Knitting that makes the angels sing

Every single capsule wardrobe expert says you need a classic white tee shirt. It can be dressed up or down, they say.  It goes with everything, they claim.  

But there’s a problem.  .

I don’t wear tee shirts.  At all. Ever..

There’s something about them that has always been super unflattering for me.  Even the cute ones - you know those little close fitting ones with the cap sleeves that that are designed for women and supposed to look great–yeah.  They look awful too. 

So when I’m thinking about a capsule wardrobe - to put together, or to knit, and some expert advises me to get a white tee shirt, I balk. .  

Then somewhere I heard about a tee by J Crew tee. I had to wait because they were backordered for months.  Then it arrived, and I swear, the sky opened and the angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven sang. 

Well.. maybe not exactly, but it did kind of change my life.

What was different about that shirt was nothing much.  Not really.  

A couple of inches here and there.   

The neckline wasn’t a crew neck - it was a couple of inches deeper than a standard tee shirt, giving a slightly scooped effect which better balances my face.  

And the sleeves were a couple of inches longer, hitting me just a smidge lower than a standard tee.  And they were maybe an inch narrower, so they weren’t floppy but fit my upper arms. 

The whole body was maybe two inches smaller at each side,  It wasn’t tight, but it was a close fit.  Probably 0” to 1” of positive ease at the bust.  

And the fabric was heavier, more substantial.

And my point here is that it’s all in the details.  I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the tee shirts Ginni mentioned on our most recent YouTube.  Everyone wants to knowWhat pattern? Which one is the best? 

The bottom line is that there is no perfect pattern. There are tons of basic, well-written patterns but it’s up to you to know what you like best.  

You can always adjust the pattern to suit you, but you first have to know what suits you.  You have to go and try things.  Be a detective. What is your favorite top? What is it about that top that makes you like it so much. Get a paper and write it all down.  How long are the sleeves? How deep is the neckline? How wide are the shoulders?  

These are all things that vary from pattern to pattern, but you have to know what you're looking for.  They're also things that can be adjusted if you can't find just the right pattern.   Sometimes the smallest adjustment can turn what could have been a disaster into a triumph.  

So go figure out what you like, choose a pattern. Change it if you need.  Know what you like and adjust as needed. Want a lower neck? Start it sooner, Want longer sleeves? Knit more rows between shaping.  

You’ve got this.  

I think I hear angels singing.

Warmly,

Ellen