The Bento Tee: so nice I made it twice!
The Liesl + Co Bento Tee is a boxy tee with either cuffed cut-on sleeves or dropped shoulder long sleeves and the option for interesting horizontal in-seam pockets (I am obsessed with this type of pocket after putting them in my green Lottie dress).
For my first Bento Tee, I went for the short sleeved, cuffed option with the in-seam pockets. I blatantly copied Liesl + Co's striped sample by turning my fabric vertically on the lower front and back pieces.
The fabric is striped jersey, a super soft rayon blend (I think) that I bought in Vietnam at one of the fabric markets. After washing the fabric, I realized there was a small stain on it (aaaaaarrrrrg!). But I was able to cut around it (well, I cut it so that the stain is inside the pocket). It's navy and white, but reads black unless you are right up next to it.
The in-seam pockets are quite shallow and not particularly useful (they fit neither my hand nor my cell phone), but they are cute as a design feature anyway! I thought the shirt would be a bit more cropped for some reason, but it's really just regular length on me.
Those critiques make it it sound like I'm upset about the tee, but I am definitely not. I love it! I bet it will get a ton of wear.
It's definitely more cropped than the pocket version, by about 2 inches, which is good, because that's what I was going for. I wanted a cropped tee to wear with voluminous skirts and pants for those times I don't want to tuck the top in. It goes really well with my yellow Veronika circle skirt and my Winslow culottes, in particular. You can also check it out paired with my new Daisy Designer Pants here.
The fabric is lovely black rayon lycra jersey I bought locally in Bangkok- awesome stuff, thick and soft with a glorious drape. I need to go back and get more.
Let me sum up: the Bento tee is great pattern with some cute options and design details. Both versions I made will definitely be wardrobe staples for me!
I too love those horizontal seam pockets! These are great, love the stripes particularly with the red sandals!
ReplyDeleteThanks! The little pockets are so cute, aren't they? Yes to stripes!!
DeleteBoth great tops Meg! Those pockets.....:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margo! The pockets are such a cute design detail!
DeleteThese are both really cute! It looks like a really versatile pattern that you'll wear a lot. I love cropped tops with full skirts since I rarely tuck in my shirts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teri! I've already worn each of them at least twice- they'll definitely be wardrobe staples! I agree on the cropped top/full skirt combo. Many times I tuck my shirt in for blog photos, but I rarely tuck in real life, so the cropped top works well!
DeleteCute! I love the idea of the inseam pockets, and your contrast with the stripe direction shows them off well! If you lengthened it into a dress, I imagine them being more serviceable.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth! I love the in-seam pockets, too! Yeah, if I made a dress version, I would definitely make the pockets deeper, if not wider, too.
DeleteBeautiful- very chic :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!!
DeleteSo lovely and flattering! I can definitely picture it with the skirt or the culottes. You could always keep gum or mints in the pocket version. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pamela! Ha ha, they are the perfect gum/mints pockets!
DeleteCute tops. These will get a lot of wear, I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean! They already have- great wardrobe staples, both of them!
DeleteTrès sympas! Merci de me faire découvrir cette marque de patrons que je ne connaissais pas en France! Ici, il faut des manches longues car c'est l'hiver et il fait froid! Béné
ReplyDeleteGlad to introduce you to a new company! Liesl + Co has some lovely designs. There is a long sleeve version of the Bento tee, too!
DeleteThese both look great and I love the fit! Those inseam pockets are super cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Heather! I love these tees, too, and the pockets, even though they aren't super useful ;-)
Deleteyour pattern and fabric choices are beautiful. I have trouble since I have a small bust but am hippy, so have wasted many hours sewing patterns that look sweet but they turn out terrible. I make my own skirts, since I do not like jeans. I have yet to find a simple top pattern that turns out well. You have inspired me to keep trying. You are quite lovely also. Your smile lights up your face. Keep sewing girl!!!
ReplyDelete