven Tee was intentional?

a) The contrast stitching

b) The diagonal pattern blocking

c) The button down back
 

A: If you guessed b, you are correct!  I had this awesome pattern blocking tutorial by Mad Mim bookmarked for months now- I love the diagonal line (not to mention her awesome hand stamping)!  I had big plans to use my trusty Grainline Scout t-shirt pattern as the basis for my pattern blocked tee, but somehow these plans didn't come to fruition until this week. My impetus: a few weeks ago I saw that Kollabora and Sown Brooklyn were hosting a Scout Tee sewalong/contest and I decided that this was the perfect reason to put my well-laid pattern blocking plans into action.
 

The other two design elements (the button back and the contrasting stitching) were pretty much accidental.  I didn't have enough black fabric to cut the back on the fold (hence the button back) and I (in)conveniently ran out of black thread right before sewing (cue white contrast stitching).  But I kinda dig the result, so we'll call them happy accidents...
 

Here are the deets: black cotton fabic from Pasar Mayestik plus some really cool black, white and minty green geometric/floral batik (scraps from another Grainline Scout Tee as well as a Grainline Tiny Pocket Tank I made as Christmas presents for Martha and Chuck, respectively).  For the front I followed Mad Mim's directions pretty much to a "T" (har har), and for the back, I traced the pattern piece not on the fold but cut two separate pieces that I extended out 2 extra inches at the inner seam.  Before adding the bias tape to the neckline I zig-zagged the inner edge of both back pieces and then pressed each of them under 1 inch to make the button plackets, which I top-stitched down.  Add buttonholes, buttons and ta-da!  I also lengthened the top a little bit- an inch or so.

Tons of Tees and Tanks

More versions of Grainline Studio's Scout Tee and Tiny Pocket Tank...  I have gotten my money out of these patterns (see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here).  These are mostly Christmas gifts, but I snuck one in there for myself, too, while I was at it.

These two are made from the same piece of beautiful batik I found.  I love how it has a geometric background overlaid with a floral print.  Also, I have rarely seen batik made mainly in black, so I dig this one:

I like how this pink batik is super simple and bright:

This ikat from Bali is awesome- I love all the colors incorporated into it:

An finally this traditional navy and white patterned batik tee... cute!

So Many Tiny Pocket Tanks

So many Tiny Pocket Tanks (all without pockets... I have a bias against unpractical pockets for some reason).  I love this pattern, though; it's quite cute and works so well with funky prints.

During their wild and crazy adventure here in Indonesia, the EPA girls took some time to pick out a piece of fabric each, to be made by moi into a Tiny Pocket Tank.  

Jenny chose this amazing navy and turquoise hand-made ikat in Ubud (I took the remainder of the cut and will probably make myself an identical shirt).  So beautiful.

 Ms. Guitar chose this funky batik and I convinced her that she should split the yardage (handmade batik usually comes in 2.25 meter lengths, the length of a traditional sarong, but not quite long enough for 2 tanks) and make one tank for her and one for her twin sister.  I cut the back of the tanks from a solid black cotton that I got at Pasar Mayestik here in Jakarta.

Eileen chose this cool, funky colored ikat.  Love it.  

(Faux) Ikat Tiny Pock Tank

I love, love, love the Tiny Pocket Tank that I made a few months ago.  I would wear it everyday if I could, so I decided to make another one.

I might love this one more.

The neckline is flattering and perfect for necklaces, it can be dressed up or dressed down, it stands alone or under a cardigan or blazer...  this one, too, is particularly awesome because the fabric (a faux [i.e. printed, not woven] ikat quilting cotton from Joann Fabric) has so many colors that it's very versatile... I can take it in lots of different directions- brighten it further with an orange cardigan and big turquoise jewelry, or tone it down with a taupe or olive green blazer.

Love it.

Another Grainline Scout T-Shirt!

In anticipation of our upcoming trip to Laos (where I understand it will be hot and humid), I wanted another Grainline Scout T-Shirt made out of a light and flowy fabric.  Luckily, Chuck sent me this really pretty, light and linen-y fabric that is perfect for the job...

I never get sick of this pattern- it's super easy to make, easy to wear, can be dressed up or dressed down.  Good stuff.

Tiny Pocket(less) Tank

Since I am so in love with Grainline's Scout T-shirt pattern, I thought I would download another pattern from the site: the Tiny Pocket Tank. It's a simple but modern-cut tank perfect for hot Jakarta weather. 

I decided to make my first version out of an old cotton and linen button-down shirt of Tim's that he no longer wears.  In retrospect, perhaps I should have done a straightforward version of the tiny pocket tank rather than a refashion, but it turned out pretty well in the end anyway. 

I skipped the tiny pocket in the end, but left the button down placket from Tim's shirt intact.  I sewed it up, though, to prevent any gaping.  The chest area is a little bit tight on me (the top of the pattern is not quite as roomy as the Scout t-shirt- it's slightly more fitted- so I misjudged my size), so next time I may go up a size. 

I'm looking forward to making many more versions of this pattern!