I love a cool mesh top for summer activities and when I do indoor exercise. This project was fast and easy to make. Here, I share my experience with a modest tee, stretch mesh pattern hack with some tips to help you be a successful seamster.
Supplies:
Any old T-shirt or stretch knit fabric 1/2 a yard
1 Yard of Stretch Mesh Knit
Grainline Studio’s Lark Tee Pattern or any Tee Pattern
Sewing Machine and or Serger (if you do not have a serger a regular sewing machine on zig-zag will work, a walking foot would make it even better)
Twin Needle for Finishing Hemlines
I started by finding my upper bust measurement to make sure I had complete coverage. I did this by cutting out the paper pattern and holding the front bodice piece up to my chest in front of a mirror and marking it. No measuring tape necessary!
My upper bust needs to come all the way up to the notch mark. I also need to add 1/4″ seam allowance in between the green mesh and the orange tee.
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- My t-shirt fabric and mesh knit
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- My pattern to be cut.
Next, I transferred that mark on my sleeve to also make the color block extend. This will make it look as if the orange and green are a complete stripe across the entire tee.
Cheater alert! I to cut the neckline and shoulder seams after color blocking the bodice pieces. I did this to be certain I had complete coverage of my upper and lower bust.
Time to start sewing.
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- The knit is really stretchy. You will need to turn up your differential feed.
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- Always do a test stitch to make sure you have no gathering or wavering.
After I color blocked my front and back pieces together I cut my shoulders, neckline and arm holes. This was really just a little extra wiggle room so that everything matched up in the end.
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- Pins will brake your serger’s cutter. Pin all seams vertical or use those handy little clips.
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- I worked the front and back of the bodice and then the sleeves color blocking.
Once everything was color blocked I followed all of the regular pattern instructions. All hemlines and necklines were serged and then I topstitched them down with a twin needle.
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- I filled two bobbins with the same green thread to use one in the bobbin chamber and one on top as thread.
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- I slowly topstitched using my twin needle.
My finished shirt.
Just a note – when you make clothing it looks really big when laid out flat. Here I am wearing the shirt and it has a great fit. Don’t be fooled by the wider illusion of the flat pieces.
Behind the scenes~
Saturday, February 23rd @ 2pm, we are having a free fashion show at Rosewood Art Centre in Kettering, Ohio. Please come check it out.
I have been learning Procreate, a design program on the Apple iPad, for a couple weeks now and have really enjoyed making art everyday.
Thank you for reading,
Tracy McElfresh
Dream It! Sew It!
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