Basic Instinc(T) tee

I'm still catching up on blogging about the mental sewing rush that happened in Feburary/March.

It included a basic white T-shirt for me: The Basic Instinc(T) tee

So, there's not a lot to be said about a white T-shirt is there? Well for starters, I'm just super excited that after wearing and washing it for 6 weeks it is STILL WHITE. That in itself is a minor miracle worth repeating. Still white my friends!

While I never will learn when it comes to laundry mishaps I do feel qualified to talk T-shirt patterns. I was impressed with the generosity of Sasha of Secondo Piano in offering up this pattern for free. But mostly I was delighted that she had written a tutorial to accompany the pattern to explain how to do that cool binding covering the back neck seam thing. - and also to do it extending across the shoulder seams too.

To do the shoulder seams as well involves adjusting the pattern pieces and I thought I'd keep this first run simple - so I just bound the back neck line. It is such a nice, pretty finish for a T-shirt. I should endeavour to do it to all T-shirts forthwith (yeah, just watch lazy ol' me stick to that pledge)

How is the pattern? It's beautifully presented, well explained and very easy to download, print and sew. I'll confess to not looking at all of the instructions, so I missed the note to press the sleeve seam allowances towards the body not the sleeve - I've always done it the other way, so mine are pressed toward the sleeve. I should try Sasha's way next time and see if it makes a difference.

I measured between the size S and the size M. With five sizes on offer from XS to XL, I couldn't imagine myself being in the second from smallest size, so I plumped for the M, smack in the middle of the sizing. It's a casual, comfortable size and the shoulder size is correct. But I could easily have it more fitted through the bust and waist. However, I agree with Sasha that showing bra lines is ugh, and this T-shirt is designed to be a relaxed fit and avoid those bulgy, squidgy lines. So from that perspective I chose the right size.

I forgot to take a photo of it, but it looks best if I hoick it up at the shoulder seam with clothes pegs, raising the armhole by almost an inch. Suddenly the weird sleeve wrinkles and the wrinkles beside my bust line disappear.

As a comparison I put on my tried and true T-shirt pattern, the Liesl & Co Metro tee and the armholes on that one are right up there in my armpits. While that sounds less comfortable it works much better for me and gives my massive biceps (self deprecation font) room to move and flex freely.

This fabric needs to be talked about as well. I picked it up on sale at GJ's fabrics as it had some shop soiling. That washed out fine (even with my lack of laundry skills). It is the perfect white T-shirt fabric: blindingly white, thick, stable, stretchy and just superb. And for once I actually know what it is as it still had the Charles Parsons label attached. That also means it's locally made, I think. If you find Charles Parsons cotton lycra then snap it up, it is seriously good quality fabric. My ribbing neckband was a tiny bit of leftover from Maaidesign and required me to make two joins near each shoulder seam to get sufficient length.

I think if I was to sew a T-shirt tomorrow I'd probably take Sasha's neat neckband instructions and apply them to my Metro tee block, but that's just me and my armholes. If you don't yet have a favourite T-shirt pattern then this crew tee might just be your perfect pattern. Give it a try.

Meanwhile I'm going to keep wearing and washing this one on high rotation until it turns pink or grey...