Friday, May 28, 2010

Friday Confession

This is my #1 tried-and-true (TNT) pattern.

It is a very simple, very casual men's shirt. It's a good beginner pattern - the sleeves are symmetrical, it only has a one piece collar, and there is no back yoke.

It's one of the first patterns I made, 8 years ago, when my husband got me my first sewing machine as an early birthday present.

And when I call it a TNT pattern, I am not exaggerating - I have made it 20 times just for my husband! And, if you add other male relatives and family friends, I have easily made 30 of these (although, not all in the same size, of course).

So, how about you? What is your #1 TNT pattern? How long have you been making it? How many times do you think you have made it? I'm looking forward to hearing all about your favorites! :)

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I change sizes so often, I don't have one. Kid changes sizes so often, he doesn't have one.

I used to sew a vintage skirt...then I lost weight. I made it maybe 10 times. Kid had one that I made about 15 of...then he grew.

Probably out of all of them is a 1920s tap pant pattern or an early 40s slip. I have had to remake the pattern so many times to get it to my size it's not funny anymore and they don't always look like the original either. I've probably made these a good 20 times. Slips and tap pants are really hard to find today.

Sarah said...

I wouldn't say I have a TNT, but I made Simplicity 2444 in 3 different versions over the course of 2 weeks...

What I'd like, more than a good TNT, would be a god princess seam sloper. SO many of the patterns I interact with have them.

mamafitz said...

i don't have a TNT now, but when i was younger and just starting to sew (so, um, 25 years ago?), i had a sundress pattern that i made over and over and over. it was one of those cheap make it in an hour patterns.

Julia said...

Since I sew for kiddies, I can't say that I have a TNT. They grow too fast as sewducky says in her comment. I do have some that I've made a few different times for the sisters and cousins.

Faye Lewis said...

My #1 TNT would have to be New Look 6735 (a Tee Shirt). I've made t more than any other pattern I have.

marysews said...

Like you, my TNT is not for myself but for my DH. It's KwikSew 2417, which is a pattern for lined swim trunks, but I've used it for DH's underwear.

gwensews said...

I have a Stretch and Sew T-shirt pattern--the first pattern they produced, in fact, back in the
70s. I'm still using it. It's been everthing from a t-shirt, to a dress, to a nightgown, to a cardigan. I've changed the neckline, the lseeves--you name it and that pattern has done it!

gMarie said...

KS 3337 - I have made the skirt close to 20 times. It fits me fabulously through the hips. I have made it both lined and unlined. The best part is every single skirt looks different - because of the fabric. I just adjust the waistband to fit my weight fluctuations.

the one thing I do - however, is I have adjusted the pattern to cut the front piece on the fold and take a bit of the fullness out of the center front. g

Claire S. said...

I have just elevated M3341 - A-Line Skirt to TNT status - my first TNT. It's a great basic and I've made it 4 times. Not many compared to some, but it's nice to feel that I can pick this up and make with anytime !

Zep said...

My TNT pant pattern is jeans I took a seam ripper to because I loved how they fit. I've made them about 10 different times using different fabric, making them bell bottom or straight legs, and if I want high or low waistline. When you have a good fit there's so many different ways to sew it. One person who does this well is Carolyn. http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/search/label/TNT%20Patterns
I love seeing what she does with her TNT dress pattern

Sarah said...

McCalls 4432
I've probably been making it for about 5? years now...
I've probably made it over 15 times with different variations.

Becky said...

I don't know if it could really be considered a TNT, because I very rarely make the exact same pattern twice. The ones that I do reuse, I'll either make different views, or alter the pattern somehow to make it different. The closest I have is New Look 6407, which is a blouse pattern that is currently on its third incarnation. The basic blouse fits me very well, and I've been having fun with customizing it. (I'm also giving the pattern away right now on my blog, if you're interested!)

Uta said...

I'm only just getting the hang of making TNTs. For myself, I think I only ever repeated one pattern; for the kids, quite a few things get sewn two or three times. I get bored easily, but I see the value in a TNT. Kids' clothes are easier to TNT, because they can be made interesting through colorful fabrics, decorations, appliqués.

Global Shoppe said...

Nice! great hawaian colors!