LLBean knit shell reproduction

I'm sure I'm not the only one this has EVER happened to. This particular problem might be unique to those of us who gravitate toward the wardrobe basics. We find something particularly flattering and think, "Where, my little darling, have you been all my life?" We buy two or three of these at a time and hope like hell the company never changes the cut or discontinues the style--pants, shirts, blazers. Whatever.

That, my friends (oh, there's only two of you!), is how I feel about LLBean women's 100% supima cotton shells (0MA91, AN71341, VN3199). This shirt is so comfortable and drapes so beautifully, due to the cut and the bust darts. That's right ladies, BUST DARTS!! You hardly ever find this little detail in shells made with t-shirt material. If you own one of these shells, you are one lucky bastard.

If you've ever wondered what the big deal about bust darts is, especially in a stretch material, it all comes down to the tailored effect. Sure, you can wear a stretchy shirt that's two dimensional and has no bust dart, but you'd just be squeezing yourself in there--and it shows with close-fitting shirts. Adding darts to a flat, two dimensional piece of fabric gives it three dimensional shape and makes things look more like they were made just for you--skimming the body instead of squeezing it.

I have loved this style of shirt for the last 8 years, at least, and then a few years ago LLBean stopped making them. :(

(Dear LLBean: I still love you, but you hurt me so. My affection endures only because you've given me your most brilliant shell pattern.)

So, last night I decided to take the plunge, pick apart one of the (coffee- and sweat-stained) shells and make myself a pattern.

Yes, I said coffee- and sweat-stained. Sorry about that. You can see it in the photo so I thought I should own up to it. Also, I could tell you that this particular shell's been out of the wardrobe rotation for some time--just waiting to be made into a pattern--but that would be a lie. Oh, the shame. I love these shells so much that, I admit, I've worn a couple past their expiration date. I probably should not have worn this one to work for the last year. In my defense, it IS very dark in the morning when I get dressed for work.

From picking apart the original shell to this finished product took about 4 hours, so I imagine the next one will go together in under two hours.

A big shout-out to my kamikaze-sewing buddy (you know who you are!) who inspired me with her suggestion to finish the arm holes and neckline with strips to knit material--it lays flat, and it looks professional and gorgeous!!!

I hope you enjoy the photos of the pattern-making and cutting event. Oh, and please do enjoy the very first blogging photo of my new (craigslist) dress form!

P.S. I'm so excited that I finally have a tried and true (TNT) shell pattern.