|
Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Oct 5, 2006 22:46:19 GMT -5
"Master Pinn" (who's to say otherwise? ;D) -- it worked perfectly! I sewed the side seams together and have been wearing it around the house all night. (My husband thinks I'm nuts....) Kryy It worked? Ooooh, I must try it. ;D Whichever thing it was that worked. Glad to be of help. I tend to make my undertunics long, because I like to tuck them into my pants to hold them in place, but that is just my preference.
|
|
|
Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 6, 2006 16:48:30 GMT -5
Here's what worked -- I sort of "combined" your 2 suggestions (wrap around vs. t-shirt style):
Since the front wrap parts of the shirt went all the way to the seam on each side, I sewed them down from the waist to the hem, changing the tunic to a slip-over. It "gaps" enough to slip over the head easily, but then closes up to be "modest" without needing a fastener, although I may need to add one or pin the neck higher when wearing the outer tunic ....
[.... that is, assuming I can make some progress on that project.... [clears throat] I think I need a course in "remedial tunic making"....]
I plan to take a couple of pics of the undertunic this weekend. Many thanks again for the help!
|
|
|
Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Oct 7, 2006 11:42:49 GMT -5
That sounds like it would work fine. Love to see the pics!
|
|
|
Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 10, 2006 17:39:05 GMT -5
As promised! Here's the original pattern (McCall's #4007): and here's how it translated into an inner tunic made of crinkle cotton: Here's how it looks "worn":
|
|
|
Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 10, 2006 18:06:53 GMT -5
It looks a lot different in the crinkle cotton than I think it was originally intended by the designers. I also had some "technical issues" with "stretchiness" and attaching the facing/band all the way around. Here are the changes I made "on purpose": 1.) I made it a bit longer than the shortest view. 2.) I did NOT use the "cute" little sash-wrap around tie, so I did not cut any slits or openings to accommodate it. Instead, I sewed the wrap around part of the body to the side seams as discussed above. 3.) I cut off the sleeves above the elbow and made a new lower sleeve piece, rotating the fabric to cut across grain instead of up and down. This took advantage of the extra-crinkle at the selvage edge for the "rucked" sleeve. (I did not hem the sleeves!) Yes, the sleeves are pieced, but the outer tunic will hide that. 4.) The neck band had a seam in the middle and was cut across grain in the pattern. Once again, I made use of the extra crinkle near the selvage and cut a long piece (double thickness) with no center seam (along the grain, not cross-grain). The double thickness is nice and squishy and comfortable, almost quilted-like, but that also probably accounts for the extra trouble I had with the stretch. I had originally used an iron-on interfacing in the neckband, but it did not "give" at all and I could not get it matched to the body, so I went to the self-lining. Here are my "lessons learned" in addition to the neckband thing: 1.) I would probably make the next size smaller next time, b/c the fabric is so stretchy that the tunic "grows", even with the front and back darts. It's not as "neat" looking as I would like, so I'm glad it goes "underneath". 2.) I would probably make it a tad longer. (Part of that was dealing with a 2 1/2 yard piece from the end of the bolt.) 3.) I had to sew up ("take in") the sleeves about 3 times to get them to fit. Stretchy gauze.... It doesn't SEEM stretchy (like a knit would), but it IS! 4.) The sleeve caps are a bit "puffy" -- I think from the stretchy fabric -- but the outer tunic will hide that. All in all, with the caveats (and especially if one has more sewing experience than I do) I would suggest this pattern as a possibility for our ladies.
|
|
|
Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Oct 10, 2006 19:55:22 GMT -5
Oh, I think that pattern is just perfect! And it is available; I found it on ebay -- though I thought it was a little pricey in my size. McCalls have been a bit pricey whenever I buy them anyway. It looks just right for a Jedi in the crinkle cotton Yes, sewing the wrap around part to the side seams, looks good. I have always used accross-the-grain fabric for sleeve cuffs because they're suppose to be long a crinkled that way at the cuffs. I have a tunic with pieced sleeves, too; it doesn't show and is a good way to make the best use of a small piece of fabric. I think I have run into all of those problems with the stretchy fabric!
|
|
|
Post by Kryy Jacobi on Oct 12, 2006 0:26:48 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the encouragement! This has been a learning experience that has turned into a LEARNING experience. (patience, Padawan.... )
|
|
|
Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Nov 30, 2006 22:47:48 GMT -5
Random thought here....I was just looking for that McCalls pattern online and I have a feeling that when I make it, I will not bother with any ties and just sew it together where it would tie because that part doesn't show anyway for an undertunic.
And since we have evidence that they did pin the tunic together at the base of the V of the collar in the movies, I'll add a little velcro there, just to hold it in place.
|
|
|
Post by Kryy Jacobi on Dec 1, 2006 18:38:07 GMT -5
That's the thing to do -- sew the wrap parts down.
One thing I learned from wearing this at Halloween -- it pulls at the sides. (See photo on Oriental rug -- the right side and the diagonal wrinkle coming down from the waist.)
I think I've figured out why it pulls. I sewed down the lap-over sides at the side seams for reinforcement, but if one uses the ties there is a bit of a "gap" between the wrap edge and the side seams.
In other words, the front wrap parts are pulled askew if one takes them all the way to the side seams, so either the pattern should be adjusted or just sew the flaps down where they'd fall naturally.
(That was about as clear as mud....)
|
|