Ruffle Wrap Dress
Penny Dress
Madison Dress

 

Hey Family Ever After readers! I’m Jess, from Craftiness is not Optional, and I’m so honored to be here today for Rachel’s Sewlebrity series! I had the chance to meet her at the SNAP conference back in April, and she is seriously so nice and very sweet! Plus she has an awesome name to boot. (my middle name is Rachel and I’ve always loved it!)

I can’t wait to see what the other guests come up with-I am flattered to be counted among such talented ladies!

I decided to upcycle some old tees into a new, color block tee for my oldest daughter-and I just love this color combo! How can you go wrong with white, teal, and mustard yellow, I ask you?

It can do no wrong.

I think this look would work for boys too-though don’t quote me on that, I don’t have much experience sewing for boys. (and I have another girl on the way…so not in the near future either haha!)

 

First I made a pattern by folding a tee in half and tracing around it like so. I lengthened mine a bit because I thought I’d have to hem, but the fabric I chose was from existing tees so I didn’t have to! Label the fold and size.

Cut out that pattern and to make the sleeve pattern, trace the curve of the armhole.

Then sketch in the rest like so…knit is really forgiving so it will stretch into place easily when you sew it…but this shape fits nicely in the armholes. The top line is the fold, make sure to label that.

Then I cut out  two of the sleeves on the fold like so. I had to shorten my sleeve to fit the sleeves on the tee, but it worked out fine.

Both my hems on the shirts were pretty similar so I decided to use them…otherwise I would have cut  my pattern pieces high and hemmed them up together after sewing together.

So then I cut out a back piece using the back neckline.

For the front we’re going to piece it together, so I folded it in half where I wanted the blocking to start like so.

Then cut out the bottom half on the fold, adding seam allowance on top.

Then cut out a top piece using the front neckline and adding seam allowance also. I simply folded the pattern out of the way.

Now to assemble the tee! I used  my serger, but it would work just as well on the sewing machine, just make sure to use a ballpoint needle and a small zig zag stitch.

Sew the top and bottom bodice right sides together.

Then press. This is the key to nice looking knits! Always press after each seam! Also don’t press and drag like on wovens. Press down, then lift up and move to the next spot.

Now for the neck binding…I cut out a piece of fabric on the bias 1.75″ wide. (make sure it’s long enough to go around the neck.

Then press in each long side to almost the middle, and then in half.

This is the ultimate secret weapon for knits-spray starch! It keep the edges from rolling and curling up on you.

Then wrap the binding around the neckline…and oh yeah…lol. Forgot a step! Sew one shoulder seam right sides together first. My bad!

Then sew all along the edge, making sure to catch the underside of the bias tape in your stitching.

Then sew the other shoulder seam right sides together.

Next pin and sew in the sleeves into the armholes, right sides together. Here’s a better pic (from another tute)

I serged mine in, but I’ve sewn them in the regular way so many times. (lazy much?) lol!