Fall was in the air while Kathy visited family and friends this week in Richmond, VA. The weather was perfect for getting outdoors to enjoy the beautiful tree-lined streets and historic architecture. She loved making and wearing two t-shirts crafted from a fantastic activewear knit from Elliott Berman Textiles (@EBTFabrics).
The white, black, and silver-gray striped knit is incredibly soft and features 5% Lycra for the perfect stretch and maximum comfort. The jacquard pattern pairs effortlessly with everything, from workout shorts for the gym to jeans or trousers for a casual look.
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PATTERN:
Kathy used her TNT (tried and true) t-shirt pattern from Pamela’s Patterns (The Perfect T-Shirt) for both tees. For the first tee, she cut it on the straight grain, and for the second, she took full advantage of the stripes by cutting the fabric on the bias, creating a flattering V-shape on the front and back.
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KKSEWING TIP:
The bias-cut tee requires a seam down the center front and back - be sure to add a seam allowance along the center front and center back before cutting. She also hand basted the center front and back seams before serging to ensure well matched stripes.
PATTERN ALTERATIONS:
Right out of the package, Kathy found that this t-shirt pattern already includes several alterations common for many women, such as high round, forward shoulder, full hip, and bust adjustments. She suggests letting creativity take the lead when exploring different neckline shapes and treatments. For a sporty look on the straight-grain tee, Kathy opted for a scoop neckline and applied a neckband cut on the straight grain. For the bias-cut tee, she chose a V-shaped neckline and added a solid black neckband to emphasize the striking chevron pattern created by the bias-cut stripes.
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KKSEWING TIP:
For her knit tees, Kathy prefers to set the sleeves “in flat,” a method where she attaches the sleeves after sewing the shoulder seams but before sewing the side seams. Using a serger with a 1/4” seam allowance for all seams and a coverstitch for both the sleeve hems (narrow) and the body hem (wide), she achieves a clean, professional finish. She also recommends a recent issue of Threads Magazine (#227), which features an excellent article titled “Spandex-Blend Knits,” offering helpful hints and tips for sewing knits.
Happy Knit/Tee Sewing, Kathy
@KKsewing