Anyone who knows me, knows I LIVE in striped T's. I made the one pictured as a sample for some upcoming classes that I'll be teaching. It has long sleeves, a Bateau neck with a button shoulder/sleeve vents with grosgrain trim and side vents at the bottom opening. It's made from a beautiful navy blue and white synthetic yarn dyed striped (the stripe is knitted into the fabric as opposed to printing on top of the fabric) double knit, purchased from Piedmont Fabric. The gold nautical star buttons and vintage striped rayon grosgrain ribbon at the neck and sleeve vents were acquired from the ReCrafting Co. I made the pattern for this Breton Striped T-Shirt, using my body measurements. I'm fairly happy with the fit. I would only make the armhole and bicep a little smaller to match the slim fit of the body. I'll make those changes on the next one I make up.
Here are my button options and I ended up using the nautical Star buttons in the upper right corner of the image.
I used the grosgrain ribbon to line the button plackets at the shoulder and on the sleeves.
My passion for Striped T-Shirts started in high school with a red and white striped three quarter sleeve cotton t-shirt from Contempo Casuals. Do you remember that chain? I wore that t-shirt until it had holes in it. And then could never quite find another that I loved quite as much. Well, not until the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit came to the De Young Museum a few years ago. I fell in love all over again and decided to make my own.
image from the Gaultier exhibit at the De Young Museum
Gaultier really had a way with the stripes. He used the historical Breton Sailor stripes on everything from casual t-shirts to elaborate feathered evening gowns. The exhibit really inspired me to make my own Breton T. I would make MINE, casual, 3/4 sleeve and boat necked with a slim shape and maybe another with a boxier fit and longer sleeves for a more relaxed look. Hmmm....the possibilities were endless.
Having worked as a Senior Technical Designer at Gap Inc. (in Women's Knits) for many years, I had actually learned how to make a well fitting T-Shirt. This was a bit of an epiphany as it never really occurred to me that I could make one for myself. Ha! I knew I could make one from my body measurements or copy a favorite I had in my wardrobe. Easy Peasee Lemon Squeezee. So I did. And I ended up with a stack of striped tees that have become my wardrobe staples.
Here are some of the tees I made after my visit to see the Gaultier exhibit.
Making a t-shirt pattern and sewing it up is really easy, and wonderfully satisfying. It is something every sewing enthusiast can learn and do with ease. So over the next few months, I'm offering a series of classes that will teach you all my favorite techniques on how to create your own t-shirt patterns and how to use different techniques for sewing them up. You can check out our schedule on our workshops page or use this link to register directly.
Until next time, Happy Sewing!
xo Jennifer
