The easiest shirt ever

This was a bit of an experiment. But I like the result, as simple as it is.

After making 5 pieces of clothing from my new aquisition "drape drape 2" (that I love), out of which 2 were easy, one was reasonable, one was a bit of a challenge and one almost impossible to figure out the construction of, I needed something uncomplicated!

I wanted to try to make as simple as possible a pattern for a jersey shirt, to see how it would fit/hang on the body. The result is a very 1980's, very relaxed but quite versatile t-shirt.

Sorry about the silly hairdo, but I got overwhelmed with a sudden urge to make an assymetric do as I tried the shirt on! Must be a side-effect from growing up in the 80's...(nostalgia is a powerful force)!

The pattern is basically a square, 60x60cm's, with a 30 cm long neck opening and 20cm long sleeve openings. The neckline is lowered 2,5cm's in the front and 1,5 cm's in the back to make it more comfortable. Click on the picture to see a larger version of the diagram!

If you want to make one, you can either make a pattern first, or cut the fabric straight away.

When you cut the material, make sure the greatest direction of stretch is across the chest (it should stretch more horizontally than vertically when worn).

If you’re a larger or smaller size it’s easy to grade it up or down. Every step on the size-chart is 4cm’s in the bust (the most important measurement here), so if you’re a size 36 you should add 1cm on each side and make the square 61×61 cm’s (=4cm’s bigger in total) and if you’re a 42 you should add 4cm’s so that the square is 64×64 cm’s (=16 cm’s bigger in total). Check out a size-chart HERE

Time to sew. First sew the shoulder- and side-seams.

Then fold the edges on the sleeve- and neck-openings and topstitch from the right side of the fabric, etiher with a twin needle (on an ordinary sewing machine), or with a cover stitch if you’ve got a coverstitch machine or a convertible overlocker.

I reinforced the neckline (because of the direction of stretch that makes the neckline stretch more than the sleeve openings) with a strip of fabric (f.ex. the selvage) cut along the ribbing of the fabric, to make it as non-stretchy as possible, that I put underneath the folded edge. I cut it the same width as the fabric I folded around the neckline and a couple of centimeters shorter (I stretched the ribbon a bit to keep the neckline neat and not stretched out).

And that’s it, you’re done!