Hand Stitched Cap Sleeve Top

Recognize the bracelet?  Find the tutorial here.

You are probably wondering how many more cap sleeve shirts I am going to be making, well the answer is-a couple.  This shirt was made so that I could make a tutorial for y'all, but you won't see that until tomorrow.  I keep trying to talk myself into just making a solid and unembellished T-shirt, but there are too many techniques that I want to try.  

I am so inspired by that uber talented Cheri from I am Momma Hear Me Roar.  She does some really adorable handstitching on shirts, hats, backpacks, ect.  I thought that some fairly subtle handstitching would be a nice touch to this top. 

I'm starting to feel the change of seasons here in Idaho.  We are waking up to crisp cool mornings and I know that it will only be a matter of weeks before I'm sporting a sweater everyday.  I thought I'd "autumnize" this warm weather top by playing with a more autumnal color pallet.  I know that the moss green trim probably isn't everyone's favorite color, but I kind of love it. I thought that the muted teal and red thread were a nice compliment to the green and brown fabric.

As far as the actual stitching goes it was all a bit of an experiment.  I was pretty lucky because the brown knit that I was working with is quite heavy and was a nice material to stitch into.  I created the pattern as I went and just kind of eye-balled it.  Nothing is perfect, but I kind of like it that way.  I made sure that I secured the thread with small knots before starting a new section of the pattern.  I hope that by doing so I can keep the thread from shifting and bunching up the fabric.  After I completed the handstitching, I used a fusible interfacing to attempt to secure the stitch work.  If anyone has helpful tips and tricks to stitching on knits I'd love some suggestions.

So what do you think,  hit or miss?  I definitely need to perfect the hand stitching technique, but it was a fun little experiment.  Hop back over tomorrow for a tutorial on how to make this super easy (and extremely versatile) cap sleeve top.  

Check out these great link parties that I'm participating in today.  Don't forget to stop by and check out all of the great Stashbusting September projects at T-shirt Diaries, and link up if you are participating.