Rum Tum Tugger Summer Concert Tee & the PATTERN PARCEL

While every sewing blogger seemed to be madly sewing Plantains (which is lovely!) I just couldn’t stop thinking about the Summer Concert Tee… and it made me feel like a right Rum Tum Tugger… what was wrong with me?? Plantain is French, chic, I downloaded and printed it… and still I wanted a Summer Concert tee.

I love all types of clothing – I am a true wardrobe eclectic… and in my spare time… I am a denim/khaki junkie & often a slouchy mess – I love edgy, I love grunge and I love casual. Remember, SewBusyLizzy does love to have her shoes off… Summer Concert Tee seemed so very me.

…and funnily enough days later it landed in my inbox courtesy of the brilliantly clever Perfect Pattern Parcel. Of course I immediately made two Summer Concert tees – in two evenings… because that is the SewBusyLizzy way… go hard or go home.

The classic red striped version…

Dixie DIY Summer Concert tee – the classic version

Dixie DIY Summer Concert tee – the classic version side/back view

and then there is the lace-back version – I made this from a piece of left-over Japanese rayon knit and some lace from a remanent bin… which I had considered binning but rather glad I didn’t.

Dixie DIY Summer Concert tee – the lace backed version (yes, yes, you will see the lace soon)

Dixie DIY Summer Concert tee – see there’s a little bit of lace…

Dixie DIY Summer Concert tee – there it is!

and a naughtier/younger version of me might have worn it like this…

Dixie DIY Summer Concert tee – the lace backed version – this one is for Sown Brooklyn and crew’s Sew Sexy Sewalong!

It’s a tee – easiest thing in the world to sew. I did cut my own neckbands without the pattern piece as it looked a little short. With the lace version, I simply roll-hemmed the edges of the sleeves and lower hem with my overlocker. I also decided to let the double layer sleeve hems hang separately as I liked the softness of them. I also used a doubled over strip of the Chantilly lace to bind the neckline. It’s super girly.

I’m actually smaller than the smallest measurements for this tee by 2 inches… so it’s very roomy – but I love it to pieces, it’s so very easy to wear and layer… there will be many more!

I’ve worn these every since they came off the machine. LOVE.

And in the first ever Pattern Parcel you get FIVE patterns…

• Accordion Bag by Sew Sweetness
• Summer Concert Tee by Dixie DIY
• Ava by Victory Patterns
• The Skater Dress by Kitschycoo
• Dandelion Dress & Top by Disparate Disciplines

Personally I’ve been dying to make the Lady Skater to slouch around in at home. And Ava has been ringing my bell but I want to make her grungy because she’s so very pretty and I like a bit of ‘nasty’ with my ‘nice’. I’ve made the Dandelion top (which is very different and a great project to make and wear) – and heck who doesn’t need a bag? My girls seem to think bags are required in double digits.

ABOUT PATTERN PARCEL

Now we all need MOAR patterns in our lives – am I right? Great news, Pattern Parcel is the perfect solution for you! So what is Pattern Parcel?

and wait for it…

• a Rafflecopter giveaway to boot. Go forth and support charity… and perhaps add to your pattern stash along the way… just sayin’

What does this cost? The retail value of this parcel is $48. You decide what amount you want to contribute in order to truly support the Parcel’s designers for their work – read more here… It is a personal choice. As sewing bloggers and participants in the blogosphere, I know you support indie designers… so focus on that fact - the purpose is to support independent pattern designers and charity.

Also bloggers participating:- One Little Minute | SeamstressErin Designs | One Girl Circus | casa crafty | the quirky peach | Kadiddlehopper | Sew Caroline | Groovybabyandmama | Fishsticks Designs | the Brodrick blog | verypurpleperson |sew a straight line | Adventures in Dressmaking | true bias | Idle Fancy | La Pantigana | Crafterhours | Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts | Max California | YoSaMi | la inglesita | Diary of a Chainstitcher | four square walls | Lauren Dahl | Sewbon | mingo & grace | Dandelion Drift | VeryShannon | Sanae Ishida | buzzmills | Sew Jereli | Figgy’s | Froo & Boo | a happy stitch | Disaster in a Dress | Things for Boys | mama says sew | sew Amy sew | Made With Moxie | imagine gnats

RUM TUM TUGGER?

And if you don’t know what the Rum Tum Tugger reference is… it’s from Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by TS Eliot. My father read this to me as a child and I love every poem dearly… (I am also a huge fan of all of TS Eliot’s poetry…)

Here is an excerpt…

The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious beast:
His disobliging ways are a matter of habit.
If you offer him fish then he always wants a feast;
When there isn’t any fish then he won’t eat rabbit.
If you offer him cream then he sniffs and sneers,
For he only likes what he finds for himself;

So you’ll catch him in it right up to the ears,
If you put it away on the larder shelf.
The Rum Tum Tugger is artful and knowing,
The Rum Tum Tugger doesn’t care for a cuddle;
But he’ll leap on your lap in the middle of your sewing,
For there’s nothing he enjoys like a horrible muddle.
Yes the Rum Tum Tugger is a Curious Cat–
And there isn’t any need for me to spout it:
For he will do
As he do do
And there’s no doing anything about it!