Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Au Bonheur Knotted Tee

Worn with my Style Arc Laura Leggings.

It's high time I made another Au Bonheur pattern! I actually made this top over the three day weekend. It took longer to alter than to make - it's a quick and easy sew. I was planning to make a second one, a non-black version, easier to see on the blog, but I couldn't identify a fabric I wanted to use, so here's the black version. The fabric is a very stretchy rayon-lycra from Fabrix.

Even if you don't have a stable of Au Bonheur patterns, many of the creative ideas, such as the hem on this tee, can be applied to other patterns.

This pattern is a simple tee, with four knotted points at the hem. It is sleeveless with a scoop neck. The four points of the hem are formed thanks to a pattern piece they call the Coté. Coté translates to "side", but I would call this piece a gusset - to me a side piece would extend up to the armscye. But, and get this, the gusset is shaped like...

the Eiffel tower! How French is that?!?! So cute!

I traced off the largest size, a 54, and then made several changes:

  • I preserved the scoop neckline, but I traced the shoulder, armhole, and width for the front and back from the Style Arc Adele. This meant that I ended up with a bustline that had 4" of negative ease - it's less boxy than the original. I like negative ease with a highly stretchy fabric.
  • I used the long sleeve from the Adele.
  • I left the hem raw.
  • I used the same finish on the neckline that I used on this Liberty pullover.

  • I shortened the sleeves by 1.5" and hemmed them by hand.

Conclusion:
I really like this simple and easy tee! I definitely will make more, once I have identified more fabrics.

One other thing I wanted to mention. I created a separate page, French Sewing Resources and Au Bonheur Gallery. I want to keep these resources alive and, in fact, added more clarifications to the glossary when I made this top. This page is available at the top of every page in my blog, along with the Tablecloth Skirt page. Enjoy!

More Pictures

15 comments:

  1. Tres magnifique! I have several RTW tops with this treatment and love them. Yours is very attractive...good balance of kookiness and wearability. Brava for keeping the pattern line alive!

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    1. Oh, Margy, even from deep in Ethiopia, you are reading blogs!!! :D (Glad you are staying off Italian cruise ships. ;)

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  2. shams, that is a cute tee, and after showing us the Eiffel Tower gusset, I really want to make this. (My To Sew list is getting a bit too long)

    We are getting snow, snow, snow here in OR. WA is getting hammered too. Is it raining in the Bay Area?

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    1. Thanks, Mary. It is not raining here and has not rained for months. But we are supposed to get some rain soon!

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  3. The top looks so comfy! I love the gussets and knots.

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  4. Shams, what a great wardrobe builder with a twist. You are the best at that! I want to try adding a little Eiffel Tower gusset too - love the knots.

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  5. Very cute! Don't you love how people come up with these simple but effective ideas!

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  6. A very nice Tshirt! I love the little knots a very simple, clever and effective detail, one I've filed away from a few of my own RTW reccies too (reconnaissance). Will probably copy... :)

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  7. I love this top on you. Had to laugh at.your comment to Margy, as I am 12000 miles from home and still catching up with blog reading.

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  8. Very nice! The knots are a great little touch that makes it more than just a basic.

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  9. A new twist--and it's t-riffic! We're always looking for a new look for a T. I'm thinking a knotted neckline would look good with the hem knots.

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  10. Wonderful, simple detail - those knots at the hem.

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  11. You look great and French!!! And thank you in advance for the ABPM and French resources. I am certain I will need them one day soon!

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  12. Very cute, Shams! Since the pattern company is defunct and I would need to redraft the entire shoulder/armhole area anyway, I'm so glad you showed us the shape of the Eiffel Tower gusset...er, I mean Coté. Thank you! I just may try my own version. I really like the original sleeveless top too. Wearable but with a twist - my favourite!

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  13. Adorable top. Looks great on you. I love the Eiffel Tower gusset! What a good idea also to make a small pattern bigger around the tummy and hips. Very flattering top.

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