Plaid Flannel Shoreline Boatneck

A few months ago I started sewing and blogging as a Blank Slate Patterns affiliate. When Melissa asked for volunteers, my hand shot up. Her simple designs have a ton of versatility and if you've been hanging around here for very long, you know that's right up my alley. This Shoreline Boatneck (affiliate links ahead) is my most recent Blank Slate project, and though the decor in these photos is dated, I want to share it here because it's been one of my most worn winter tops.

In our house Christmas is a pretty physical holiday. You've got about 47 family members to greet with hugs, elderly relatives to help out of the car, 22 pound turkeys to heave in and out of the oven, and Santa-crazed, sugared-up kids to pull off of each other. Clearly, this is not an occasion for fussy attire.  With a no holds barred holiday ahead of me, I decided to make a simple top to wear to the family celebrations on Christmas day.

The Shoreline Boatneck is written for woven or knit fabrics, comes with 3 sleeve options, and can be a shirt or a dress (ahem, versatility). Fabric choice was key in making this a post holiday winter favorite. The flannel makes this top warm enough to wear alone, and my first choice on chilly mornings. The neckline is faced with a black and white scrap from another project. My only alteration was to extend the sleeves a skosh so I could make a sleeve hem deep enough to cuff.

For the Holidays I chintzed it up with some bright red beads, and skinny black pants. But it's just as great in February with jeans and a cardigan, as long as I steer clear of wayward christmas trees.

Coincidently Blank Slate Patterns has just updated the Shoreline Boatneck pattern to include more sizes, and a ton of great modifications. I love the button back version!

Project Notes:
Pattern: Shoreline Boatneck by Blank Slate Patterns
Fabric: Plaid Flannel (similar) from Joann Fabrics