- Gifts & Goods
-
Wallpaper
Luxury Peel and Stick Wallpaper
![]()
- Gift Card
- Gifts & Goods
- Gift Card
Luxury Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Mary from the SewMaryMac blog here again to talk about how I sewed up my TNT T-shirt pattern into 5 different Raspberry Creek Fabric bases. This was such a great blog post to work on, I had so much fun!
I have been on a mission the last year or so to find THE perfect fabric(for me) for a simple casual t-shirt. I’m so excited to share my thoughts and results with you!
But first, before we get into the 5 fabrics I chose to work with, let’s discuss the t-shirt pattern. I used the same pattern for all 5 shirts so we could get a good comparison. This pattern is a mashup of 2 Love Notions pattern, Classic Tee and the LaBella Donna. This is my TNT T-shirt pattern. If you would like to know more about this pattern mashup, you can visit my blog HERE to get all the details. As you might notice in the photos, I prefer a binding neckline finish as opposed to a band. This is just my personal preference. There are directions for this technique on the blog post mentioned above.
The five fabrics I used for this comparison are:
This is the jersey that all the club prints are printed on. It can also be selected for custom printing.
This jersey has the most structure of all the fabrics I chose. It does not have a ton of drape and can even be a tad stiff . It is great for children’s clothes, pajama pants, shorts, rompers and straight dresses. If using for a T-shirt, it will give a slightly boxier fit. It has great recovery therefore it works really well for leggings. This fabric also works great for neck bands and cuffs- so there is no need to find coordinating ribbing. Added plus, this fabric is very easy to work with. It is a breeze to cut out AND sew! Note: this fabric does get softer the more it is washed- again making it perfect for kids!
Fabric Info: Tonal Green Sketched Fern
This fabric is available as retail only in both solids and stripes
What is Modal?
Modal is a type of rayon fabric, but it uses cellulose specifically from the beech tree. Because of the production process, it is considered semi-synthetic. The beech tree cellulose is processed with chemicals so that it can be spun into fibers. These made-made fibers are then woven or knit into fabrics. Modal is considered an eco-friendly fabric since beech tree don’t require much water to grow.
This fabric had the most drape out of all the fabrics I used. It has such a nice smooth hand to it and is very cool to the touch. The minute I put it on I felt cooler (temperature wise that is).
It has the same amazing hand of rayon to it, but without the pilling that often occurs with rayon knits. This fabric has great stretch and recovery making it perfect for tops, dresses or anything that requires nice draping. Cowl necks would look so great in this fabric! This might not be the best fabric for beginner sewists. It can be tricky to cut out and sew. Modal is also more absorbent than cotton, which is why it is often used for athletic wear.
Fabric Info: Magenta Modal Spandex
This fabric is available in retail for all the seasonal and holiday club prints. It is also available for custom printing.
What does 8 X 3 mean?
Rib knits have textured vertical lines that are raised. 8 X 3 means there are 8 knit stitches and then 3 purl stitches. If you’re not a knitter, that might mean absolutely nothing to you. Simply put, when looking at the fabric, the ribs are wider with a smaller space in between them. (For example, a 2 X 2 rib would have ribs and spaces that are even in size.)
This fabric is perfect for so many things! It has wonderful drape and is easy to cut out and sew! It’s perfect for T-shirts, dresses, pajamas and nightgowns. Even though it is polyester, it has a coolness to it. It doesn't wrinkle, making it great for packing and traveling. It is very easy to care for, it truly is wash and wear. Living in a very hot climate, some might find this too hot during certain times because of the polyester. If you like DBP, then you would like this as well. It does have a much silkier/cool hand to it than DBP.
Fabric Info: Bright Halloween Floral Print
This fabric is available in retail in several heathered solids. There are also smaller seasonal print releases. It is available for custom printing. (Note, your design will have a heathered look due to the fiber content.)
This fabric is an excellent choice for T-shirts! It is very similar to many RTW shirts you may find. It’s best for patterns that require some degree of stretch. Since there is no spandex in this fabric, it only has 2-way stretch. The cotton and rayon content makes this fabric extremely lightweight and breathable. Even with the polyester content it is an excellent choice for hotter climates. Note: I did add a tiny bit to my side seams on this shirt to allow for the difference in stretch. If Cotton Spandex fabric is too thick or stiff for you, this would be a great option.
Fabric Info: Heathered Light Fuchsia Triblend
This fabric is only available for custom printing. This base is slightly off-white.
What is Bamboo fabric exactly?
Bamboo is a rayon-like fabric. It is processed the same way as rayon. The difference is that rayon can be made from the cellulose fibers from trees, soy and fruits. Bamboo fabric is made from the cellulose from bamboo exclusively. Both fabrics are considered semi-synthetic, since the fibers are coming from trees and plants but are then processed with chemicals to form fibers. These fibers then are woven or knit into fabrics.
This fabric is good for just about anything you can imagine. It is very similar to Cotton Spandex, but feels thinner.. The cotton content allows it to have some structure. With the addition of the bamboo, you get a fabric that has a cool hand and drape. Since it is made of mostly natural fibers, it is cool to wear in hot and humid climates. Unlike some rayon knits, it does not “grow” or stretch out when worn. This fabric is not as thin as plain bamboo spandex(or rayon spandex).
The added plus to this fabric is that it is an excellent choice for newborn clothes. It is extremely soft, yet breathable (unlike DBP)
Fabric Info: Custom Print Penelope Floral
Easiest to Cut and Sew: Cotton Spandex
Bamboo Cotton
Best Drape: Modal Spandex
Bamboo Cotton
Rib Knit
Best for Hot Climates: Bamboo Cotton
Tri-blend
Modal Spandex
Hold Up Best For Kids: Cotton Spandex
Rib Knit
Best For Bottoms: Cotton Spandex
Rib Knit -leggings
I hope you’ve found this information helpful to you when selecting the fabrics that are best for you. Remember, we all live in different climates, lead different lifestyles and have differences in what is comfortable for us. With that said, this is what I’ve discovered for myself when selecting fabrics for T-shirts.
Cotton Spandex feels too stiff and thick for my TNT T-shirt pattern. It would work well with a boxier fit pattern. It would be really great for a romper(adults or kids!) and pajama pants.
Modal Spandex is just too clingy for me. I’m 60- I’ve got lumps and bumps and this fabric clings to every one of them. I do love the way it feels and I will wear this as a layering piece, not on it’s own. Many of you will LOVE this fabric for how cool it is and it’s great drape!
Most of the memade T-shirts in my closet are this rib knit. I wear these year round. I only avoid wearing them in extremely hot and humid conditions if I’m going to be outside for extended periods of time. I love them all Fall and Winter as layering T-shirts. PS- I also make all my nightgowns out of this fabric.
I love the few tri-blend T-shirts I have. They are so cool in hot and humid weather. I find them best for Spring and Summer when I don’t layer them. Because of the content, they sometimes “stick” to the cardigans they are layered with.
The Bamboo Cotton is the ULTIMATE fabric for me. I love the combination of drape and structure it has. It’s what I look for in a good basic T-shirt. Yes, it is only available as a custom print~ but you only need 1- 1.5 yards of fabric for a T-shirt. In my opinion, it is totally worth the additional expense. Keep in mind, due to the printing process, your fabric will arrive a bit stiffer. When washed it will soften right up!
Mary Anne :)
If you’d like to read more about my sewing adventures I would love for you to visit my blog, Sew Mary Mac. You can also follow me on Instagram @sewmarymac to see all of my makes.
Pattern Information
Use code MARYMAC10 for 10% off any pattern
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Teronia Wilson
October 28, 2022
This was so helpful! Great explanations and recommendations.