STYLESHARE // Boxy Tee Tutorial
Make a boxy tee to your own measurements!
Learn to take your measurements, create a pattern, and sew the shirt.
Materials:
Measuring tape
Paper, approximately 30” by 30” (old wrapping paper, brown paper, newsprint taped together are good options)
pen or pencil
two yards of fabric (2-way stretch, like a knit jersey works best)
fabric marking tool (colored pencils work great)
scissors
pins
sewing machine or hand-sewing needle
Optional:
Serger
24-36” ruler
twin needle for sewing machine
Take Your Measurements:
Bust: with your arms relaxed and at your side, measure around the fullest part of your chest. Make sure to keep the measuring tape horizontal. Get a full measurement without tightening the tape around you. ______
Total length of shirt: From the tip of your shoulder to wherever you want the shirt to end. _____
Neck Radius: Straight across your neck. To determine the width of the neck opening. _____
Neck to Center Bust: From where you want the center of your neck opening, to the center of your bust line. (6-10” is average) _____
Creating the Pattern:
Draw A-B: total length of shirt + 1” for hem
Draw A-C: 1 inch (back neckline)
Draw A-D: 2-3 inches (front neckline)
Draw D-N: Neck to Center Bust
Draw M-N: 1/4 Bust + 1.5” ease
Draw AJ = MN
Draw BK = MN
Draw A-E: 1/2 of neck radius
Draw JL: Sleeve length (1-3”) + 1” for hem
Draw LF: 1”
Connect K-M-F and F-E
Draw neckline curves
Cutting Out the Pattern:
Cut out the pattern piece - C-B-K-M-F-E. This one piece is both the front and the back - just with different neck lines.
With right sides together, fold the fabric in half. The stretch should be going across the shirt.
Cut out one front and one back on fold.
Cut out neck band piece - 1” x approx 20”
Sewing Notes:
Options for sewing:
A. Hand sewing
B. Sewing machine:
—sew with a narrow zigzag for stretchC. Serger: Best option for stretch
1/2” - 5/8” seam allowance
Sewing the Shirt:Sew side seams
Sew shoulder seams
Sew on neck band - Measure to fit the neck opening of the shirt. With appropriate seam allowance, sew short raw edges to create a circle. Fold in half with wrong sides together. Line up the folded raw edges of the neck band with the right side of the tee. Pin in place sew at 1/4” seam allowance. Topstitch with twin needle if you like!
Hem bottom - turn up 1/2”, and 1/2” again, and stitch down. Sewing with a twin needle is a great option!
Hem sleeves - turn up 1/2”, and 1/2” again, and stitch down. You will have to sort of taper at the armpit. That’s okay!
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Originally from Chicago, Vivien is an artist living in Philadelphia. She received an MFA in Fibers and Material Studies from the Tyler School of Art in 2020, and a BFA in Fibers and Sustainability and Social Practice from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2014. Vivien is a twin, an avid quilter, bicyclist, and lover of breakfast. You can find her at her day job managing the warehouse at Tuft the World. You can see her work at www.vivienwise.com.