The Harmon Tee by Sew Different

If you haven’t already you have to watch the Queen’s Gambit, a great series made even better by the gorgeous clothes the main character Beth Harmon wore.

After I binge watched this series, I knew I wanted to try and replicate my favourite top that she wore which was a slash neck with a contrast trim panelled loose fitting top.

I loved it!

 Beth Harmon

So when I came across Sew Different Harmon Tee on Instagram I knew I had to have the pattern. 

Downloaded, printed and stuck together I got to work. The pattern consists of a front and back piece the same size, the sleeve trim, the front/back centre panel and the front and back neck panel and facing, all the same size. I think the pattern pieces all being multi use was a way to keep the pattern simple.

 The Harmon tee by Sew Different

Now if you read my previous blog you will know that I have vowed to make a toile for every new pattern, so with some cotton poplin that was some off cuts from the shop I made up the toile.

It was a little awkward fitting the trim to the neckline, bending the fabric the wrong way but the tip about cutting into the fabric before sewing made it easier.

A section of instructions

It was a relatively simple sew, you need to be careful when sewing the facing and neck trim on to keep to your seam allowances but apart from that a simple construction. 

Trying on my toile I realised the fit was pretty good for me, quite clipped around the waist/bum but it needs to fit there and so I thought that was fine. Photo is of the final top not the toile as I forgot to take photos of my toile! Whoops. 

Harmon Tee Bottom Band

The problem I found was on the sleeves, with the trim added it meant the sleeve on my toile stuck out quite a bit. I knew that the fabric I used for my toile (cotton poplin) was a lot stiffer than the crepe and viscose twill I was going to use for my final top which I knew would make a difference.

After discussing with some sewing buddies I decided to cut the facing piece down so that it didn’t go all the way down to the sleeve trim, that way eliminating the double thickness on the sleeve, I think this maybe what would have been a better solution in the pattern rather than all the same pattern pieces for the trim and facing.

The neck trim panel Neck facing

I have realised that making a toile means you already know how to put the garment together by the time you get to the final piece, a big bonus/less confusion.

It was a pretty quick sew with satisfying finished using the overlocker for all of the raw edges, I did use just one needle and three threads for the edges as the fabric was lightweight and I wanted to keep the seams light too.

 overlocking seams

Almost finished, now I don’t know about you but I hate facings, they always come out the top of the neckline. In this pattern they say to stitch in the ditch along the shoulder seams to stop this. This is a good thing to do but I don’t think enough so I added another couple of steps. I understitched around the neckline, stitched in the ditch and then also added a couple of hand sewn stitches from the facing to the inner seams of the front panel. There’s no way that facing is creeping out the top now. 

Hand stitching the facing  

The final result……?

 The Harmon Tee by Sew Different

I love it.

 

 The Harmon tee

 

the back of the harmon tee

Harmon


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