Kimono Tee Time (Part I)

Once I latch on to something, it's can be hard for me to try something new. I'm like that with many things - food, TV shows, music, etc. For sewing, after I've found a pattern that I like and that fits well, I tend not to stray. Especially if I've spent some time making adjustments.

That said, I'm trying to expand my horizons. It all started with this awesome fabric that I picked up from Mood online:

It was screaming to be made into something other than a Renfrew, my go-to top pattern. Something boxier that would highlight the fabric more instead of a body-hugging style.

Enter the Kirsten Kimono Tee from MariaDenmark. This is a free pattern available when you sign up for the MariaDenmark newsletter. I was actually eying up another top pattern on the site but was really drawn to this. If you asked me a year ago if I would ever make a top this style, I would have said "no". (Why? I don't know. That's just how I am.) And, I would have missed out on this:

Pattern: MariaDenmark Kirsten Kimono Tee

Fabric: The description on the Mood website is Navy/Black Misc Novelty Knit, and it's a polyester rayon blend.

Size and Modifications: I cut out a straight BL (for this pattern, that corresponds to body measurements 38.5" bust, 32" waist and 42" hip). I wanted something slightly boxy and originally tried to grade the pattern between sizes. (The only measurement above that matches me is the hip.) However, after multiple attempts to grade between a small and large and add seam allowances, I gave up.  This was totally no fault of the pattern, I just spaced out multiple times during the process. Funny thing is that I'm completely happy with the fit of the current size and could have saved myself a headache in the first place.

Once I assembled and finally cut the correct size pattern out, the shirt went together quickly. You sew the side seams, attach a neck band, hem the cuffs and bottom and boom you're done! It's simple, yet elegant.

The black mesh of the fabric is see-through and I do have a tank top underneath because this is not that type of blog!  :)