Sunday 5 September 2010

drape drape vol. 2, no 4, drape top

This has to be one of my favourite t-shirts! It's SO comfortable, SO easy to sew, and SO not your standard t-shirt! It's the first project I made from my recent purchase, Japanese pattern-book  "drape drape 2".

Other reasons why it's fabulous: there is only one pattern piece, only three seams and you can fold it perfectly flat to store it, despite the drape on one side when worn.

I made one to try the pattern out (the solid grey one), wore it for two days in a stretch (which I normally wouldn't, but it's loose enough to stay fresh for quite a bit longer than normal t-shirts) and made a second one on the third day. Then I stopped myself for a while. Overdoing things is not good!

I can't promise I won't make more of it though! It takes about an hour and a half to make one, perfect.

The first version is made of a rather ordinary cotton jersey, a remnant that I like better and better the more I use it. I only have enough left for one more project now, I wish I had more of it. 

I made the second version in a striped Viscose/Lycra jersey that I bought specifically for this top (auch a rare occasion for me to buy a fabric for a specific garment and actually make it! I must do that more often), I wanted to see how the stripes would end up to get a better idea of how the pattern is constructed. And I thought id would look good (of course...). I made the neckline a bit less deep than in the original version since there's quite a high risk of my bra showing with the first one I made... I still love it. Comfy.

Both tops are made in a size in between M and M/L, which is where I am according the size-table in the book. Actually I'm a M up top and M/L at the bottom, and I'm a bit scared of too baggy clothes so I figured I'd make it a in-between size. It worked for jersey, more about that in a later post!

I'm really glad I bought this book, I've already made a few things from it so: more to follow! And I got a card-reader for the SDHD-card in my new camera that my computer refuses to read, so posting pictures is suddenly a whole lot easier!

I also had the ambition to photograph my clothes in the daylight, it failed, I might just have to accept the fact that I am a nocturnal creature...

Update: Here's what it looks like in the book. This original version is in silk.I think both cotton and viscose worked really well comparatively (especially regarding the fact that the's almost no silk jersey in the shops here, though I do love it).

11 comments:

  1. Both tops look great on you.

    Also, I really enjoy your dance move in the fourth photo. It's nice to see a change from the normally stoic poses people usually give.

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  2. I love them! I have a length of drapey jersey I've been trying to find the right project for, I shall have to check out this drape drape book!

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  3. The tops come out great!
    They really seem that were made just for you!!!
    ;)

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  4. Thank you all!

    EmilyKate, I do recommend getting it! I brought it to work and the comments from my (very fashion conscious architect-)colleagues was a big thumbs up and the verdict: modern. And there's a range of dead easy to darned difficult projects, I like that.

    Growningrace, hehe, I've set my camera to take 10pics at the time when on a timer, it's really movement-promoting. If I don't move, I get 10 identical and dull pictures, but if I do I can get two or three I like, makes shooting a lot more fun! Actually, you've inspired me to try my hands on posting a simple gif-animation... we'll see if I succeed!

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  5. Ooh I love that top! Normally I'm not a fan of drape-drape patterns because they can be too formless for my taste, but I really like this one. It looks great on you!

    When I saw that top photo, at first I thought you had made it with a solid fabric on the front and a striped fabric on the back and thought, how fun! Then I realized it was two different tops, haha! Though, wouldn't that look cool?

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  6. Thanks for blogging about this, it's so fun. They all look so good on you, AND you'd pay a pretty penny for it at a boutique so all the better.

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  7. I love the stripes- I have some great striped poly cotton that I am thinking of making into this tshirt. Luckily I live on the other side of the world from you so won't feel like too much of a copycat if I sew it up!

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  8. Hi Katrin!
    I would like to ask you for help. I found your blog when I was looking for instructions for this top. I am a beginner in sewing and my friend lend me this Drape drape 2 book in PDF. The problem is that I can't read the measurements on the pattern and I am not able to figure out the lengths. Would you be so kind to help me? Thanks and have a great day! Jitka

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  9. Jitka: I'm sorry, but I don't think I can help you out on that one. The books come with pattern sheets, the diagrams in the books are only there to help cut/assemble/sew the clothes.
    I'd recommend you to buy the book. Some projects are quite easy (such as this one), and the books aren't that expensive. I got mine at etsy (www.etsy.com), look in the supplies-section.
    If you don't want to buy the book, I think I remember seing a very similar pattern uploaded by a member at burdastyle (www.burdastyle.com). It's free, and a couple of other members have used it so it seems to work quite well. Found it: http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/my-neon-twister-dress. It's a dress and slightly different to this top but the principle is the same.
    Good luck!

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  10. Hi,
    I love this pattern too. And quickly made two shirts in a row. Actually I was dreaming of making one for a few months till I got started.
    Some adjustments in the neck line and arm opening.
    I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one wanting to make more of this shirt.
    I'm scheming on making #8.

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