I needed a top to wear to gym for an outside boxing class held in the evening. At the moment it is winter here so anywhere from 5C to 15C is the norm so I really wanted a long sleeved top to wear to this class.
I have looked at the tops in the shops, but honestly did not want to spend $70 for a gym shirt.
Then I realised I had some wicking fabric bought in 2009 from Wazoodle. I had used some of this fabric to make a gym shirt for DH and I had played with it to try and make racer back shirts for gym but otherwise I had a pile of it sitting around. Then in a brainwave I realised I had the pattern for Jalie 2682. The pattern I had was traced off in a size V (bust 37") and I am now a size S (bust 34")... gym has paid off :)
As the fabric I had bought from Wazoodle wasn't really stretchy and only just made the stretch requirement (but probably only one way) I decided making it a bit bigger was probably a safe choice.
This is what I ended up with:
I made the view with the zip front as it looked like the tops I was looking at in the shops. However I wanted a zip pull and so being cheap inventive I used a piece of the same fabric in a fluoro green sewed in a tube then hand stitched into a loop onto the zipper pull.
If I see one in the shops I will change it over but this is working for me for the time-being.
The true test of a gym top is to wear it, so this is how it worked for me..
Worn over an ancient faded fluro yellow sleeveless top (in the vain hope I will get warm enough to take the long sleeved top off... nope!)
There isn't a lot of stretch in this fabric and I could do with a bit more room over the high bust/chest area and across the upper back...
However, even though I would make adjustments when/if I make this top again, it worked really well, was a good weight and I did not pop any seams.... all good! :)
Ciao gym kittens!...back soon with a lovely bow tie blouse and vest finished this month but not worn or photographed as yet....
Looks great. I'm sure you'll be whipping it off in no time. I'm running in sleeveless tops in a Tasmanian winter, which I never thought I'd find myself doing!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have the rest of the gym kittens scratching at you for this top.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great top - looks like something you would pay a fortune for in the athletic shops around here!
ReplyDeleteIt looks fantastic and, even better, functioned like you wanted it to. Excellent stuff!
ReplyDeleteWow! That does look great! Yes, it would be so expensive to purchase. Nice!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great, very professional looking.
ReplyDeletelookin' super sporty Sue - I think you have earned that enviable figure.
ReplyDeleteThis looks great! Good looking gym wear is super expensive, so you must be feeling very pleased with yourself.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant top and really like the pop of colour on the zipper.
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job with your fabric and this pattern. The neon yellow is the perfect finishing touch. You'll be working out in style!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! and practical =) You have been very productive , you made very nice pieces (previous post)
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. It looks like its a thin knit fabric and I would have thought the pattern calls for a thicker knit. I love the pull in line green. Fabulous.
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