Kristen Bunch
Skill Level: Confident Beginner
Violet Snow has just introduced a new fabric base – Hi Loft T-Shirt Jersey! This base is a medium weight fabric, similar to a high-end t-shirt. Very soft and sturdy. There is about 30% stretch in the horizontal direction and very little in the vertical direction. Great for shirts and loungewear. This tutorial walks you through creating a Kit Dolman Shirt using this fabulous fabric base!
PREPARATION
Gather Supplies:
- Pattern
- The pattern used for this shirt was the Kit Dolman – a new release from Petite Stitchery and Co. It features lots of options - including color-blocking, multiple sleeve designs and lengths, a split hem, and multiple shirt lengths. It also comes in kid and adult sizes.
- For this particular Kit, I used the following options:
- Color-block front
- Shirt hemline
- Cap Sleeve
- Fabric - This pattern is designed for knit fabrics
- From the In-House collection of fabrics – Premium Jennifer Lycra, Premium Athletic Knit, Spun Hi Loft T-shirt Jersey, or Double Brushed Poly (DBP) are all great options
- For this dolman shirt, I used Spun Hi Loft T-Shirt Jersey. This is a great option for this pattern because it is a looser fit with lots of ease and drapes like a t-shirt.
- Balance Captain! - Large Panel (The one pictured is a medium, but I had to piece the sides together. Using a large panel will prevent that)
- Lost Boys Small Scale – 1 yard (you will have leftover fabric)
- Lost Boys Swirl Coord – 1/2 yard (you will have leftover fabric)
- Cutting Mat & Rotary Cutter
- If you don’t have these, that’s okay – you can use fabric scissors. A Cutting Mat and Rotary Cutter just make measuring and cutting a little faster and easier
- Straight Pins and Quilting Clips
- Used to hold your pieces together while sewing
- Iron and Ironing Board/Mat
- For pressing (as desired)
- Sewing Machine / Serger
- Used to assemble your pattern
- I used a serger to assemble this shirt; however, a zig zag, triple stitch, or double needle can be used on a sewing machine. These stitches are great for knit fabrics as they allow the fabrics to stretch without popping seams
Cut:
- Print and assemble your pattern
- Cut fabrics – for this dolman shirt, you should have a front bodice bottom (color block option), front bodice top (color block option), back bodice x2 (mirrored), cap sleeves x2, and neckband.
BODICE
- Attach the front bodice bottom to the front bodice top. Topstitch if desired
-Attach the back bodice pieces together. Topstitch if desired.
- Attach the back bodice to the front bodice at the shoulder seems
SLEEVES
- Clip the cap sleeve at the shoulder seam and work your way out each side. Sew together. Repeat for the other side.
SIDE SLIT AND HEMMING
- To create the side slit, refer to your pattern piece. For a modest slit, use the crop hemline as your guide and place a clip there. This will be your side slit height.
- Hem the bottom hemline for the front and back bodice. Topstitch. I used a 1” hem for the front and back bodice.
- Keeping your slit location clip in place, fold the side slit in, wrong sides together. Topstitch. I used a ¼” double fold for a more finished look.
- Hem your sleeve by folding in the raw edges, wrong sides together. Topstitch. I used a 1” hem.
FINISHING THE BODICE
NECKBAND
All done! Congratulations on your comfy new Kit dolman shirt! We would love it if you would share it in or Facebook group Here!
