Oh dear, this is one of my Top Five failures from 2020, but I think it’s worth sharing the bad as well as the good, and I’ve definitely learnt something sewing this Grainline Scout Tee up!
This is my second attempt at a Grainline Scout Tee. The first, in a rather beefy double gauze got some wear the first summer I made it, but has now been turned into a pair of shorts (not yet blogged, but they’re coming!). I thought I’d have another go in a more drapey fabric and see if it gave a less boxy end result (spoiler: it did, but not enough for my liking).
For this second try I used a cheap Viscose Challis I bought (yes, I paid for it myself!) from Minerva. This was a while back and they no longer stock it in black, but I’m pretty sure this is the same fabric (affiliate link) as the fibre content (65% viscose, 35% polyester) is identical. It’s actually a really lovely fabric to handle. I suspect the polyester helps make it just a little more stable than 100% viscose as it’s easier to sew, but it doesn’t affect the feel of it in any way. It still creases like crazy too, as you can probably tell from these pictures! I’m modelling it with my crazy floral Jalie Eleonores blogged here.
This is actually the second time around for the fabric, too. I originally bought it to make a long skirt for lounging around the house in the summer. I used a pattern I’d previously drafted for a knit skirt and forgot about the lack of stretch making a difference. Couldn’t actually walk in it properly. Major fail.
Fortunately the skirt pieces were wide enough to accommodate the main pattern pieces for the Grainline Scout Tee, and I had enough scraps to cut the sleeves too. I couldn’t make bias out of the meagre leftovers, but finished the inside of the neckline with some bias tape from my stash instead. I decided to keep the deep hem from my skirt too and lined the bottom of the Scout tee up with that, after subtracting the hem allowance. That made it an even easier sew!
All in all, the Scout tee is a great pattern to sew as it’s incredibly quick and simple. I set the sleeves in flat, then sewed the neckband, then the side seams. I think this was a different order to the pattern instructions but my notes aren’t clear and I can’t be bothered to go searching for the pattern booklet. Sorry!
Now, on to what I don’t like about the Scout Tee. Well, the picture above illustrates it perfectly. It’s just way too shapeless, even in a boxy fabric. I’ve realised through my sewing of this and the Hemlock tee (both hugely popular patterns) that Grainline draft for a very different body shape than mine. Their patterns look great on people with wider shoulders who tend to suit boxier styles. On me they just look wrong. Like I’m wearing something too big for me.
All is not lost, though. This top is supremely comfortable and has become summer loungewear: something to put on in the evening or lazy weekend mornings. I just don’t wear it out of the house. Okay, maybe in the back garden. That doesn’t count. No one can see me there!
Finally the back view, which strangely is the one I like best!
The deets
Pattern: Grainline Scout Tee (affiliate link)
Size: 12
Fabric: Viscose Challis from Minerva (affiliate link). No longer available in black.
Modifications: Deep hem salvaged from refashioned skirt
Costing:
- Pattern: £0.00 (originally gifted to me by Minerva in return for review)
- Fabric: £5.99 for 1m
- Notions: £0.00 (bias from stash)
- Total: £5.99
On the Sewing table
I’m nearly finished with my Mum’s Oslo cardigan and also found the time to whip up a quick Oonaballoona 3D face mask yesterday. Clearly I should have pinched out some of the height as it’s way too big, but it’s still the best facemask I’ve yet made and my glasses don’t steam up. Win! You can also see a sneak peek of my Heather Dress which I’ll be sharing next week. Hopefully I’ll have made a toile of a Butterick shirt for me by then, too.
See you next Friday!
Anna x
Disclaimer: some of the products linked above use affiliate links, meaning if you follow the link and make a purchase I will receive a small referral fee (at no added cost to you). Any extra income to help fund my sewing habit is greatly appreciated, but rest assured I only recommend products I love and think you might find useful too 🙂