It takes less than a yard of fabric.

You can make out of woven or knit (drapier fabric is better with the long sleeve version).

It's a well balanced shape with great proportions.

ITS FREE

https://fancytigercrafts.com/collections/free-patterns/products/one-hour-top

photo from Fancy Tiger website

My latest version of it has a scooped hem, minimal cuffs and a smaller, bound neck opening.

I am prompted to mention this pattern again after seeing numerous PDF patterns for $10 and up that are no better and give no better instructions or results than this one.

NUMEROUS.

Any Tina, Trina or Augustina can publish a PDF pattern for a boxy top if they like.

But this one is really good.

A few variations on this.

This one (inside out to show seams) got a turtleneck added to it

The dart takes some of the bulk out of it in a heavier fabric. You can add a cowl or a turtle or a v-neck. You could extend it into a tshirt dress. This thing rocks in a crepe. The Lady Elroy knit crepe will give you a top in a yard or less (the following ones took 3/4 yard, and for an expensive piece of yardage, a great 'sew the precious' project.

Just squeaks by on 3/4" yd. Pieced cuffs and neck trim came from scraps at the top and the sides.

This is what I had left from the bike shirt

This crepe knit needs to dry flat and be reshaped like a sweater; I swear that hem was even when I made it.

I add Hug Snug for stay tape at the back of the neck and the shoulders to prevent it from stretching out

To avoid headlights, with this fabric, I marked the bust point on the pattern

You could buy the fabric from them to support this amazing freebie!

https://fancytigercrafts.com/collections/jersey-knits/products/leafy-tropics

https://fancytigercrafts.com/products/bridal-boquet

https://fancytigercrafts.com/collections/jersey-knits

I get nothing from these folks except this amazing pattern. And so can you.

A quick bag for the weekend.

What I'm actually doing NOW is fixing the fit on a pair of pants I've made for the Pattern Review contest AND

hemming the mothership of prom dresses.

That will be an entertaining post if I ever finish it.

But this is a quick bag. Mostly made, it's a foldover piece of fabric, about 8" by 26" (10, 10, 6? I'm guessing), joined by zippers, hunks of scrap for lining and finished on the outside edges with 2" ribbon that becomes the loops for the strap hardware.

There's a hook for my keys on the left and a pen sleeve on the right, both in the side seams.

Clearance contrast zipper makes a back pocket.

A rough sketch of the pattern. The grey is the interior divider pocket

Because pockets.

We're here for the

Ohio Travel Bag 1 1/8" Nickel Plate Tuck Lock Clasp

I got this on Amazon, but you can find them around.

What I foolishly did not take a photo of was that I wedged in a hunk of felt in the layers to anchor the base of the clasp.

The base was installed first, and then I line up the flap of the bag and the tuck part to the base.

I could mark the tuck on the bag flap with it engaged in the base, but not the other way around.

And I'm lazy.

Hole poking. You have hole pokers. A nail or a screw would do the job.

Pliers! One decent pair will solve a ton of troubles. These are pretty cheap and they've done the job for 25 years (oh gosh, I am that old)

Lovely! Functional!

Sides sewn up

I bought the strap material at Sew Expo for $12, which is about twice the cost of all the other materials here. The rings are keyring split rings, which always come in handy.

The clasps are big jewelry lobster clasps, and the D rings are....from Daiso. 12 for $1.50.

They don't all match, but I needed a little bag, and I have another plan for a strap, just not the time.