I needed some new T-shirts in my wardrobe. I have a total of 4 that I wear for the summer season, and one of them is made of heavy jersey, so it’s not always appropriate when the weather is very hot. I love a good T-shirt, and I practically live in knitwear shirts year round. Last month Mood Fabrics had a sale on Varsity colors, and I bought 1.5 yards of the Royal Blue from their Willow Bamboo Jersey collection. This fabric is normally $19.00/yd, but on sale it was around $15, which I thought was a good deal for a high quality knit.
For this, my first garment sewn on my new Bernina, I chose to revisit an OOP Butterick pattern: B5215. I haven’t made a shirt from this one in a long time, but when I did, it was View A and it looked like this. While this pattern is OOP, it isn’t rare. It’s easy to buy from online marketplaces like Etsy & Ebay.
About Butterick 5215 – Views & Alterations
This pattern has 3 views: View A: very fitted, View B: semi fitted, and View C: loose fit (not oversized). Since my figure has changed since the last time I made this shirt, I had to grade the pattern up to my new size. I did that for both View B and C while I waited for my fabric to arrive, because I couldn’t decide which view I wanted to make. Grading them both ensures that I have options, and I decided on View C. Why View C? I didn’t want issues of fit to get in the way of my first make on my new machine. Knit fabrics can be quite challenging at times, and I wanted to focus on sewing and finishing techniques without having to worry about alterations.
I think that the fit turned out well. There’s aren’t any major pull lines between the armscye and the bodice. This is often a concern for me because I have a large bust. That being said, I might’ve been able to go with a size down, meaning that I may not have needed to grade the pattern up 1 size after all. In other words, I think the shirt is just a tad big. The neckline is wider and has a bit more scoop than I’d expected, but luckily it still works. As a result I can’t wear a racerback bra with it because the straps will show a lot. Aside from those points, it’s a nice new t-shirt, and I’m already getting mileage out of it, plus I love the color:
This shirt is also versatile – it can be tucked in for a very different look – here the shorts I’m wearing are B6901, Lisette Menswear for Women:
It’s strange that View C has such a wide scoopy neckline, because View A, the most fitted version, has a very high and too tight neckline (many reviews I’ve read agree). All I can think at this point is that maybe View B will be the charm, the happy medium between A and C. I’ll have to compare necklines first, and adjust if necessary, but that’s the T I’ll probably be making next, that is if there’s still a season for it. Summer is coming to a quick close here, as it always does.
Happy sewing & thanks for stopping by 🧵
Sewcoordinated 