The Sewing Revival is a relatively new (to me) pdf pattern company, from New Zealand.  There are rather a lot of patterns on their website that I fancy!  I had to start somewhere, and I have started with the Fantail Shirt.  I think that I spotted a couple of versions on Instagram shortly after the pattern was released that sent me straight to the pattern shop.

I’ll start with the first one that I made. The fabric is so, so lovely, and not as blue as it appears in these photographs. It’s chambray from Drapers Fabrics. I may go back for more. Fabulous to sew and to wear.

I sewed size Medium, but should have sewed size Large. I was hoping that on my short-waisted body the front would be lower, but it exposes my belly more than I like, and feels a little too firm through the shoulders and bust. It’s wearable, but only just. However it will be kept in my wardrobe in case I have a downward weight fluctuation. That fabric and the overall style really need to be worn! So what did I do? I reprinted it in size Large, and sewed it again.

This time I have used beautiful printed viscose/rayon from Eliza Fabrics. I think that I got the very last piece! Isn’t that print just something! This time the shirt fits brilliantly. I have already worn it out to dinner numerous times – it’s the bridge between casual and dressy.

So, what makes this such a great pattern? Here’s the description from the pattern website: A sister top to the Fantail Tank but with full length raglan sleeves. Easy to sew with a designer twist, the center front hem gather adds unique interest and the lowered back hem ensures the top is flattering around the derriere. A lovely line is created from the center front down along the hip and around the rear hem creating a “fantail”. The Fantail Shirt is a simple sew and the curved hem made easy with bias binding. This is a trans-seasonal top that can take you from smart casual to work. STYLE OPTIONS: Round neck and “V” neck in a SHIRT or SWEATSHIRT option.  RECOMMENDED FABRIC: FANTAIL SHIRT: Designed for woven fabrics, we recommend cotton, rayon, viscose, polyester crepe and light weight linen. FANTAIL SWEATER: Sew with light to medium weight knits (jersey cotton, sweat shirting and merino wool).

As you can see,  my chambray shirt is the round neck option, and the patterned shirt is the V neck option.  It’s not hard to make!  It’s always easy to construct a top with raglan sleeves.  The V neckline is faced.  Plenty of pins were needed (or did I use fusible tape?) to hold the facing in place while it was topstitched down.

I used nice 3.2cm wide elastic in the cuffs and the gathered front section. I used the same width for both rather than narrower in the cuffs as per the pattern for reasons of consistency and laziness. The instructions are very clear, and it’s easy to do.

I think that this shirt would work well for lots of people! I hope to give the sweatshirt a go at some stage too; not until next winter though. The weather here is heating up and at the moment I really want to get on to summer sewing! In the meantime I am wearing this shirt at every appropriate opportunity – it’s a sewing hit for me.