Top: DIY
Skirt: Sussan
Shoes: Chie Mihara
So, a week or so ago the BF and I were lying in bed (not doing anything, so you can just get that out of your mind) when *CRACK* the whole thing collapsed out from under us. A knot in the wood had caused a weakness in one of the beams and the whole thing was irretrievable. So the bed was broken (boo!) which meant getting a new one (yay!) but the one that we liked didn’t come with the big cushions for the headboard (boo!) so I had to go to Spotlight to try and find something similar (yay!).
Which is a very roundabout way of telling you that I found some awesome fabric that reminds me of the clouds in a dawn sky, and I thought I’d buy it and using my well-fitting Finki top as a template make another boxy t-shirt.
It is, figuratively speaking, a copy-paste job (hence the blog title) so you don’t need a pattern, you just need a top that fits well, and doesn’t have any tricky seaming. The Finki tee is a perfect examples because it doesn’t even have separate sleeves. Front and back are both just one piece of fabric.
So – to start you need to lay your t-shirt out on your fabric: If you’re using a fabric with a directional print don’t forget you’ll need to cut your yardage in half and lay it reverse-side up behind the first piece, or you’ll end up with half your top upside down:
Pin your tee to the fabric, then cut around it, adding a cm or two for seams.
For the lower neckline at the front you should be able to make the shape out with your fingers. Trace the shape with a fabric pencil, or just with pins.
On just one piece cut out the front neckline – don’t forget to add your seam allowance!
If, hypothetically, you had bought more than one pieces of fabric to make into t-shirts, so would be the time to use the two pieces of your new tee-shirt as a template. Hypothetically. 
Ahem. 
So. If you’ve got an overlocker everything just got a whole heap easier for you than the rest of us. But then, if you have an overlocker you probably are a much more experienced sewer than I am, so you’re not even reading this part anyway because this tutorial is way below your skill set.
You want to finish the neckline of your top first. Just fold the curve down, pin it, and sew it. I use a double-needle because I think it gives a cleaner line on knit fabrics, but you could just finish the edge with a zigzag, then turn the edge over and finish the line with a straight stitch. Do both pieces, front and back:
Right sides together pin the two pieces at the shoulder, then down both sides. Swap your double needle back for a single and sew the two pieces together where you’ve pinned.
Now all you’ve got left to do is finish the armholes and the hem. I did this with a double needle again. Because: Neat.
You have inspired me to make a copy of my favourite top which I have been trying to replace, as it’s looking a bit worn, but can’t find anything even close to the same fit. Also love the new hair, very glam. Ruby
Great! I hope you have fun sewing 🙂
Wow!
This looks so simple I might actually be able to do this with a 5-months-old seeking attention.
Thanks for sharing!
Yay! It should only take a quick half-hour! Let me know how you go 🙂
I adore the fabrics! They look great. I might sew, but I always forget about the ease of making new tshirts with the cut on sleeves. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration! I could even break out a double needle. Still haven’t used one.
My pleasure, Kris! I’ve only just discovered them – I had to learn to use one for my Colette Myrtle dress! They’re really easy – it’s exactly the same as sewing with one needle 🙂
I have got to learn to sew. This does it. That shirt is so adorable, and I love the idea of using stuff you have as a template. Genius! And seriously that haircut is so perfect, it’s making everything you wear look even better than usual. Love!
Thanks Molly! This is a really easy project, and Spotlight has some great fabrics at the moment for really good prices. I’d definitely give it a go!
Looks like I should try this 😉 great tutorial – thank you 🙂
My pleasure! Happy sewing!
bummer about your bed, but yea for an excuse to buy cute fabric! That top is adorable on you =)
btw, if you sew your shoulder seams first, then you can finish the neckline and have it be smooth all around. It’s a little trickier since you’ll be dealing with a closed circle but it’s not too hard with the side seams still open.
(and, yes, it is a bit below my skill set, but I love that you do these tutorials and still read the whole thing 😉 )
Good tip, Robin – thank you! Glad you’re enjoying reading!
Thanks so much for this great tutorial! My sewing machine is still in its box, but this has inspired me to pull it out 🙂
Grea! Make sure you let me know how you go (and be sure to check out Spotlight – they’ve got some GREAT fabrics at the moment 🙂
As always, great post!
I have a sewing machine (my grandmother’s) and I’ve been dying to learn how to use it. Up until now I only hand-sew which was ok for my kid’s costumes but not much more. This post really inspired me to take a leap and try real sewing.
Also, I need to say this (although I’m sure I’ve wrote this in the past): your blog inspired me (and still inspires me) to push my boundaries fashion-wise. Thanks to your blog I have started wearing colors, skirts, dresses and all those other items that I have been too self-conscious to wear. I’m actually wearing purple jeans now!
Your blog also got me looking for local designers (as opposed to international retailers) and got me shopping online. And I have to share with you an amazing Israeli designer that I have discovered. Her name is Talia and this (https://www.facebook.com/TaliaStudio?fref=ts) is a link to her Facebook page. I’m planning to go to her store sometime next week for the first time, and judging by pictures alone, this might prove disastrous to my bank account 🙂
So thank you, again, from me, and all my friends who got hooked on your blogs due to my nagging 🙂
Haaaaaa, double post within the same comment and i cannot edit! (hangs head in shame)
LOL, no worries Dikla – I’ve sorted it out 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Thanks for the heads up, Dikla! I can’t get the link to work at the moment, so I’ll have to give it a try later and hopefully it’ll be up again.
I’m so glad you’ve been looking at local designers, you ‘ll have to let me know how you go!
And thank you so much for sharing the blog around, too!