I’ve been meaning to put together a pattern for a basic, classic tee shirt for a long time, and I’ve finally gotten around to it. I know, it might seem like a waste of time to sew your own tees when they’re not that expensive to buy, but I hey, I like sewing, so I might as well, right? Now that I’ve finally created a pattern I can make one in less than an hour with one yard of fabric, which makes it a nice quick project.
This free pattern is available in women’s size large. It’s is an easy to sew tee shirt with a scoop neck and two different sleeve lengths (short and elbow). It’s not too tight and not too loose – just a really classic t-shirt with a slightly curved hemline.
Before we get to the free pattern download and tutorial, I want to tell you about the fabric I used, because I love it. It’s a gorgeous jersey knit from Raspberry Creek Fabric, an etsy shop. It’s one of their Club fabrics, which is their in house jersey knit line. The knits are a really beautiful quality with a little more weight than you may be used to from other knits you’ve ordered online. (I can’t tell you how much I HATE ordering knit fabric only to realize it’s so thin I won’t be able to use it.) The Club knits really are the perfect knit fabric: the prints are on trend, the weight is just right, and they have great stretch and recovery. And the very best part? This white floral isn’t see through! I ordered another Club fabric to use for the next fit & flare dress I have planned, so you’ll be seeing more here soon.
Raspberry Creek Fabric also carries other high quality knit fabrics, as well as woven apparel fabrics, flannel, quilting cottons, and more. Shipping is super fast and the owner is very responsive to questions, so go check out the selection!
Alright…back to the tee shirt.
Click here to download the free Classic Tee Pattern in size large. The pattern prints on 8 sheets of 8.5×11 paper. Be sure to print it out at 100% or full size. The test box on page 8 should measure exactly 1 inch square. Butt the pages up against one another and tape them together (no overlapping). This is what the pattern looks like:
You’ll need to cut two bodice pieces on the fold, one with a front neckline and one with a back neckline. You can choose to use the slightly shorter hemline on the front and the longer one on the back, or use the longer one for both. (This shirt is not cut super long, so you may want to compare it to your favorite tee and add length if needed.) You also need two sleeve pieces, but on the fold. Finally, you’ll also want a neckbinding piece which is 1.75 inches tall and about 26 inches long (you can sew together two pieces to make this if needed.) If you’re careful with how you lay out your pieces, you should be able to squeeze all the pieces out of one yard of knit fabric.
Sewing the shirt together is simple. Start by placing the front on top of the back, right sides together, and sew across the shoulders as shown below.
Next, open up the shirt and lay it down flat (1st photo below). Grab one of the sleeves and line the middle of the top curve of the sleeve up with the one of the shoulder seams (2nd photo below). Pin.
Pin the rest of the sleeve onto the shirt, working from the middle out as shown below. Continue to pin the other side of the sleeve to the shirt as well. Sew.
Repeat with the other sleeve.
Place the front and back of the shirt right sides together again, and sew the side seams, starting under the arm and going all the way down the side. I like to give the shirt a bit of a stretch as I sew the curve under the arm just to make sure the seam won’t pop when the shirt is worn.
Now it’s time to bind the neckline. You can measure the neckline and multiply that number by .85 to get a length for your neckbinding (this is the “best guess” measurement that usually works pretty well). Sew the short ends of the binding together and then fold it in half lengthwise. Pin it to the neckline, stretching the binding to fit as you pin.
Because the binding is shorter than the neckline, the shirt will bunch up a bit when the binding is pinned in (1st photo below). As you sew the binding on, stretch the shirt until it lays flat (2nd photo below).
The neckline can look a little wonky after you’ve seen the binding on, but press the it with lots of steam and it’ll look great.
The last step is to hem the sleeves and bottom edge of the shirt. I just turned both up about half an inch and hemmed with a double needle. (Double needles are GREAT for working with knits and are very easy to use – just google it if you’ve never used one.)
I’ll be showing you another classic tee with an elbow length sleeve soon – see you then!
Thanks you to Raspberry Creek Fabric for providing free product in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.
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I usually make me dolman sleeve shirts. But I was just telling my sister that I needed a pattern with set in sleeves. So thank you so much! I can’t wait to print it tomorrow and get started!
Your fabric choice is gorgeous. I will be doing some shopping online now. 🙂
It looks quite easy to make but I would like to know what are the body measurement for size large.
Thanks Dianne.
Hi Dianne – My measurements are about 38-30-40 and it fits great. I just made the front neckline about an inch higher but didn’t do any other adjustments. It’s a relaxed/comfy fit on me. Hope that helps.
Love this pattern, as I find bought T’s don’t fit my body shape plus more often than not the cheaper fabric ones go all out of shape after you wash them so making your own ‘easy make’ one makes sense. Thanks.
Thank you for this free pattern and for making it in a large size! I especially appreciate the longer sleeve option. I’m sure I’m not the only woman who prefers a sleeve length option!
Once your past 50 the sleeve length option is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Thank you for the free pattern and great tutorial on sewing a knit tee….I know now I really feel confident in sewing with knits..please keep sharing your gifts..:)
Is there a way to increase the size? I am a plus sized woman & love the simplicity of your pattern.
Usually each size I see an additional 2 inches to the pattern, so 1/2 inch per side seam. You should look at her raglan sleeve shirt pattern tutorial and trace in the sleeves as well, might work?
Thank you.
We are in January of 2018. I still appreciate your pattern and plan to use it today. I will tip it out at the bottom and make the sleeves 3/4 length. I think I am going to make a woven version. I suspect I will need to adjust the entire pattern for more ease. Happy new year and thank you.
Thank you so much for so generously sharing your great ideas and patterns for free. You have helped me develop a love of sewing.
Thank You for another great tee shirt.
Love all your patterns.Your patterns and photos are always nice and not complicated..
I Wear clothes that i made thanks to You, plus i feel confident wearing them.
Danielle
How would I make the shirt a medium or a small? Love the tutorial!
Looks really easy to make. I can’t wait to get started making one. thank you for the free pattern and also in a size large.
Gracias. Hermosas las camisetas…. 🙂
Great pattern, so simple yet so effective. Thank you.
Love your pattern for t-shirt, but I want to print just copy of directions for the different styles without all the other ads. How can I print or get the directions for making the t-shirt.
Thanks advance
Cyndi
I live in the UK and our standard paper size is A4 which is a slightly different size to your paper but enough of a problem that it misses bits when printed. Please could you put the one inch square box on EVERY sheet so I can resize for UK printer paper.
Thank you for your ease pattern tutorials, but mostly for your very clever use of fabrics to fit and flatter those of us in a L size who only wear sleeves in everything.
I was wondering that too as over here in Australia it is A4 paper too., so your question helped me. Thank you. Also when I printed my pattern it has the 1″ square on it which isn’t an inch when printed but it may help to work it out to my size.
I used to sew using burda pattern..justttt.my dauter in low wants me to sew for her young but modern garments..thank you very much.you tought me how to do so very easily..
Am I missing it, or is there really no indication of how much fabric this takes? I’m not sure how much to buy!
Ronda–you are missing it. It says if you lay out carefully, you can get the whole pattern on a yard of fabric.
My machine doesn’t have the double needle option…is this pattern still a good choice for me? Not sure how to address the raw edges…any recommendations?
Sure, it will still work. You can just zigzag the hem and the sleeves. I like the look of a double needle better, but if you’re using matching thread you’re hardly going to notice the stitching anyway. Good luck!
Hi there, did you use an overlock machine to sew the seams on this T-Shirt? Is it possible to do it with a regular sewing machine? I have zig-zag and a triple stitch for stretchy fabric.
Hi Silvia! Yes, I used a serger, but you can make this t-shirt with a standard sewing machine. I’d use a narrow zigzag or your triple stitch for any seams that will get stretched when worn (so especially neckline, hems, etc). Good luck!
Schmetz double needles or other brands (be sure you buy stretch version!) have one needle head to insert into your machine like a regular machine single needle, so should work in most machines that have a wide needle plate for zig zag and other wider stitches. I use a spool of thread and a winded bobbin on top. Hope this helps!
Can you tell me what the bust measurement on this shirt is? I would love to make it but I don’t want to be disappointed if it won’t fit when I am done. Thanks!
Hi Eli. I’m about 38″ and it fits great. Not too tight and not too loose. Hope that helps. (before I cut out my fabric, I measured the front pattern piece against a t-shirt in my cupboard to make sure)
Thanks Julie that is a great idea about measuring it against one of my t-shirts!
Thank you so much! Was so thrilled that this fit me straight out of the machine with no size adjusting 🙂 I made it out of ‘cutesy’ fabric that I really should’ve used for something for my goddaughter but, shhh! When I started cutting it out, I just thought ‘If the fit is bad, I’ll sleep it in” but it’s great. Now kicking myself for not spending more time getting my stitching tension perfect. 🙂 Will definitely be trying a couple more.
Great patterns as usual. I am confused by the sleep part though, is the shorter line that extends further out for the short sleeve and the inner line just for a longer sleeve?
Yes, you’re correct!
I can never get a neck with a binding to lay this flat!! I’ve made a couple shirts and dresses attempting it but I always end up unpicking and making a facing for it. Any other tips on sewing the neck for this?
Awe, You are so sweet to share this pattern. I am a quilter ( and a longarmer) so sewing I can do, but haven’t made a lot of clothes. Cant wait to make this. I have a lot of knit fabrics.
How do I translate the pattern for a size x- small?
I love your patterns but, I am a 2x size on top. How much do I add to your patterns. Keep up the good work.
I love your patterns AND your explanations/tips. I’ve never been so glad to wear a size Large! Thanks.
Just made this and I love it!! I used the longer sleeve option and it’s great as I feel it’s not as casual looking. After 3 babies I no longer seem to fit clothes well off the rack so to be able to make them and have them fit well is amazing! Thank you and God bless you for providing it for all to enjoy x
Thank you excited to try this pattern
This is my second of your t-shirt patterns and I just love them! They fit me perfect and are so easy to sew up. Thanks so much for your patterns 🙂 Can’t wait to see what else you come up with!
I’m not sure if you read these anymore since the post is so old, but figured I’d comment anyway.
Thank you for this. I used your pattern to make myself a base pattern for other shirt styles that do not need darts, mostly knits. I did have to enlarge the pattern quite a bit, but ended up taking a lot back out. Shows me not to add too much ease, something I don’t like about standard patterns.
This was the perfect base pattern. The first one I made I turned into a sleep shirt and it’s so comfy. My next project is to turn I into something much more complicated.
Thanks again.
I should also add a brief how on how I add this larger, it could also be used to make it smaller. I used the Joi Mahon method to adjust the pattern. Basically what she does is break the body down into zones, keeping the front and back measurements seperate. The full round measurements are used as a double check. Basically measure your bodies vertical and horizontal sections. Make lines on the pattern representing each area. Then lengthen or shorten each area as needed BETWEEN the marks you made. After all vertical changes are made do the same with the width, except most of those can be done at the side seams.
For more details check out her fit book, Craftsy classes or her free Facebook live classes. She gave some brief instructions on FB live several months back, so just look for past videos on fit. Her mothod has changed how I sew. I’m now making clothing that fits perfectly without frustration.
Hope this will help someone get this simple cute top to fit their unique body. This is a great top to try the method out as knit is so forgiving. There are so many fun fun thing that can be done with this simple top,