DIY Diagonal Ruffle Tee

After doing Me Made May and figuring out the holes in my wardrobe, so I’m dedicating the month of June to sewing those items I need in my wardrobe and altering any items I won’t wear unless I alter them. First, I made some basic tees with fun details to wear all summer long. I love the flared ruffle look and saw one somewhere online that I decided to copy. It’s a very easy pattern hack, but you get a really interesting and fun ruffle tee.

I used some white mystery knit fabric that my sister sent me. She made a cardigan out of it a couple of years ago and just sent me the remnant which was the perfect amount to make this tee. This fabric is white with white stripes. It doesn’t have a lot of stretch or recovery so I couldn’t make anything very fitted. This jersey knit stripe fabric* seems the closest to what I have. If you are sewing stripes this is how to match stripes.

I used the Union St Tee pattern* since that’s my tried and true basic tee pattern but these alterations will work with any tee pattern. Here’s some tips for sewing knit fabric.

• Trace the front piece so that it’s open and not on the fold.
• Then draw a straight line from one side waist to the opposite arm hole.
• Cut it and then add seam allowance.
• Cut out the front pieces from the fabric.
• Measure the length of the line you just cut. Find a bowl or plate with similar measurements and trace a circle on your fabric. (Mine was slightly longer so I used the extra in my sleeve seam.)
• Measure out 4″ all the way around that circle to make a larger circle. Cut out the ruffle and cut through the circle to make one long strip.

• Sew the ruffle in between the two front pieces and trim off any excess.
• Us the excess in the sleeve seam to add one more ruffle.
• Construct the tee the way the pattern instructs.

It’s a very basic tee, but I really love it and the simple details. It’s going to great for hot summer days. I will feel comfortable and it’s easy to wear, but I’ll look like I got dressed in the morning! #momwin

Learn how to sew a neckband.