Sewing a Twig and Tale pattern is always a treat. When I applied to sew a Breeze Shirt for the size update, I was waiting with bated breath, just hoping to get chosen. My wildest dreams came true and this pattern did not disappoint. What’s more, it turns out sewing a breeze Shirt is a beautiful experience and an invitation to be part of the Twig and Tale world.

The Breeze Shirt Sew and Show

This is only the second time I have participated in sewing a pattern in preparation for a release. You can read about my Swim Style Tamarama Set pattern test here. This was a little bit different than a pattern test. I would like to disclose that I did receive another pattern of my choice in exchange for participating in the Sew and Show.

What is a Sew and Show?

I took part in a Sew and Show group for the Breeze Shirt. This differs from a pattern test in that we received an almost final version of the pattern. Although, we were asked to advise the designer if we found any problems. I was able to take part in a chat group with all the many other sewists working on this pattern as well.

I wish I had been able to make more of this opportunity, but my family and I were sick during this time so I didn’t participate as much as I would have liked.  One of the biggest takeaways from participating in the group was how people took their photographs. This is something I really want to work on. I was pleasantly surprised by the many things I learned from what I saw in the group.

The View

I chose to sew the long sleeve version with curved hem.  This lightweight embroidered cotton was best suited to simple details. Clocking in at over 10 years in my stash, I think it was just waiting for this pattern because it turned out to be a perfect pairing.

Adjustments to the Breeze Shirt

Using my measurements, I decided to make a size L in the adult women’s/curved fit 14-38 size range. As usual, I made my usual fit adjustments on my printed PDF pattern before sewing. This included a 5/8” high round back adjustment, a 3/4” low round back adjustment and a 1 1/2″ swayback adjustment. I also shortened the sleeves by 1”. None of these adjustments were due to drafting issues.

The Breeze Shirt pattern

I used the print-at-home pattern. The margins are fine for gluing.  You do need to trim pages, but I was able to get over that fact quickly. 

The pattern piece layout in the print-at-home file makes total sense. I will say the cut line for the flutter sleeve vs. the long sleeve seemed to confuse some of the people in the Sew and Show group. But I didn’t find this to be difficult to figure out. 

In case you are here trying to figure this out, the inner line is for the flutter sleeve and the outer line is for the long sleeves.

The pattern is also available in a Men’s/Straight Fit sizes 30-66, with new tween and 63-66 sizes, as well as Children’s sizes.

The Breeze Shirt Tutorial

I am a tutorial enthusiast. So, skip to the next section if you don’t want to read me wax poetic about the Breeze Shirt instructions for a few paragraphs. These instructions are so thoughtful and detailed that they deserve some attention.

A Thoughtful Invitation to Imagine

Some designers go above and beyond. They invite you into a little world of imagination where they give you new ideas, beautiful photos and a whole “feel” through their tutorials. It feels like an invitation to take part in the design process and to be a part of their world.

Clear Instructions

Twig and Tale truly excels at creating beautiful, clear tutorials and this pattern is no exception. The instructions and drawings guide you with their careful details. Furthermore, Twig and Tale also provides a beautifully laid out tutorial with pictures, inspiration, ideas and all the fit information easily located.

All the Information at your Fingertips  

Beginners and long-time sewists will find the tutorial a pleasure to work with. Especially with all the clear information on intended fit, measurements, how to choose your size and even some adjustments.  Further information about adjustments can be found on their blog, too.

The Breeze Shirt Fit

The fit has a good amount of ease without totally drowning my 5’2” stature. I am blown away by how this top fits with no darts! This is some amazing pattern drafting. Usually a woven top without darts is a tent on me. The finished Breeze Shirt is true to the size chart. It looks how I thought it should based on the information and pictures already available.

Sewing the Breeze Shirt

A beginner could easily tackle the Breeze Shirt with all the resources available. However, an experienced sewist will find this to be a very quick sew for a woven Shirt. From gluing my pattern together, to cutting the pattern out, to sewing the last hem, this took maybe 4 hours tops including the French seams.

Notwithstanding, the finishes on the Breeze Shirt are just beautiful and even though it is a quick sew, you will produce a garment that is top quality. I enjoyed only using only my sewing machine because the instructions were clear and pattern pieces were very accurate, making sewing the French seams and tidy facing a … breeze. (I couldn’t help myself.) Of course, you could choose to finish you seams any way you like.

The verdict on the Breeze Shirt

The Breeze Shirt is a top-notch pattern that produces a garment with high quality finishes but in a gratifyingly little amount of time. Moreover, the fit is as promised if you use the information provided in the tutorial. The tutorial itself is an invitation to experience a little piece of a New Zealand Summer and a complete pleasure to peruse. All in all, I would not hesitate to make a Breeze Shirt if this style suits you, it is truly and enjoyable sew.