Sewaholic Renfrew tee – in stripes
If my memory serves me correctly, Sewaholic was one of the early independent sewing pattern companies that popped up near the beginning of my blogging days (I’m now into my fourteenth year of blogging). They were wildly popular, but after some time the business was sold, and I don’t remember hearing anything from them since. A quick google has revealed that the website is still operational, and the patterns are still available. One of my favourite Sewaholic patterns is the Renfrew tee.
My version of the pattern is highly customised in terms of the grading between sizes and the body shaping. I can’t even remember what sizes it encompasses. Essentially I removed any waist shaping.
The fabric is from Darn Cheap Fabrics, a recent purchase. It’s a terrific winter weight, thicker than a regular jersey. It’s a viscose/nylon/spandex knit, and is currently still available on their website. Obviously, it’s a stripe – which means stripe matching!
To match stripes well you need to pay attention when you’re cutting out. Use a single layer where possible, and match up key points like the bottom hemline and the bottom of the armscye. I pinned about every third stripe when sewing (yes, I used the machine). This version of the Renfrew is finished with bands throughout, and I managed to get the hem band and the sleeve cuffs matching up with the stripe repeat. Can you even tell where the seam lines are?
Simple stripey satisfaction!
This is very nice. The Renfrew was one of my earliest patterns when I resumed sewing after a break of 20 years. I like the cowl neck version. With this fabric…how did you dry it? I generally line dry mine but have found stripes to go crooked and so matching them in a straight line is impossible. I was advised to dry striped fabric flat.
That is beautiful!
I would L O V E some tips for sewing with knits. I did my first kid’s dress and things came out acceptable but a little wonky. Your neck band….a thing of beauty.
You are definitely the neck band super woman.
Nice stripe matching! I think Renfrew was their bestselling pattern. Tasha sold her Sewaholic business to a local Vancouver indie sewing shop, Spool of Thread. They are keeping the patterns available to purchase but sadly have no plans that I know of to add new designs.
Darn autocorrect! That’s Tasia Pona, former owner/designer at Sewaholic.