My overlocker hasn’t had a lot of use but I have plenty of knit fabrics in my stash so I thought this would be a good time to make up a good t-shirt pattern I could use to make some great summer and winter t-shirts from my stash. To get started I have made up a plain black t-shirt using Style Arc’s Gem T-shirt pattern. This is the first time I have done any coverstitch in a project and its also been a while since I did any overlocking so it isn’t as neat as I would like. I can also see a few things I could do to the pattern to get it to fit better, like a full bust adjustment to remove those wrinkles over the bust and a hem levelling to get it to sit better at the back.

• Pattern: Gem Knit Tee by Style Arc (digital).
• Fabric: Not sure but probably an organic cotton jersey I bought from Fibresmith some years ago.
• Size and adjustments: I’ve made a 20 to get the bust fit I thought would work but graded out to a 22 at the hip. It still clearly needs an FBA (full bust adjustment) and perhaps I could start with an 18 to get the fit at the shoulders a little better. Before I make another I will alter the pattern to add an inch via FBA and level the hem.

Last Saturday I did one of Kate Mara’s courses on Coverstitch at Heights Sewing Centre and it was terrific! I felt much more confident knowing how to finish this T-shirt and really like the way the neckline sits when it is finished with a narrow coverstitch to hold the neckband in place. It was great to use what I had learned straight away on a project.

Finishing this project means I have met my Year of Stash Project goal for September 2023 by completing at least one yarn and one fabric project from my stash this month! There is even time for me to make something else…