Wiksten Tova

When I came across the Wiksten Tova shirt pattern a while ago, I was smitten. It looked to be a comfy lightweight shirt with possibilities.

I duly ordered the pattern, and stuck it together, and then got a bit stuck on how I might do an FBA on it. With the large yoked front, which finishes at the bust line it was proving a bit of a puzzle on how to add extra space without ruining the features of it I liked so much.

Off to Pattern Review for some advice, and I struck it lucky. The designer, Jenny, popped in and told me exactly how to do it, or at least how she had designed it to be done. Excellent!

I duly adjusted and made up the pattern in some cotton I had kicking around. 

Overall, the fit was good, but the back seemed a little loose, so I added in a couple of fisheye darts at the back waist and it was much better. 

Now I will say right now, the fabric was a little too crisp for this style, so suspect that with a more appropriate fabric the back darts would not be needed.

The instructions were overall pretty good, and made for a nice shirt at the end. I am really pleased with how the yoke came out.

Unfortunately, I managed to pick a fabric that is completely impossible to photograph. The details all get lost in the fabric pattern. 

NOTE TO SELF: Pick a fabric with more drape and less pattern!

More Bucket Hats

As we are coming into Summer again here, I decided it was time for some more sunhats at our place. Fortunately, I came across a hat sew along here, and decided it was just the motivation I needed.

I again used the Oliver and S bucket hat pattern from the 'Little Things to Sew' book. You can find this pattern for free here.

The first one is made from left over cotton drill, from the Superhero cape made previously.
The second (and third) one is made from some leftover rip stop cotton, from a pair of pants.

All of them have plain black cotton drill as their reverse side.

A great hat pattern, that I've made previously, and will continue to use.