Last winter I found a gap in my wardrobe – I needed skivvies to layer under things. For non Australians, a skivvy is a close-fitting, long-sleeved T-shirt with a rolled collar. I didn’t want a turtle neck and I didn’t want a cowl: I wanted a high neck, not particularly close fitting.
I have several patterns I could have used, but I liked the idea of a raglan and found this vintage Knitwit 1150 pattern that obviously cost me $1.
At some point I’m going to make the square neck version with the big sleeves, but for now I’m doing the other version. I made a dark green one from merino I had bought at The Fabric Store in Sydney several years ago.
You can see it’s a fairly simple shape, and the neck isn’t too tight. I didn’t make mine as fitted as the pattern suggested. When I was sewing it up I noticed that there was a moth hole in it and of course it was in an awkward spot. I cut a little heart from a scrap and blanket stitched it on. It can’t be seen but I know it’s there. I also sewed a Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop label on to the edge of the neck.
I found this one so useful that I immediately retrieved a piece of blue merino from my stash. I have worn this one a lot! It seems to go with everything and is a perfect layering piece, or on its own in this fine autumn weather we are having
I added two labels to this one – a Made It from KATM and my own 2023 rabbit made on the Cricut.
Whilst I was on a skivvy roll, I made the Sewing Machina Bob top. I won the pattern in an Instagram challenge and have been waiting for cooler weather to make it.
It comes in a couple of different versions, including a lovely deep back, which sadly is probably not for me.
It’s a very fitted top with negative ease. My size falls between E and F but I cut out a size I, which is obviously a lot bigger as I didn’t want it so fitted. I used some four way stretch from my stash and when I tried it on I felt it was too big – gah!.
I was going out to meet a friend, so whipped it off and took 6cms off each side, tapering at the armholes as I didn’t want super tight sleeves, although when I look at these photos, I may take more off the body and a couple of cms off each sleeve.
It’s a really nice pattern to make and I will enjoy having this top in my wardrobe, as I seem to be a bit short of blue tops.
These three tops really fill a gap in my wardrobe and I’ve worn them a few times since I made them.
Finally, another video of Miss G pulling a little dog around. This was taken on Mother’s Day and the house was in chaos! Miss G has wet hair as her dad dunked her head first in the pool.
In the US, skivvies are underwear. Imagine my confusion when I came here and saw your shirts. My first thought was, maybe she’s shy to model them! I sew bras and undies and only show photos of my 60+, chubby body. Big difference in language there, wonder how that happened!
it does seem to be an Australian word. In the UK a skivvy is a servant who scrubs things! I named one of my vacuum robots the “downstairs skivvy”. I love our language differences. Sorry to confuse you!
Meant to say, only show photos of the garments NOT on the body. I like skivvy better for a shirt than a cleaner
Haha! I think I like skivvy better as clothing too.
These skivvies are great and I love the blue one. I just went for a rummage and found a Knitwit 1500 pattern I picked up off the local Freecycle page that has a raglan top. It has a band at the bottom, crewel neck and collar option but I think it will do just as well with a polo band at the top. Now to find some fabric.
That is the same pattern that I used but I didn’t have the options. Yours might be more modern! Enjoy!
Ignore my last comment, it’s not the pattern I used, but it’s clearly similar. Mine is also raglan sleeved. I just googled yours and I love the square neck. I love Knitwit patterns, and the last shop in Australia is a 15 minute walk from my house. They don’t sell the patterns though!
Skivvies: SO useful! And I love the cover art on the KwikSew pattern.
Isn’t that cover wonderful? I’ve seen the same pattern with a photo on the front and it’s not the same. Thanks Liz.
I had heard the word skivvy for a person in charge of the cleaning and other boring tasks, but never for a long-sleeve tee. How interesting! Your skivvies all look fine and practical. These are the kind of essential tees I can’t live without in winter.
It’s a funny word but handy in this instance. I am finding I can’t live without them as layering pieces either.Thank you!
Seems skivvy is a much misunderstood garment! After identifying the lack of one in my wardrobe, I bought some fine merino knit from “the fabric store”, and drafted same with a much looser neck. Initial misgivings ( the fabric was much more expensive than a rtw) but it has been indispensable in this cold May on holidays in France! Thanks for your blog!
Mine were made with the same merino and they are such great layering pieces. Skivvies do seem to be misunderstood but it’s a term I’m embracing, can’t think what else to call them! Thank you for your comment