i knew i wanted to try out grainline’s hemlock tee the minute i saw it. it looked super comfy and lounge-y and quick to make up. i picked up some lightweight striped knit and knew it would be a perfect match. i made a couple changes to the pattern, first i scooped out the neckline by 2″. i may have overdone it, in the future i’ll probably add an inch back in. i cut my neck binding on the bias because i think that looks best when you have striped fabric. if you cut the binding as usual, any wiggly sewing is really obvious (because of the stripes). you can cut the binding on the grain, but i always feel the stripes look too jarringly angular; the bias stripe feels more subtle.
the other change i made was to cut the front piece 2″ shorter than the back, giving me a split hemline. i’ve been wanting to try this out, and i think it worked well here. to do this, i hemmed the front and back separately then serged the sides, leaving the last 2″ before the shorter hemline open. i pressed back a small hem, then took a 1/2″ wide strip of fabric and sewed it along the inside edges. if you look at any polo shirt in your closet, you’ll see what i mean.
i didn’t even bother turning in the raw edge of the binding strip… but it’s held up just fine
this is a fun and easy top to sew and is perfect for lounging. sure, it is entirely shapeless, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. actually, i wouldn’t mind lengthening it for more of a tunic or even a dress for belting. the only thing i’m not super happy about is the sleeves. they’re awfully wide at the hem, so i may narrow them or cut them down and add a cuff instead. as they are, they don’t stay up when i push them away and it kind of annoys me how they flap around. anywho, that’s just a minor detail and easily fixed. overall, it’s a great FREE pattern and i’m absolutely loving it!
happy lounging 🙂
—lisa g.
This is perfect. I will definitely try this – and I love your split hem. I think it adds a little bit extra to a simple pattern.
I love your changes, as usual!
I’ve had a second Hemlock part way done for well over a month – my coverstitch machine was giving me fits with the tissue knit I used, so I set it aside. I did narrow the sleeve at the hem on it, but since I haven’t sewn it up yet, I have no idea if I did it enough!
aw thanks 🙂 hope you can get yours finished, those tissue knits are such a hassle to hem! i often end up doing a rolled hem on the serger, it’s just not worth the headache.
This pattern has been saved on my computer for some time! I need to print it out, tape it up, and get sewing! Super cute top!
it’s so quick to make! definitely instant gratification.
I love the Hemlock pattern. Great changes – I really like the split hem and the look of the bias cut neckband. A dress version would be really cute with a belt and boots.
i think i’m gonna have to make a dress version happen if i find the right fabric!
The split hem is great! I’ll have to try this in a top or two.
it was definitely easy to do!
Nice! I really like the split hem, and thanks for showing how you did it! I always cut neck bands along a solid stripe – for some reason the jagged striped ones just make me crazy! Lol 🙂 I also had issue with the sleeve being large, so I took it in quite a bit towards the edge! Your fabric is really fun too!
thanks! i’l cut my bindings along a stripe if the stripe is super wide or really narrow. sometimes the woven stripes just don’t want to press exactly where you need them to!
Entirely lounge-worthy! Love what you’ve done with the hem on this – I was thinking about exactly this just the other day (daydreaming of sewing when I should be working) but I was envisaging rounding the hem at the corner up towards the split. Those are great colours on you!
thanks! a rounded hem would be super cute also. and hey, it’d be a great quick project after all the fab sewing you’ve been doing!
Love it. I need one of those in my wardrobe.
everyone does!