Sewing 5 FREE t-shirt patterns to find the best one | Beginner Friendly

[@MakingCassie]

If I do more comparison videos, what would you like to see?!

[@portiawrites]

I love comparison videos! I’d love to see a “camp collar” comparison, as these seem to be EVERYWHERE (Donny, Genra, Gilbert, etc)

[@15bloemetje15]

Short sleeved blouses please!

[@neon.neutral]

Non-collared blouses! (Beginner friendly). I just got a wrap top pattern and a boxy peplum top... Looking for more!

[@rosey_ie]

Elasticated-waist barrel-leg trousers 😅

[@gailthecrafter]

Yes, I would like to see this same type of format but with wide leg pants. I would be willing to purchase a pattern for you. I really want to make a few and you might think wide leg pants what’s the deal. But each pattern is different and I’m just not sure which one. Thank you. Please let me know I’ll send the pattern right out.

[@mel_issa__]

If you have trouble with the seams I recommend using seam tape. It stabilizes the fabric and gives you a really clean hem. I saw some stretched out seams, maybe there was too kuch tension and too short a stitch length.

[@jeanzhsewing]

I've made the Core Tee lots of times and really love it. I've always had good luck using a twin needle for my hems, and I like that it gives a professional finish without having to buy a cover stitch machine!

[@MakingCassie]

Great tip!

[@barefacedquestions]

Is a coverstitch machine better than a serger for sewing knits?

[@jeanzhsewing]

@@barefacedquestions They're not really interchangeable. A serger is used to sew seams and gives the clean enclosed seam finish that you see on store bought t-shirts. A coverstitch machine is used for hemming and produces the double line of stitches that you see on the hems of store bought t-shirts. When you use a twin needle in a regular sewing machine, you get the double line of stitches on the front of your garment like you get with a coverstitch machine with a zig zag on the back to provide stretch. Hope that helps!

[@barefacedquestions]

@@jeanzhsewing That makes sense. Thank you so much.

[@whatnow8362]

For the waviness, I use wonder tape which washes away in the first wash. It’s great for stabilizing seams when sewing knits.

[@USSAud]

Highly recommend HeatnBond iron on adhesive tape for hemming stretch materials!

[@MakingCassie]

I think that’s going to be the call for me next time!

[@kimberlypiter8718]

Yes!!! Please make more comparison videos. I liked how you did them one by one in the comparison and gave good opinions that help guide our own journey to the type of styles we might want want to make.

[@MakingCassie]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@mariawhelan1907]

Ah I loved this comparison so much!! ❤ Thank you for sharing!! You’ve inspired me to make the Closet Core and True Bias Jesse tees! I feel like elastic waist pant comparisons would be great too see next!!

[@MakingCassie]

This has been on my mind for a while!

[@bohemiansusan2897]

Thanks for sharing this video. Of all the knit fabrics, I like the pointelle the best. I made a lot of T-shirts and knit tops over the years and they didn't turn out as they should until I got a surger. That alone will be a major game changer. I use all four threads when sewing knits for extra durability. I do own quite a few $3-5 Walmart T-shirts and that is because the budget was extremely tight. I don't do crop shirts as I don't want to show my tattoos and major surgery scars. If I sew my knit tops I buy a high quality knit fabric that is much thicker than my cheapo T-shirts. By doing this, I can also wear them with my trousers and blazers for work. I can also wear them with jeans too or with a pencil skirt and cardigan. My next project is a beige with thinner black and red stripes. I could easily dress it up or down.

[@kellysilver3979]

Loved this! It's so important to be honest about pattern/drafting/instruction quality even for free patterns. We're a community and we can help eachother to improve. Alsooo this was very good info which confirmed that no, I will not make my own tee's 😂

[@MakingCassie]

Tbh I don’t know if I’ll ever do it again 😂

[@tedkelly81]

This is such a good resource that I am definitely coming back to when I finally decide to have a go at tshirt making. Thanks for putting so much effort in!!

[@MakingCassie]

You're so welcome!

[@Rustinqueboutique-417]

This girl doesnt comment at least not online. You were delightful and inspiring and i like how you make it feel like your talking to me personaly. Very good quality viedo. Very imformative and full of inspiration to a Starving Sagetarian. I look forward to more!!!

[@ChristineLee-xp1kz]

I love this!! I remember thinking about makin a tshirt with a free pattern but feeling overwhelmed by the diffrerent choices. Thank you for your in depth review!!! If i could make a suggestion, i would love to see future pattern comparison/reviews but with the names of the patterns on the screen as you talk about them ❤

[@lanageorge5865]

I like the idea of the pattern name on the screen. I often take screenshots of info I want to remember.

[@MakingCassie]

Noted!

[@Glowing_cactus]

I did like this video! I eye up free patterns but am uncertain about trying them. I'd love it if you did it with dungaree patterns, but I know that is a giant ask as they take a lot of both time and fabric. Plus you are picky about your dungarees!

[@MakingCassie]

I could compare two popular ones potentially!

[@buttercupthreads]

Great comparison! I already love the Stellan (wore one yesterday) but I'm very intrigued by the Jesse, I hadn't seen that before. You might like the Basic Instinct tee, it's got a nice high neckline and comfortable fit. For the wavy seams you'll want to turn the pressure down on your presser foot - it's the dial at the top back of your machine. Also, make sure you're hitting those seams with lots of steam from the iron.

[@MakingCassie]

Thanks for the tips!

[@kle1701]

What a great video! Thank you for the reviews. When you acquire a serger that is going to make all the difference in the world! It was like night and day for me with sewing knits. The differential feed helps to accommodate for the stretching in a way that the regular sewing machine just doesn’t want to do. You’ll be able to make shirts that are just as well constructed as RTW. I LOVE my serger! Thanks for the links. I’m going to have to try a couple of these myself!

[@TheBmweed]

I really loved this as I am also super picky about what t-shirts I buy! The comparisons were good and clear, and the pros and cons very helpful

[@MakingCassie]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sinaglass611]

Thank you so much! I was really overwhelmed so much by this too and you helped me a lot with this.

[@MakingCassie]

That’s good to know !

[@crystalcolbert4230]

Love love love it 🙌 please do more of these!

[@MakingCassie]

Will do!!

[@MsAngieNightmare]

Thanks for a great video. I'd love to see you fo this with more basics. Tanks or simple pants would be helpful.

[@MakingCassie]

Tanks are definitely on my radar!

[@pmclaughlin4111]

For wavy seams, break out some starch...spray starch or use a paintbrush to draw on the starch along seamline. It will stiffen the area just enough to stop waving and rises out at the end

[@mel_issa__]

The core tshirt pattern is my favorite, I love the style and fit on me. I find it more difficult to find fabric as I prefer a stiffer knit

[@MakingCassie]

I’m the same! I’ve definitely realized I prefer a more stable knit

[@lucindadangles-ru5il]

I use some iron on tape in the fold of the hems. It stableizes the hems. Also a double needle.

[@heyspeckle8782]

I have made 3 Stellan Tees recently, all out of French Terry. The neckline sits like yours on all of them, you'd have to alter the pattern to get that higher neckline. I also found that I had to self draft the neck binding cause the one in the pattern was too short and not quite wide enough for my liking

[@MakingCassie]

Good to know!

[@brideyjade]

These look great! A lot of your neckline issues would be resolved by using a coordinated rib for the neckline binding, this has more recovery and pulls the neck in nicely! If you look at a rtw tee that's what is mostly used 😊 adjusting your presser foot will also help with the seams sitting and flat. And seam tape or sewing over tissue paper is great as mentioned by others!

[@rachellehamilton]

Thanks for sharing all these great resources.

[@MakingCassie]

You’re very welcome!

[@talloolahmoon]

Pressing seams along the way and afterwards gives a good basis throughout the make

[@sarahannedesign7530]

You’re inspiring me to finally tackle knits!

[@MakingCassie]

Yay!!

[@pluezilvlk8427]

I'd love the same type of video but with pants, please ! I think I'll try to make one of these shirts too when I get the time and brain space ^^

[@MakingCassie]

Good to know!

[@charlottenicely]

Such a helpful informative video! Thank you Cassie :)

[@MakingCassie]

You're so welcome!

[@sewmytroublesaway]

I loved this video and really like comparisons like you've done. I try to do my comparisons using the same fabric throughout in order to eliminate differences that are fabric related. Or maybe you could give us more info about each fabric like the fibre content and stretch %. Will definitely be back to watch any more you decide to do!

[@MakingCassie]

Glad it was helpful!

[@creepyed]

You might want to check out the DIBY Club Anything But Basic Tee. It has three different necklines and the higher one might work for you. When I put on a neckline and it gapes, it's usually because I didn't stretch the neckband enough around a curve; I wonder if that's what happened to the Mood samples.

[@callitags]

I really enjoyed this, and would enjoy more like them. Since I'm not sewing clothes just yet, and not sure what that particular journey will look like at this point, I don't have any suggestions for what other things for you to do. Still, I found this very informative and it gave me an idea of where to look when I am ready to get some patterns to try. 🙂

[@MakingCassie]

That’s great to know!

[@faydiva8863]

I really enjoyed this video. Good to see them side by side. As far as the wavy edges are concerned, it looks like you stretched the fabric a little too much when sewing. A more stable fabric will help r perhaps stablise the fabric. You can get tape for this.

[@MakingCassie]

Thanks for the tips!

[@EmmaLarissa]

Loved this video! Any type of comparison would be fun.

[@MakingCassie]

Noted!

[@lanageorge5865]

I really like this video. Any comparison would be great. Also, I would really love a detailed video on how you download, print, & use digital patterns. I’m old school and although I really want to use the free resources, I am intimidated by the whole concept of a digital pattern.

[@MakingCassie]

That’s good to know!

[@Simplesavemoney]

So wonderful 💯

[@bentali7313]

Just in tiiiiiimmmmeee baby i was wondering what t shirt pattern to use thhhhaaaanks great idea💜💜💜💜

[@MakingCassie]

I gotcha 😉

[@LisaFaiss]

I really like the Jesse pattern on you. For me, I’d lean towards the Core pattern. I recently found on a shirt I made that the neck gapped because the shoulder seam was out by half inch further than it should be. I think that might be the issue on yours as well. Per the wavy lines, I find this happens with materials with more synthetic fibers. But I believe it might be happening because you’re pulling on the fabric as you sew. You cannot do that with knits. It also may help to use your lightening stitch setting as it is specifically designed for knits. This stitch nearly eliminates pops (seam blowouts) in your seams even after continued washing and wearing. It also tends to feed the knits without having to tug on your work.

[@MakingCassie]

Thanks Lisa! I did do all of those things but I think my thread tension was too tight.

[@LisaFaiss]

@@MakingCassie Interesting, I’m not very good with adjusting tension but will keep this in mind. Thanks! I like my serger, but sew the seams on my regular machine and then serge. I’ve found a regular sewing stitch lasts longer than serger, but it could be I’m not adjusting tension properly. I’m not totally comfortable with serger. I have seen expert seamstresses start with regular machine and finish seams with serger.

[@Heyreneesews]

Did you consider making a pattern from your store bought T-shirts? I like the Burda t-shirt pattern,

[@MakingCassie]

I might in the future but I also really wanted to try these

[@TheSolipsist0]

Great video 😊

[@shirleyeggenschwiler9482]

Yes keep it up

[@KathrinFranke-z4c]

I love the top you're wearing. What is it?

[@MakingCassie]

It’s a hack of the orchards dress into a blouse!

[@slipperydick]

If the seams are wavy, you might be pulling the fabric too much while sewing, it happened to me, too. Internet told me that steaming the wavy seams after sewing might help :-)

[@MakingCassie]

I think the stitch I was using was too tight!

[@lucindadangles-ru5il]

switch over to a ball point needle

[@Wibler]

I can't see the second pattern :(

[@auricia201]

Couldn't you use your old t-shirts to make your own pattern?

[@MakingCassie]

Yes, of course. But then that would be a different video, wouldn’t it? 😝