Hemlock Tee with Measure Fabric
This post is my honest opinion using fabric I received free of charge from Measure Fabric.
I’ve accumulated quite a few free patterns over the years—and unfortunately they can be collected much faster than they can be sewn! I’ve been trying to work my way through some of the patterns I’ve amassed but never made, this time sewing up the Hemlock Tee by Grainline Studio.
The Hemlock is available for free when you sign up for their newsletter, and its a basic boxy tee that works in virtually any knit fabric. It has a dropped shoulder, three hem and three sleeve lengths, and comes in two size ranges, 0-18 and 14-30.
Because of its simple shape and design, I thought it would be a good match for this pink abstract floral knit from Measure Fabric. I don’t normally do patterned tees outside of stripes, so I wanted to stick with a quintessential boxy tee that allows the print to shine. For a little oomph, I couldn’t resist distressing the hems and neckband by cutting the fabric in two where its folded, allowing the edges to curl a bit.
This knit falls in the tissue weight category—its deliberately thin, with some slight burnout spots throughout. Though, I will note, I took these photos with no tank or cami layered underneath, and its more opaque on the body than I would’ve expected. This fabric just screams warm weather! Its very breezy and would work great for a tank top, waterfall cardigan, or even a swim coverup. It has minimal four way stretch so I wouldn’t use this fabric for something too form fitting; it shines best in more relaxed garments.
I’m always a sucker for pink, and there’s no shortage of it in this fabric. Its also really neat because the abstract print is kinda micro-camo, kinda watercolor, kinda fruity (don’t the little black spots look like watermelon seeds?)…its a fabric of many vibes!
Now, a word of caution. I wouldn’t recommend this fabric for someone just learning to sew with knits. Like most tissue knits, it can be challenging to work with as the fabric tends to cling to itself, making it a little tricky to line up seams or fold hems quickly. Patience is a must! The lower percentage of stretch is also less forgiving when easing in a neckband on a tshirt. In short, this fabric will handle in a very different way compared to something like a cotton spandex knit, which is perhaps more user friendly. This is in no way a negative, just something to be aware of when picking your pattern and setting your expectations for sewing with it.
I’m really happy with this boxy pink tee and look forward to wearing it this summer!
