Tee with Inverted Front Pleat
Only look at the tee, not my facial expression, please. I was so intent on watching the timer on the camera that I forgot to smile.
With summer just around the corner, a couple of new tees were in order. I picked this fabric, and a couple of others when a local fabric store was having a sale. It’s a nice, soft, ITY knit. (Read more about ITY’s by clicking here.)
I used a tried and true pattern, MacPhee Model Tee
By angling the front pattern piece on the fabric I added a couple of inches to the width of the front neckline. The pic shows a different tee with a larger pleat that I had a photo of. For the top I’m wearing I pivoted the pattern piece so the neckline was just 2 inches from the fold. I also straightened the bottom like the photo.
After cutting out the front, I marked the neckline where the original would have been, also at the fold, then with the front folded with right sides together I used a straight stitch and sewed a 2 inch “seam” following the line of the original fold.
I opened out the extra bit of fabric, matched the mark made for the center front to the sewing line and opened out the fabric to make the pleat. I basted it just inside the 3/8 inch seam allowance.
You’ll notice that I used a fusible interfacing to stabilize the shoulders.
To finish the neckline on this top, I measured around the unfinished neckline, it was 62 centimeters, multiplied by .8 = 49.6. I rounded to 50 cm and cut the band 1 inch wide with the 50 cm going with the stretch.
After joining the short ends, I quarter marked both the neckband and the neckline, matched the marks and serged the band on with the right sides together.
To finish the band I turned it and the seam to the inside, wrapping the band around the serging, then sewed it from the right side, 1/4″ from the edge, enclosing the serging. I carefully trimmed off the excess band.
Then the sleeves went in, the side-seams serged, and a rolled edge for the hems on the sleeves and the bottom. I like it! And it looks great with my 7th pair of Jalie Pull-on Jeans.
Now the sun is out, so it’s outside time.
Looking great Yvette!
What a great new look!
Thanks ladies! It’s comfy too.