April 20, 2016

Concord T-Shirt Sewalong: Sizing and Cutting


Hi everyone, it’s Carrie – and it’s sewalong time! Yeah! Let’s make some t-shirts.

Just like all Cashmerette Patterns, the Concord T-Shirt is sized by bust size. Make sure you choose your size by your measurement rather than your bra size, as bra sizes are variable between brands, countries and apparently days of the week. The Concord T-Shirt has negative ease in the bust for an ideal fit, so be sure to choose your size based on your measurements rather than finished garment measurements.

If you need to grade between sizes, it’s quite simple to do on this pattern, as there are just a few pieces. Check out the tutorial here. As a tip, just make sure you add or subtract the same amount from the front and backΒ soΒ that the side seams stay the same length.

The Concord T-Shirt is super customizable and throughout this sewalong I’ll be showing you two versions, which cover all the bases!

  • First is a peony print shirt, with a scoop neck, three quarter length sleeves with tabs, and the long curved hem.
  • Second is aΒ tropical print shirt, with a V-neck, short sleeves, cuffs, and the cropped length.

Because there are so many choices, I highly recommend tracing your pattern pieces – you can make so many Concords but if you cut your tissue (or don’t want to assemble a PDF again) you’d be stuck in the style you first chose. So, despite the extra time and effort, I really encourage you to trace! Once you’ve chosen your design elements, traced your size, and cut your pattern pieces, it’s time to cut fabric.

Make sure to prewash your fabric, as knits are wont to shrink quite a bit. Once your fabric is ready to go and your pattern is traced and cut, it’s time to cut your fabric. We recommend cutting your fabric on the flat (rather than folding) for maximum yield – it’s especially helpful when stripe or pattern matching. Make sure all the notches are there, and notch the center front and center back of the neckline.

Β Okay! Now we have all our pieces ready to go. In our next session, we’ll get started putting our Concord T-Shirts together!

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25 thoughts on “Concord T-Shirt Sewalong: Sizing and Cutting

  1. Rebecca says:

    Hi – Glad to see this sew-along! Can show how you the cut fabric for stripe matching? That is something I’ve never done, and really want to do a striped tee. Thanks!

    1. Hi Rebecca! Yes, I have a blog post in the works on that, so keep a watch out πŸ™‚

  2. Debbie Cook says:

    OK, I’ve obviously missed something. lol … who is Carrie? (Hi Carrie)

    I’m kinda coincidentally sewing along since I was a slug this weekend and didn’t finish up my tee then.

    1. Carrie is my fellow Cashmerette Patterns teammate! She ran the last sewalongs too πŸ™‚

  3. Rose says:

    Hi, I’m really looking forward to my pattern arriving so I can get started. Could you tell me how to determine my cup size for your patterns? Thanks.

    1. Hi Rose – you need to measure your full bust (the largest part of your bust) and choose the right cup size based on that measurement – it may be different to your bra size.

      1. Rose says:

        Thanks for replying Jenny. Unfortunately this has made me more confused! Sorry! I thought cup size was about the difference between your high bust and full bust? I’m 51″ which would make me an E/F on your sizing chart but according to what you’ve said if I was 52″ I’d be a C/D. I don’t get it.

        1. Hi Rose – because cup sizes vary so much between brands and countries, I recommend using the measurement for your full bust rather than your bra size or using equations that are generally used for bra sizing. As sizes get bigger, so do bust sizes, so a size 24 C/D is bigger than a size 22 E/F. Just measure yourself and pick based on that number πŸ™‚

          1. Rose says:

            Thanks Jenny, will do! Can’t wait to cut something out in my size πŸ™‚

  4. Susana Pourxet says:

    Hi Jenny: Could you tell me please how can I transform the high neck in a boat neck? Your sewalong and your patterns are uniques!! TIA.

  5. Janet says:

    Hi! Love this pattern. I’m trying to figure out sizing. Should I aim for between a 14 and 16 C/D? So essentially a 15C/D? Here are my measurements. The only trouble spot might be the waist? Thanks!

    Bust – 43
    waist – 36
    hip – 44

    1. I’d make a 16 C/D in this case.

      1. Janet says:

        Thanks so much Jenny – I’ll give that a try. Cheers!

  6. sheilaokelly says:

    Sorry, I still don’t understand how to choose cup size. My measurements are 44.5″ bust; 38″ waist; and 50″ hip. What size should I pick in the Concord t-shirt. Thanks very much. Sheila

  7. Brigitte says:

    I know it’s a old tutorial but re-posting the pictures would help a lot. Thanks

    1. Unfortunately we had an issue with Flickr deleting our photos for this sewalong. We’re planning on re-shooting the sewalong as soon as we are able.

  8. VeraS says:

    So, I’m with SheilaOKelly, I can’t understand which size I should cut out. According to the chart if I’m a 48″ bust I can either use C/D or G/H cup. WHAT, exactly, determines which size to cut? Can you clarify or point me to a page where that’s explained? Thanks.

    1. This is explained in the instructions, but the approach is basically do you have a smaller or larger upper body relative to your bust. If you have an F+ cup bust we always recommend the G/H cup. If youre smaller than that, then if you have a smaller upper body/larger chest go with the G/H and if you have a larger body/smaller chest go with C/D. Personally I have a 48” bust and wear an H cup bra so I always do the 18 G/H

  9. Linda says:

    Jenny – If I successfully make a Montrose in an 8 G/H would I make the same in a knit? Since I’m quite short waisted and have “ripples” between my underbust & waist I don’t want the knit too clingy. Yours in the photo looks like what I want but Whitney always calls the Concord a ‘fitted’ T. Do I need to grade out at the waist?

    1. Ayelet says:

      Hi Linda, the waist of the Concord does have some positive ease so it shouldn’t cling, but you can grade out or do a slash-and-spread to get more ease if you would like. I recommend trying it with a muslin first (using the same weight/stretch fabric as your final fabric) and seeing how you like the fit before making adjustments.

  10. Kathy Behan says:

    It looks like I need to lower the bust on the concord tee but I can’t figure out how since there is no dart. Help please!

    1. Ayelet says:

      Hi Kathy, you can move the “boob bubble” (where the pattern curves outward for the bust) down to where you need it.

      -Ayelet at Cashmerette

  11. Laurel Davis says:

    I would like to do a neckline that is lower than the high neck, but not as deep and wide as the scoop neck. How do I figure out the length of the neckband? Also, if the fabric has 60%stretch, should the neckband be slightly shorter?

    1. Ayelet says:

      Hi Laurel, you can draw the neckline in how you want it and then make the neckband 85% of the length of the neckline at the seam allowance.

      -Ayelet at Cashmerette

Let me know what you think!