I recently received a yard and a half of this gorgeous Lurex Fleece Back Sweatshirting Fabric in a soft blush color. I love that it has a warm golden fleck and know it will pair well with most things in my closet. As my husband says “sparkle is your favorite color!”

As often happens to me, I was a bit scared to cut into this special fabric and waffled back and forth between a few ideas. I ended up turning to my Pinterest board to review current fashion trends I am drawn to and found that I had pinned a number of sweaters with a layered, cross-front style and began the hunt for a similar pattern. I soon found the Patterns for Pirates Tulip Tee and was thrilled to learn that it was free!

I usually try to print pdf patterns online through pdfplotting.com but wanted to work on this project right away so I printed it on standard letter sized paper at home. I don’t have a light box, so I tried a technique I’ve seen many other dressmakers use, taping the pattern pieces together on a window. I liked this technique because it kept the pieces more flat than when I tape small pieces together on the floor. I will definitely use this technique again.

It was a bit too bulky to pin two layers of this sweatshirt fleece together, and even more difficult to try to pin four layers together so I broke out my new clover clips and loved how easy they were to use. Why had I waited for so many months to try using them?! I used a ballpoint needle and a stretch stitch on my sewing machine to baste a few select seams, such as the layered shoulder seams, and finished all seams on my serger.

The tulip tee pattern uses six pattern pieces in total and was very quick and easy to assemble. I would recommend this pattern to any level sewist. Additionally, the Sweatshirting Fabric was a dream to work with and I would recommend it to anyone, even those new to working with knits.

I really like how the finished product turned out, however, I learned that I should have sized up from my regular measurement for a sweater. I will make this pattern again, in the same size for a tee shirt, but one or two sizes larger for another sweater. The front panels of the tulip tee can be sewn together for a consistent look or can be left separate for a more free-flowing style. This pattern also has nursing options as well as a handful of other fun hacks worth trying (button tabbed collar, cross-over in back, etc.)

Time estimate: 5 hours
Size: small
Fabric used: 1 1/2 yards of Lurex Sweatshirting Fabric in “blush”
Care instructions: warm wash, gentle cycle; I pre-washed and dried the fabric before cutting out the pattern pieces.
Cost to make:
pattern: free (marginal printing costs)
fabric: gifted to me from Minerva; approximately $28 US value
*used thread from my stash
TOTAL: $30 value

#minervamakes #minervamakers #isew #memade #memades #sewing #sewist #sewists #sewinginspo #sewinginspiration #sew #sewcialist #sewingproject #sewingprojects #sewingideas #sewingprojectideas #sewingpatterninspo #lovesewing #ilovesewing #sewsewsew #sewersgonnasew #makersgonnamake #sewaholic #sewaholics #shareyoursewing #sewinglove #handmadewardrobe #handemadeclothes #isewmyclothes #diyclothes #dressmaking #fabricinspo #seamstress #memadeeveryday #imakemyclothes #imakemyownclothes #fashion #fashioninspo #memadewardrobe #memadefashion #diyfashion #diywardrobe #fashionsewing #indiepatterns #indiesewingpatterns #patternsforpirates #patternsforpiratestuliptee #tuliptee #sewingtops #sewingwithsweatshirt #sweatshirtsewingprojects #lurexfabrics #sparklefabrics