Materials:man's tuxedo-print T-shirt in size large or extra large (the extra size is for the ruffled sleeve)
black all-purpose sewing thread
scrap of red knit fabric
Tip: Drafting a pattern from one of your favorite t-shirts is a great way to ensure a terrific personalized fit.
1. Lay the T-shirt flat and cut the sleeves off just inside the sleeve seam. Cut the bottom hem off and put aside. Cut along the shoulder seam and side seams to separate the back from the front piece.
2. Fold the back and front pieces in half vertically. Place the patterns on the fold line and cut out. Be sure that the front pattern is placed to take best advantage of the printed tuxedo motif.
3. Measure 4" at the center top of the sleeve and mark with pins. Set the sewing machine to a basting stitch or a very long straight stitch. Sew two lines of basting 1⁄2" from the raw edge of the sleeve, following its natural curve.
4. Secure the loose threads from one end of the basting rows together by tying a knot. This will prevent the stitches from unraveling as the basting rows are hand-gathered.
5. Hold the top threads of the basting rows at the opposite ends and gather until the total 8" section measures only 4". Tie threads in a knot to secure.
6. To construct the body, place the right sides of the front and back together. Baste with pins to hold in place at the shoulders and side seams. Sew the back piece to the front piece, using a straight stitch all the way up.
Tip: With knit fabrics it's important to use a ballpoint needle to avoid pulling the fabric. It also helps to set your machine to a very slight zigzag; this will add some give to the seams.
7. With the T-shirt body still inside out, place a sleeve (turned right side out) inside the armhole and secure with pins. Be sure to line up the underarm seam of the sleeve with the side seam on the T-shirt body; the center of the sleeve's gathered section should also match up with the shoulder seam.
8. Stitch in place, being sure to keep the basting lines inside the seam. Finish the raw edges by overlocking or serging.
Tip: With a gathered sleeve you don't have to worry about perfection. There's room for shifting. It's simply important to make sure the seams match up.
9. Fold the bottom hem under 1" and press. Fold the hem back again 1⁄2" the opposite way and press for a blind hem.
2. Use the sewing machine's blind-hem foot and stitch setting and sew in place; press.
3. To add the neckband, measure around the neckline, stretching as you go. Cut the bottom hem (which you cut from the original tee) to size, allowing 1" for the seam allowance.
Note: If the neckband you are creating is smaller then the neckline, it will lie flat.
4. Sew the neckband into a ring with a 1/2" seam allowance.
5. Match up the neckband seam with one of the shoulder seams. With right sides facing, pin and sew in place. Serge or overlock the raw edges together and press.
6. The finishing touch is the 3-D rosette. Cut a scrap of red knit fabric t into a 5"x2" strip. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Baste the bottom edge (not the folded edge) and then gather. Roll up to create a rosette and hand-stitch at the bottom edge to secure.
7. Hand-stitch the rosette onto the T-shirt in the same spot as the tuxedo shirt's original printed flower motif.
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