Basics, basics, basics. That's what Me-Made-May showed me is missing in my wardrobe. V-neck and crew-neck t-shirts are certainly basics. And I certainly need more of them... after 3 and a half years of living in Southeast Asia, where it's constantly summer and I don't have a dryer, all my t-shirts are pretty grubby and stretched out.
This is the Union St. Tee from Hey June. I bought it a few months ago when it was updated with more options for long sleeves and different necklines. I'd seen a lot of nice versions of it online and had had a good experience with the Hey June's Monkey Bar Skirt and Greenpoint Cardigan patterns for my nieces (see my other Hey June makes here and here).
This Union St. Tee is great! I started out with the v-neck version, opting to size up for a slightly more casual, slouchy look with a little bit of positive ease. But then after the green v-neck version turned out so well, I immediately cut out the "scoop neck" version (although, at least on me, it's more crew neck than scoop neck, I think), too! The shape is great, the sleeves aren't too short. I adore the v-neck; it's the perfect depth. So.... I made a third one. Yep, made three t-shirts in 24 hours:
I feel a little bit bad betraying my beloved Plantain t-shirt pattern, but I feel like the Union St. Tee has a different fit and thus serves a different purpose.
Plantain is snug in the bust with a sharp flare at the hips, whereas Union St. is a bit straighter (but still with nice waist definition). Plantain has the deep scoop neckline, whereas Union St. has a deep v-neck or a crew neck... P.S.: check out that stripe placement on my v-neck below. Winning!
I thought the Union St. pattern instructions were pretty good: I'd never made a knit v-neck before, so that was a learning experience and my necklines are not perfect, but totally wearable. That bit at the point is tough. Next time I'll ace it, right?
I think if I do the scoop neck again, I'd use the option for a thinner neckband, as mine isn't quite sitting flush in the front. I veered away from the instructions by hemming the bodice and sleeves last, after sewing up the sides just because that's my preference.
I love seeing how different fabrics change the look of a pattern. The fabric for my first v-neck is thick-ish cotton jersey from my local knit-by-the-kilo place here in Bangkok. The color is a pretty amazing emerald green. For my scoop neck I used some Art Gallery knit- Bikeleidoscope Jet. Damn, that stuff is soft! My third is this super slinky, kinda sheer striped cotton blend jersey from Girl Charlee that feels less like cotton and more like rayon or something... the stripes are knit into the fabric, but look like they are hand painted on because they are uneven. A pain in the ass to cut, but actually not bad to sew.
I foresee more of these Union St. Tees in my future... and maybe some Lane Raglans and Aurora Tees, too! Have you tried the Union St. Tee? Had good luck with Hey June patterns?