A basic is always welcomed in everyone’s wardrobe, and so is our new square top! Showcasing a fun take on the basic T-shirt, this elevated basic features a relaxed fit paired with dropped shoulders, and a sleek high neck. Additionally, the short dolman sleeves are a breeze to sew, making it an essential in your pattern library!
For the fabric selection, you’ll be spoiled for choices. Prints or stripes, it’s up to you, but always go for the best quality. Bamboo or organic cotton with added spandex are your best bets as they are soft and breathable. Plus, the added spandex will prevent your fabrics from stretching out over time.
For an impeccable style, pair this striped tee with a sleek leather jacket and skinny jeans. Alternatively, adding a blazer to a striped tee creates a more refined and formal appearance suitable for the office. Plus, if you’re comfortable with pattern modifications, you can easily lengthen it into a dress, opening up a world of possibilities to this wardrobe staple!
Download the FREE PDF sewing pattern, and sew your own cool striped tee now!
1 cm (3/8″) seam allowance included!
Material
- 1.2 m (1 3/8 yd) jersey or interlock knit with spandex and at least 40% of stretch
- All-purpose thread
- Stretch needle
- OPTIONAL: twin stretch needle
PLEASE NOTE! Fabric requirements are based on a width of 150 cm (59″). If your fabric is narrower, you may need more fabric!
Download the free PDF sewing pattern…
… and once you’re done, share a photo of you wearing proudly your new handmade tee with #unfetteredpatterns or tag us @unfetteredpatterns!
Need help to print your pattern? Check our detailed tutorial here! Also, find out how you can customize your pattern for A0 printers and projectors here.
Need help completing the project?
Check our Kofi store for printable sewing tutorials, including detailed sewing instructions, line sketches, a sizing guide, and a list of the materials needed!
Sizing Guide
This pattern is drafted according to the following body measurements. Standard height is 1.64 m (5.4 ft). Check this tutorial if you want to add sizes to your pattern!
| XS | S | S/M | M | M/L | L | XL | |
| Bust | 85 cm (33 1/2″) | 89 cm (35″) | 93 cm (36 1/2″) | 97 cm (38″) | 101 cm (39 1/2″) | 105 cm (41″) | 109 cm (42 1/2″) |
| Waist | 64 cm (25 1/2″) | 68 cm (27″) | 72 cm (28 1/2″) | 76 cm (30″) | 80 cm (31 1/2″) | 84 cm (33″) | 88 cm (34 1/2″) |
| Hips | 92 cm (36 1/2″) | 96 cm (38″) | 100 cm (39 1/2″) | 104 cm (41″) | 108 cm (42 1/2″) | 112 cm (44″) | 116 cm (45 1/2″) |
Finished garment measurements
Ease is included in the measurements below to make the garment larger than the body.
| XS | S | S/M | M | M/L | L | XL | |
| Bust | 93.5 cm (37″) | 97.5 cm (38 1/2″) | 101.5 cm (40″) | 105.5 cm (41 1/2″) | 109.5 cm (43″) | 113.5 cm (44 1/2″) | 117.5 cm (46″) |
| Length | 56.5 cm (22 3/8″) | 57.5 cm (22 3/4″) | 58.5 cm (23 1/8″) | 59.5 cm (23 1/2″) | 60.5 cm (23 7/8″) | 61.5 cm (24 1/4″) | 62.5 cm (24 5/8″) |
| Biceps | 27.4 cm (10 3/4″) | 28.6 cm (11 1/4″) | 29.8 cm (11 3/4″) | 31 cm (12 1/4″) | 32.2 cm (12 3/4″) | 33.4 cm (13 1/4″) | 34.6 cm (13 3/4″) |
Sewing Notes
Here are some tips we recommend for a successful sewing project:
Fit and style
- This top is loosely fitting, so it’s not necessary to blend between the sizes. If you’re larger at the hips, choose a size according to your hips measurements. On the contrary, if you’ve got a fuller bust, choose a size according to your bust. Either way, refer to the body measurements chart.
- On the finished garment measurements chart, you can also check the length and see if it suits your height. You may want to compare the length with a similar piece of clothing. This top should fall above the hips.
- If you need to shorten or lengthen the garment to achieve this look, slash the pattern above the hem. Slash perpendicularly to the grainline, and spread to add length, or overlap to shorten. When you spread the pattern, fill in the gap with scraps of paper. Tape everything back in place. No need to adjust the sleeve.
Fabrics
- Be sure that your fabric has the correct amount of stretch. For this style we recommend 40% stretch, which means that a section of 10 cm (4″) can be stretched to 14 cm (5 1/2″) without a problem. If you feel any tension in the fabric before you reach the measurement, it means that your fabric doesn’t stretch enough.
- On another note, if you notice that it doesn’t spring back to its original shape once you’ve stretched it, your fabric might not have a good recovery. This means that you might end up with a lot of wavy seams and a garment that is 3-4 sizes up at the end of the day.
Cutting out
- Preshrink the fabric before you start cutting it out. To do so, wash and dry the same way you would with the finished garment. This means you should also take into account the fabric type and its content.
- Once the fabric is washed and dried, press it to remove all the creases. Be sure that you’ve set your iron to a temperature that is suitable to the fabric. As a rule of thumb, synthetic fibers (acrylic, spandex, polyester…) should be pressed at low heat, and natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen…) should be pressed at high heat.
- When you’re ready to cut into the fabric, fold it lengthwise, right sides together. The fold should not twist and lay flat. If it’s twisting, unfold and fold again, until it lays flat. Then, place the pattern pieces so that the grainline is parallel to the selvages.
- Be sure that you don’t cut the notches too much, they should be about 0.3-0.4 cm long (1/8″).
Sewing
- If you’re using a sewing machine, be sure that it’s equipped with a stretch needle. A stretch needle has a rounder tip that prevents snags. If your machine is skipping stitches, the size of the needle may be too small, so be sure to have an assortment of needles with varying sizes.
- If your seams are very wavy, you might want to check for a walking presser foot for your sewing machine. On an overlocker, check to increase the differential or the stitch length.
- When you press your seams, press one section at a time, lifting the iron when going from one section to another. If you let the iron glide over the fabric, you might stretch out the seam.
- If the seams crack when stretched, be sure that you used a stretch stitch, and that the thread is all-purpose polyester, not 100% cotton. You may also reduce the thread tension. On an overlocker, reduce the tension of the needles, not the loopers, and reduce the differential or stitch length.
Good luck with your sewing project!
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So cute!
LOVE It! 😍
Love it! Thank you.
Just Discovered your blog and i must say : thank you so much for the work and the sharing, it’s awesome!
You’re welcomed!
Thank you so much. I love it.
You’re welcomed Betty, I’m glad you like it!
Super easy but needed to wide the turtle neck, mine was zu narrow for my small head. Absoloutly in Love and perfect for the Time between summer and autmn. Need to sew it in different colours now. 🙂
Merci pour ce partage, très joli t-shirt ! J’adore ce look !
Est-il possible de le réaliser avec des manches longues ?
Merci pour votre retour.