I’ve been making a ton of t-shirts this fall, but don’t plan to post about most of them. They’re largely FBA experiments based on a Renfrew I altered to fit me, with darts rotated into gathers at the shoulder, neckline, or centre front. Mostly I got bored of basic t-shirts and could never find the patterns I wanted, so experimentation it is. It’s worked out fairly well and you’ll see them in posts about skirts or pants.
This one was an actual pattern, though, so it gets a post.
The pluses are the waist tie, which obviates the need for fitting in the waist seam, and the distinctive seam lines (drop shoulders, triangular waist panel, peplums); the negatives are the d-ring, which I was not sure I would enjoy having attached to a shirt I’m wearing. But it was worth the risk to see if it worked.
It did! Here it is, made up in a plum rayon/bamboo jersey bought at Downtown Fabrics on Queen W.
Alterations on this one were minimal:
- FBA, some of which was rotated into the waist above the peplum waist gathers, some of which was eased in, and some of which was removed from the side waist as an impromptu “dart.” Next time I’d do more of this latter and less of the gathering/easing.
- Shortened the back by 1″. Sadly I goofed and shortened it also by 1″ at the side, which was way too much and raises the waist all over: not what I wanted.
Otherwise, this is the pattern as drafted, d-rings and all.
Next time I’d lower the neckline in the back a smidge. I might also extend the drop shoulder just a tad. But overall I love it and wear it all the time.
Also: you don’t need the zipper. I put the zipper in, but I don’t use it. I just pull it on and off.
Sizing Note
I should be a 40/44 in a Burda shirt; this shirt is a size 38 with an FBA. The upper front is cut on the single layer due to the asymmetrical seam so I did a parallel FBA on both sides of the pattern piece. Side darts were rotated into the waist seam, and then removed during cutting & sewing along the side seams. Remaining excess was eased into the waist seam; particularly under the tie detail.
Zoopolis 
This looks good. But I’d be interested in your experiments too. I’m thinking I should try that too, & other people’s approaches are helpful.
Huh! Good to know. Maybe I’ll put together a monster post about it in the New Year.
I saw several people (on the Russian site) left off the D-ring. Is it bulky or just weird or??
Love the color too and have it on my wish list. I do like the idea of making the dropped shoulder more deliberate.
I don’t find them bulky or weird. A bit fiddly, and sometimes the belt unloops itself. I think the main thing w/ the d-rings is just not a whole lot of colours available, and silver/gunmetal/brass isn’t going to work for every fabric. I’ve seen some versions with two belts instead of the d-ring-and-belt and I might try that next time just to see.