Ultraviolet Tee
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Ultraviolet Tee, Two Ways

A little while ago I said on Instagram that my summer wardrobe is complete, and that I didn’t feel the need to add new handmade pieces. I have been working up to this point for a few years now. My handmade pieces last me multiple summers, so there’s no need to keep adding to it. This thought gave me some headspace, a break from the never-ending list of to-sew garments. But then I realized I don’t have any handmade T-shirts. I could make some Onyx tees but I was looking for a new style, more oversized. Enter the Ultraviolet Tee!

Ultraviolet Tee
Ultraviolet Tee

Sometimes a project is so simple, and I love when that happens. And I don’t mean in design, but just that it comes together so quickly: you instantly know which fabrics to use, you have the time to actually sew them up right now, it doesn’t need any adjustments and BOOM, new handmade garments! The Ultraviolet Tee is an oversized tee that comes in two hem variations and lengths, and can be sewn in a knit or a woven. I made it in the cropped version, in a purple viscose jersey and a poly crepe. I made the knit one first, and then immediately decided I needed a woven one too.

Ultraviolet Tee
Ultraviolet Tee

The viscose knit is perfect if you want an oversized but not a boxy tee. You get all the floaty airiness without getting swamped in it. The purple tee needed a pocket, so I used this jacquard sample I had. I love it when fabric shops send you samples with an order, especially if they’re big enough to use for pockets. I love this cropped length too. Erin from Tuesday Stitches originally designed this shirt, and calls it ‘a love letter to my belly’. And that’s not a perfectly flat belly: it’s her mom belly, like the one I have too, that stays put even after going back to pre-baby weight. She reminds us that you should love that belly and not hide it! There’s just a peek of skin showing at the side seam. I wear it with a fitted top underneath too because I like the dynamic of the fitted and oversized layers.

Ultraviolet Tee
Ultraviolet Tee

I’m so happy to have used this poly crepe. I love the print so much it was earmarked for something *just right*, and it turned out to be this tee. I thought it wanted to be a dress for a long time, but Tees get so much more wear, and a small print can give a bit of a Granny vibe on a dress. So yay, another stash piece gone! The purple tee was also from my stash, but also a recent purchase. The fabric stall was at the market again, and who can resist great fabrics for 2-5€ a meter. I also made some baby pants with them so it’s completely used up now.

Ultraviolet Tee
Ultraviolet Tee

I made the knit one mostly on my serger, the woven one I finished with french seams and a tiny rolled hem. I think it’s the best one I’ve done so far, super neat and not curvy at all. Don’t you love that curvy hem? It’s super easy to sew too, because you do it before sewing up the sides. If you want to know how to get perfectly flat bias necklines like the one above, check out my tutorial. According to the comments on that post, it’s been a lifesaver (garmentsaver?) for many people already!

Ultraviolet Tee

Here’s one last happy-face shot in honour of Erin, who always radiates happiness in her blog photos! So in short: this tee is great, it’s a super simple sew (2,5 hours from cutting to finished garment!), it comes in sizes 0-30, is well drafted with thorough instructions and you can get it here!

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4 Comments

  1. Your tops are lovely! I love that loose and breezy feel. My version will be on my blog tomorrow!

  2. You’ve made me look at this pattern with a different eye…. And also at a lot of my fabrics with a different eye, as I have a bunch of small floral prints and I love them but can never think what to do with them that doesn’t look/feel like a nightie!

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