Who’s up for some basics?
Some linen knit basics.
Mmm, yes please!
The LB pullover from Paper Theory Patterns is a dropped shoulder top (well, pullover, I guess!), with either a turtleneck or a regular neckband.
It’s designed for knits but also works with wovens – I’ve seen some lovely woven linen LB pullovers out there!
And, ummm, yes. In these photos I am wearing the exact same RTW pants in different colours cuz I love them so much!
Linen knits from Meter Meter
Despite being a linen lover, I had never actually sewn with a linen knit. So when I saw these linen knits online at Meter Meter in my dream colour palette I could not resist!
And I’m glad I didn’t. These are just the kind of basics I’ve been craving!!
Linen knit fabric is pretty much all the goodness I had dreamed it would be. I can think of no better fabric for a tee shirt. I like to think of it as a super lightweight summer sweater knit, which, you know, totally elevates it, since good sweater knits are one of the hardest fabrics to get your hands on!!
When I posted some photos of these linen knits on instagram, I got a few questions about their level of transparency. They are a lightweight linen knit and are a little bit “in between” on the opaque to transparent spectrum. I can wear the tops featured in the current post with only a bra underneath without being paranoid. I also have the lighter pink coloured linen knit (coming soon to the blog). With that one I need to wear a tank top underneath to avoid sheerness.
LB Pullover – Simple, Basic …
Truth is, I often find it a little hard to get excited about sewing and wearing basics. But these were an exception. I was so excited to wear the divine fabric and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I feel that the LB Pullover pattern is just spot on for me.
Instead of feeling slovenly in a baggy tee, I feel put-together and deliberate but still infinitely comfortable.
Yeah!
My Navy LB Pullover in Linen Knit
My body measurements called for a 14, but I made a 12, as I often like my garments slightly less oversized than the quite boxy Paper Theory aesthetic calls for.
I’m really happy with the way the size has turned out – it’s just how I like it!
The navy one is, obviously, the turtleneck. As a major turtleneck aficionado, I feel that this one is just perfect. It feels modern and not at all restrictive. As my linen knit was lightweight and, well, very floppy, I have added a lightweight knit interfacing to my turtleneck so it keeps its shape.
Speaking of little modifications, I also added clear elastic into the shoulder seam to help prevent stretching over time.
Apart from these tiny details, I sewed up the LB Pullover just as instructed. Incidentally, I found the instructions easy to follow and impeccable.
Ohh, a quick little sewing tip here. I have always ummed and ahhhed a bit about the best way to do visible top stitching on knits. My sewing machine has some great stretchy stitches for actually sewing knits (I’m looking at you No. 16 Stretch Tricot Stitch). But, they’re not so pretty for top-stitiching.
Since I vastly prefer the look of a straight stitch as top stitching, rather than a zig-zag or similar, I usually try to use a double twin needle. But mine broke just before I sewed these and I didn’t want to go to the store.
In trying to find a work-around, I discovered that the triple straight stitch functions infinitely better than a regular straight stitch on knits on my sewing machine. So know I feel I have the perfect tool to straight top stitch away!!
All hail the triple straight stitch.
Can’t believe it took me so long to figure this out!
LB Pullover – Boat Neck Hack
I made a few modifications to the green linen knit LB Pullover.
Obviously!
I narrowed the sleeve by about an inch and a half to make it more fitted – but still in a still breathable way. I lengthened the sleeve by an inch so that I can wear it permanently rolled up.
The green LB pullover is lengthened about 4cm from the navy LB pullover above (which is the pattern as drafted).
And, most obviously, I’ve turned it into a boat beck by mashing it with the neckline of Tessuti’s Mandy Boat Tee.
Cuz boat necks are pretty much my favourite neckline of all time. They feel casual, yet elegant. Or maybe I’ve just got a thing for clavicles. Who knows???
All I know is that I love me a good boat neck!
Mandy Boat Tee??
I know, I know, I can hear you wondering. Isn’t the Mandy Boat Tee also a boxy, drop shoulder top. Why didn’t you just use that pattern???
You have it already! And it’s free!!
Well, I found the fit on the LB pullover around the body to be just perfect and, after sewing the navy version, I knew exactly what I needed to do to get the sleeves I wanted.
Turning to the entire Mandy Boat Tee pattern would have meant experimenting with these things again, so it just made more sense this way. I’ve made the Many Boat Tee a couple of times and I still haven’t managed to get the fit right on me – it’s either too boxy around the body or too tight around the arms.
Or both.
Granted, I made it when it only came in one size, so it might be easier to use now with the extended size range.
But I feel that with basics in particular, every little detail matters, including, of course, fit. Once I saw that I loved the way the LB Pullover fit around my body in this fabric, I didn’t want to mess with that in any way. Thus, the decision to keep LB as the base and Mandy it up!
I also really love the very ‘dropped’ drop shoulder of the LB pullover. It extends quite a way down the upper arm and I just love the casual style.
You know, with just a little cuff added, without the sleeve, the LB pullover is pretty much my dream summer tee shirt, so you may see this variation appearing in the future!!
LB Pullover – Split Hem
In both of these versions, I have also added a little split at the side seam. I’ve had the recent revelation that split hems make it infinitely easier to pull off a well-balanced half tuck! It also provides extra room on big lunch days so is a win all round in my books!!
In my recent Me Made May round up, I talked about feeling that I have a lack of “favourite items” on regular rotation in my wardrobe. It is, of course, too early to tell but, so far, these both LB pullovers feel that they have real potential to turn into “go to” garments! I’ve worn one of them every weekend since I made them.
So, here’s hoping!
Oh and, finally, a little P.S! If you like to get your blog hits through Bloglovin’, feel free to follow me over there: you can find me here. And you can find me on Instagram here.