We all have that well loved t-shirt in our drawer. You know the one that is fitted yet not too tight, the perfect length and you find yourself reaching for it over and over again. Well, I am here to say that I believe I have found the perfect t-shirt pattern to create your very own, perfectly fitted to your size tops, that you will wear time and time again. Read on to see why the Tess Pattern is so awesome for your DIY wardrobe.
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I whipped up both the Women’s and Youth Tess during testing and right off the bat I can say it is a quick and easy top to sew up. I always love a nice and easy project, and this t-shirt is a quick one that will still pack a punch in your wardrobe. I decided to try out the cuffed long sleeve, low v-neck, curved hem top for my daughter and I to prep for our upcoming Disney trip.
The first reason I think the Tess Pattern is awesome and will help your recreate your favorite t-shirt at home, is the amazing fit. The top is semi-fitted and I feel like it is the perfect amount of ease in a t-shirt. My tummy isn’t on display but I am not swimming in fabric. Win Win in my book.
Speaking of the awesome fit, another one of my favorite details on this pattern is the cuff option for the long sleeve. It makes the sleeve just a tad on the longer side which I love and the cuff is nice and thick which is great. If you are not a fan of cuffs- no worries, this pattern comes in multiple sleeve lengths and hem or cuff options. It even includes a tank if sleeves in general are not what you need.
Finally, I love the curved hem option and the longer length. While it isn’t a true tunic length, you could easily add some length if desired. I love that it is long enough to tuck in or leave out for a bit of extra coverage when wearing leggings. And as always, if the curve or the length is not your favorite, this pattern also comes with straight hem options as well as crop, regular length, and the longer curved hemline.
And a BONUS awesome feature I love is the ability to recreate your favorite V-neck or scoop neck t-shirts. The neckline options include both higher and lower cut options on the Women’s pattern. Plus, Brittany did a fantastic job walking you through the v-neck instructions with clear pictures and details. So, if you haven’t given a v-neck a chance yet, this may be the perfect time!
These are the 3 reasons I find the Tess Pattern from Made for Mermaids perfect to recreate all my favorite t-shirts in just my size at home! I can’t wait to make basics, solids, stripes, and more to last me through all the seasons of the year. Below is a full pattern review for all the details of this make. Aren’t ready to purchase yet? You may love sampling one of the amazing FREE patterns Made for Mermaids has to offer. I have included many of their patterns in this MEGA list of freebies or you can find them directly on their website.
Made for Mermaids Tess Pattern Review
PATTERN DESCRIPTION:
Women’s Tess is the perfect everyday tee. Tess is semi-fitted in the chest and hips and slightly looser through the waist, making it very flattering. There are four necklines included: high scoop, high v-neck, low scoop and low v-neck. It includes a crop length that hits at high hip, hemmed top and a curved top. Perfect for year-round wear with sleeveless, short sleeves, 3/4 sleeves, long sleeves and long sleeve with cuffs. Plus an optional chest pocket. Detailed, precise instructions with full color photos to teach and guide you along the way are perfect for beginners. Yardage requirements, tips, tricks and more are included! You will need Adobe Reader on your computer to open the PDF files.
PATTERN SIZING:
Sizes Grey-Navy which coordinates with the Made for Mermaids size charts. I cut a Pink chest graded to the purple waist and hip. The fit was perfect. My daughter requires more grading due to her thin frame. I cut the size 6 width and used the 10 length to create a t-shirt that isn’t swimming on her while allowing her to have sleeves actually long enough for her body!!
Supplies Needed:
Knit fabric with good recovery. For these matching Disney shirts I used this fabric from Joann and I am very happy with it. The quality is excellent and the softness of the fabric is great. The fabric is a tad stiffer than something like a rayon spandex, so it will not be drapey at all in this fabric choice. I think it is perfect for a t-shirt.
While I was sadly out of this product during the sewing of these shirts– this knit stabilizing hem tape is a game changer when sewing knits. Don’t be like me…stock up and keep this on hand at all times. Click on the picture to find it on Amazon’s site.
And if you find yourself frustrated by your serger, it very well may be your thread’s fault. If you haven’t tried Maxi Lock STRETCH thread, you are missing out! Trust me, it makes a huge difference in sewing up knits on your serger.
DID IT LOOK LIKE THE PHOTO/DRAWING ON THE PATTERN ENVELOPE ONCE YOU WERE DONE SEWING?
Yes, the options shown on both my daughter and I’s t-shirts are the long sleeve with cuff, curved hem v-neck. My option was the low v-neck on the women’s pattern. I graded both patterns for our measurements. Mine is one size smaller in the bust than the waist and hips and my daughter’s width is a size 6 but the height is a 10. Usually you only want to grade sizes closer together, but my daughter’s width is just not increasing like her height so I tried to mash these sizes together and I am happy with how it worked.
WERE THE INSTRUCTIONS EASY TO FOLLOW?
Very easy and thorough. The instructions allow you to jump around for different options and follow those steps only. The v-neck provides clear pictures and steps to help you create a v-neck with ease. (well, as easy as a v-neck can be anyway 🙂 Overall the instructions are easy to follow and they include links for things like fit and measuring help, pattern assembly, and more.
WHAT DID YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE OR DISLIKE ABOUT THE PATTERN?
I love the fit of the pattern, semi fitted through the bust and hip but looser at the waist. I feel like it allows a great semi-fitted look without hugging anywhere too tightly. The longer length and curved hem are a favorite for me. I also love the bigger cuff on the sleeve. The multiple necklines, sleeve options, and t-shirt lengths are all fantastic to provide a t-shirt that will work well throughout the year. The Made for Mermaids site also adds hacks ideas and instructions for all their patterns and I absolutely love this feature as I adore hacking patterns!
WOULD YOU SEW IT AGAIN? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IT TO OTHERS?
Yes, I will be making a ton of these and you should too– HA HA- I really don’t know how else to say this. It is a fantastic pattern and great for the beginner to the advanced sewist.
CONCLUSION:
Testing this pattern for Made for Mermaids helped me see that this is not just another t-shirt pattern. From the amazing fit to all the included options, this t-shirt will become my new go-to pattern throughout the seasons. I am so glad I tried this top out and didn’t push it to the side thinking, I already own 20 t-shirt patterns! The fit on this one is amazing and I can always count on Made for Mermaids patterns to be perfect without a muslin to test sizing. Woo hoo for an amazing, quick sew in my stash!
Thank you for reading this review. If you enjoyed reading this, you may also enjoy the following:
Until Next Time,
Happy Sewing
About 18 years ago I decided to teach myself how to sew. Long before blogs and resources available today which meant it was often disastrous. But I never gave up because I loved it so much. Today I love helping others get started on their own sewing journey. You can read more about my family and I