More make do and mend

Sometimes,  couture is not worth the effort. Bad Dad's old polo had many tiny wear holes, mostly at the bottom. I marked them with masking tape so I can easily tell where not to place the pattern pieces.

Scraps of paisley cotton poplin and black/white lawn were used for the center panel, sewn burrito style.

I was too lazy to switch serger thread colors so I used a narrow 0.5 mm zig-zag (aka drunken straight stitch) to sew the entire top. Notice the fused strips of nylon tricot interfacing along the shoulder and sleeve openings. I simply sewed, trimmed and pressed flat the shoulder and side seams. The armholes were turned under and stitched.  The neckline was not interfaced because bias binding holds it in.

The hem was turned over twice and stitched down.  Notice that a few holes (backed with fusible knit tricot) sneaked into the top.

The fabric was so worn to begin with.  It wasn't worth putting much effort into a top that will likely only last two seasons.  Purple and paisley, quick and easy.  It's everyday plenty meets make do and mend.

Ann Steeves made an excellent video explaining how to sew knits with equipment from the humble straight stitch machine to a zig-zag sewing machine through a serger and coverstitch machine.  You can use whatever you have and still produce something durable and attractive.

Version one of this top was made from a stretch cotton poplin that looked terrible with my complexion.  It, along with some regrettable rayon challis pants, lives in Boulder with a friend's teen aged daughter.  The outfit looks great on her.