PROJECT #9 : THE SILK T

© 2015 Runway Sewing. All Rights Reserved.

Here is how you make this elegant but sophisticated and simple T shirt. I used silk charmeuse but you can use basically any shirting weight fabric. It will fit and flatter any body type and size. All you need is 1 yard of fabric and about 2 hours to make this sweet T! Please note, silk is harder to sew, so if you are a beginner I suggest using cotton fabric.

Material:

1.) 1 yard silk or light weight cotton fabric
2.) thread
3.) pins
4.) scissors
5.) measuring tape
6.) sewing machine
7.) marker or chalk
8.) 1/4" bias binding (optional)
9.) Pattern paper or approximately 26"x24" size paper (taped)
10.) yard stick or long ruler

Duration: 2 - 2 1/2 hours
Sewing Level: Beginner

1. We will make a simple pattern for this T shirt. Using paper pattern or printer paper taped together to be sized about 24" width x26" length, draw a the top and center imaginary line.

2. Mark the hem line to be 26" (can be shorter or longer as you desire)

3. Draw 2 straight vertical lines 24" apart or 12" from center front imaginary line.

(After you draw #5 below, redraw the side seams so that right under the armhole it curved in about 1/2" and blend back to 0" at bottom hem. This makes it easier when you are sewing the bottom of the armhole.)

4. Mark 3 1/2" down from the top, for shoulder slope.

5. From the shoulder slope, mark 9" down for armhole opening.

6. At top center mark 10 1/2" in width or 5 1/4" from center front imaginary line.  From the center, mark 7 1/2" down, then draw your front curved neckline. The back will drop 1" from top line and curve as well. Please note, you don't have to make a separate pattern for the back as the only difference is the neckline. Just make sure to cut the front and back necklines separately when cutting the fabric!

You did it! You have a pattern that you made from scratch! As you can see that was pretty easy! The body circumference is 48" so this will fit size small to large. For your visual reference, the mannequin is a size 4/small.

7. Now, for cutting the fabric. My suggestion is to fold the fabric so you can cut the front and back together. Just make sure to cut the front and back neck line separately!

8. You have to make sure the fabric ends are on the left and right side when placing your pattern to be cut. The ends of the fabric or salvage is layed horizontally so that the "grain" of the fabric will drape properly.

9. For sewing, I used a marrow machine and used binding for the neckline then top stitched the edge of the neck line. You can use binding or finish the edges by using the zig zag stitch or marrow, then fold inward and stitch down.

Good luck and Enjoy!

** If you like this project, you may also like 1 hour or less silk vest. Click here for project #24!

PROJECT #8 : THE STRIPE DRESS

© 2011 Runway Sewing. All Rights Reserved.

Here's a dress that will fit and flatter any body type and size. It has pleats across the front waist and can be worn with a belt for a slimmer look All you need is 1 yard of fabric and less than 2 hours to make the dress AND a belt!

Material:

1.) 1 yard knit stripe, printed or solid fabric
2.) thread
3.) pins
4.) scissors
5.) measuring tape
6.) sewing machine
7.) marker or chalk
8.) 1 set of hook and eye or snap
9.) about 1 yard of 5/8" velvet ribbon

Duration: 1 1/2 - 2 hours
Sewing Level: Beginner

 1.  Fold the 1 yard of fabric (wrong side up) in half with stripes going horizontally. Follow the diagram above by pinning and marking the areas needed. Make sure to cut the armhole slit before pinning the pleats at waist!

For the waist pleat, there are total of 12 , 1" pleats being 1 3/4" long. The space between the pleats = 1/2".

You will only need to sew one side of the side seam as the other side will be on the fold.

Note red color indicates cut lines and black dotted lines indicate stitch lines.

In this example, the fabric was 58" wide but only 56" was usable therefore the width of the folded fabric equaled 28".

2. View of the dress after pinning all the pleats at waist.

3. Stitch all the black dotted lines. Shoulder seam, side seam and all the pleats.

4. Cut the seam allowance to about 1/4" at shoulder and side seams.

5.  Belt: You will cut the ribbon into 3 pieces. 1st piece, wrap the ribbon around your waist to measure the circumference. Add about 1 1/2" to the total circumference and cut the ribbon.  2nd piece, cut a 8 1/2" length of ribbon and fold to make a bow. 3rd piece is about 1 3/4" which you will wrap around the middle of the bow and hand sew together as in the picture above. Lastly, use a hook and eye or snap and sew onto the ribbon for closure.

Voila! You are done! Here is another example of a simple patternless design you can use to make it your own! It's fun, it's easy and it's so stylish!

Enjoy and wear it well!