Skip to main content

Summer of T-shirts Event: Peek-A-Boo Sleeve Swing Tunic

This week's post is by Pamela Leggett, of Pamela's Patterns. We love Pamela and her patterns! She has made an appearance on our blog a number of times. Search "Pamela" on the right side search box to see more of our exclusive projects with Pamela! 




My name is Pamela Leggett, and I am the owner of Pamela’s Patterns, a pattern company based on teaching women how to create great fitting basic garments that flatter their “fluff and scallops”. Check out www.pamelaspatterns.com for helpful YouTube tutorials, patterns and supplies. And if you need some help with your knit sewing techniques, my new Craftsy class, Fashion Sewing & Serging Details, will be available at the end of this month! 


I love the look of the cut-out shoulder, but felt that it was possibly a little too young or a little too sexy for someone my age. What to do? Make it appropriate by creating my own scaled down version! The swing-y tunic shape still shows off your “essence-of-waist” and hides a lot of fluff. I like wearing this style with a narrow leg pant and a stack heel or boot. Very chic!

I used Pamela’s Patterns #104 The Perfect T-Shirt and a lovely ITY knit from Fabric Mart.

Let’s Hack the Pattern:

Start by getting a piece of tracing paper (I use medical exam paper), your Back pattern piece, a couple rulers and a pencil.

A) Trace around the neck, shoulder and armhole. Trace 3 ½” – 4 ½” down the side seam.




B) Lengthen the pattern to your desired tunic length (I did 6”) by drawing a new line straight across.






C) Measure 2 ½” out from the side seam and make a mark.


D) Draw a straight line from the side A) to the mark C) and continue it to the hem.


E) So the hem will hang straight and not in a point, curve up at the side seam 3/8”.

Do the same thing for the Front pattern piece. If you are making the Darted Front version, pin out the dart to make sure you are starting the side seam line at the same spot as on the Back.

Now we’ll change the Sleeve pattern. Lay the pattern piece under the tracing paper and trace the sleeve to your desired length.


A) Draw two horizontal lines: 1 ¼” and 2 ¼” down from the sleeve cap. 

B) Fold the traced pattern, RST, on the 2 ¼” line.


C) Trace the sleeve cap between the two lines on each side.


D) Cut out the new Sleeve pattern, eliminating the cap of the sleeve.




Construction:

Peek-A-Boo Sleeves:
A) Interface the top edge of the sleeve with 1 ¼” Knit Interfacing Stay Tape. Fold down 1” and press the hem. Stitch ¾” from the folded edge using a small zig zag (W-1.0, L-2.0). Sew/serge sleeve seam, RST. Press.


B) Sew/serge shoulder and side seams of the T-Shirt, RST.

C) Pin the Sleeve to T-Shirt, RST, matching underarm seam and notches. Straight stitch the sleeve into the T-Shirt, ½” seam allowance, continuing around the armscye of the T-Shirt (this will be a stay stitch). Optional – finish armscye seam with a serger. 




D) Starting just below where the sleeve meets T-Shirt and continuing up around the shoulder, fold under the T-Shirt so the stay stitch is just rolled to the wrong side. Topstitch in place 3/8” from the folded edge. Press.


E) Finish the neckline and hems as instructed in the pattern.





Pamela’s Tips:
Always check the fit as you sew. Here are the changes I made, I hope they will inspire you to make this garment be the best fit ever!

A) I ended up taking my top in a little more at the waist so it didn’t look too full.

B) I started with ¾ length sleeves, but shortened them to just above the elbow.

C) I cut the scoop neckline version of the T-Shirt, but then lowered the front another 1 ½” to show off the jewelry that I wanted to wear.

D) Be sure to use the Stay Tapes recommended in the pattern for professional results. There is a YouTube tutorial on my website that will show you how and where they are used.

 

Thanks again to Pamela for putting together this wonderful tutorial on not only peek-a-boo sleeves, but also turning a t-shirt into a tunic! 

Did you miss our previous posts on t-shirt pattern hacks? Check out our Summer of T-shirts Event Page.  

We've also put together a t-shirt inspiration board on Pinterest. Check it out HERE.

Don't forget you can sew along with us at home. Share you t-shirt pattern hacks (new ideas you have and ideas that we have shared with you) on Facebook and Instagram using #FMSummerofTshirts. At the end of the summer, we will compile all the people that used the hashtag and you will be entered into a random drawing for $75 gift certificate to Fabric Mart!

Comments

  1. This looks really great, Pamela! Thank you for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much!! I too have been wanting to make a 'cold shoulder' tee. I'll definitely give this a try. I've been using your pattern as my TNT knit tee pattern for several years now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful tutorial. I also wondered if this style was too young. I am gonna try it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow! I've admired the cold shoulder look but all RTW was so skimpy. You show how to achieve this look with modesty. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love this! will definitely be giving this a try. Your Perfect T shirt pattern is my favorite and a TNT pattern for me so this new look is a must.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very nice top, with great instructions! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pamela is an excellant teacher and has a lovely personality to boot ! Thank-you Pamela and Fabric Mart for this tutorial.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Why Sew A Muslin

Here it is, my September blog post featuring Newlook N6692 and this pretty rayon challis from Fabric Mart! This pattern style is so in right now. The square neckline, cute puff sleeves and the tiered skirt are all exactly what I was looking for in a summer dress. As always I started with making a muslin first!  Let’s get into why it’s important to start with a muslin.  A muslin is basically a practice garment. It prevents you from cutting into your good fabric prematurely.  I usually use a muslin fabric (natural cotton) but you should also consider using a fabric that is the same weight as your fashion fabric. This will give you a truer gauge of how the garment is going to lay in the final fabric. Anytime I try out a new pattern company I make a muslin. This was my first time using a Newlook pattern so I need to know what the ease would be like for this pattern. Also I need to see how the bust would fit me and where I would need to make adjustments. Plus there were some new techniques

Made By A Fabricista: The Love of Sewing - Basic Pieces for a Beginner

Happy Friday All! It has been a while since I made myself a dress. I am excited to sew after not making anything since my last post (whew) and finally sharing some photos.  This past summer has been a roller coaster journey with plans to release a small collection and then deciding that right before the launch to postpone. Sewing has brought me joy over the past 8 years and the mere fact to sew daily for orders had me in a panic mode. I really don’t want to walk away from my craft due to burn out  and decided that if I do sew for others, it would be only for local clients. Moreover, If next year I decide to launch, it would be seasonal and not year round. I really want to share my talent and love for sewing with others but don’t want it to be a full time job and lose the passion in me.  After a bit of soul searching, teaching and sharing my talent with my community will always be my first love. For the past 2 summers, I was blessed to partner with two nonprofit organizations’ local sum

Made By A Fabricista: Two Late Summer Dresses in Bold Stylized Prints

Hello Sewing Friends! Sharon here with my latest Fabricista make, two dresses that will transition into fall.   You probably noticed I didn’t choose traditional autumn prints or colors.  I planned to, but just couldn’t bring myself to think about cool weather colors and fabrics when the temperatures were still over 100 degrees F.  Instead, I decided to sew a couple of late summer dresses that I can wear when the temps begin to dip into the 80s.   The first is a maxi shirt dress sewn out of this amazing rayon twill . Oh, the drape on this one is divine! The stylized white hearts really pop against the black background. Even though the print is bold, the colors are classic making it easy to accessorize with any color.  My big puppy like to hang close to me when I take photos, but she accessorizes well with whatever I’m wearing 😊 The pattern is the Style Arc Anais Dress. I’ve had my eye on this pattern for some time just waiting for the perfect fabric.  Now that I’ve sewn the dress, I wa