Last week I made a soft, supple t-shirt from my new-found favorite textile Lyocell after having been inspired by Julia & Julie (the film) to sew more. Which brings me to this week; I am (still) quite inspired by the ubiquitous t-shirt , so much so that I continue to design more, and actually, am building a capsule collection entirely based off of the t-shirt.
This week I’ve created a tri-colored t-shirt dress- long enough to wear alone, yet looks lovely paired with opaques and it it so comfortable- the fabric is buttery soft and slightly transparent. While it may sound simple, within a classic pattern live countless pattern variations (not to mention surface design opportunities), and I find that designing within some constraint only opens up more windows of curiosity. It seems to me that this classic statement is not going anywhere, and for the time being, I am thoroughly intrigued. Is anyone else making t-shirts?
Pictured above: my tri-colored t-shirt and inspiration board for Spring/Summer 2010.
Sep 1, 2009, 05.29 PMby erdronen
How interesting that you’re designing a collection around t-shirts! That’s really awesome! I love your tri-color t-shirt- so cute :) I am making a t-shirt at the moment- just something simple in a cute print, yet it’s giving me so much trouble. I’m hoping to finish tonight! I totally wish I could find fun fabrics like Lyocell, Modal, etc- they are so hard to come by when you are not a designer (or living in NYC/LA). Even finding soft cotton knits is tough- mostly they are poly :(
Sep 1, 2009, 06.18 PMby alisondahl
I totally understand. You can find a some of these fabrics online, this is where I’ve gotten some Lyocell (which often is sold under the brand name Tencel): Silk Road Fabrics.
Also, you can try Fashion Fabrics Club. THIS website has a directory for purchasing organic fabric online as well.
Sep 1, 2009, 08.17 PMby wzrdreams
oooh, I love your color/inspiration.
I have a Lydia cut out waiting to be sewn (tonight – hopefully). It’s black cotton, with translucent horizontal stripes. I’m looking forward to sewing it, but I always face sewing knits with some anxiety since I don’t have a overlock machine. Luckily my machine has a stretch stitch, but I’d love to have really neat seam allowances.
Sep 2, 2009, 12.40 PMby LeighR
I’ve been taken by the urge to make myself some t-shirts lately. They’re pretty much all I wear, so I’m always looking out for more. I have a birthday dress for a niece to finish first, but they’re next on the list.
I’m trying to come up with ways to make them look more refined, as I share clothes with my sister and she’s got a business casual dress code at her job and that way she can wear them. I’ve got a casual dress code, but it’s still nice to mix it up every once in awhile. My plan for the first one is to replicate corset-type seaming that I did on a tank top for a wedding reception in February. The tank top was jersey as well and aside from being too sheer to wear without another shirt, it worked out rather well.
Sep 2, 2009, 12.41 PMby staticstasy
Lyocell is so cool! I have a pair of sort of wide pants/culotte made out of it and it’s great! :)
Sep 3, 2009, 09.06 AMby flowergirl22
where can I get some of the fabric?? been looking averywhere,, I made a dress ina stretch fabric/lycra,, that flows nicely,, but Lyocell, looks great,,,