With the arrival of jerseys in our assortment, many of you asked for patterns to sew jersey. So, to start discovering knit patterns, I suggest focusing on the basic of the female and male wardrobe: the tee-shirt. It’s the piece that goes with everything, the basic that everyone has in their closet.

Also, I found some great free patterns for you! So, let’s go!

For women

1. The Plantain tee-shirt from Deer and Doe patterns

I have been a fan of this independent pattern brand since their beginnings. I have sewn quite a few models from the brand (Bruyère, centaurée, Cardamome, Opium...) and you will find quite a few articles about them. It’s a very nice brand with well-cut models that fit well. 

Deer and Doe offers a tee-shirt model called Plantain that is perfect for fine jersey and viscose. This model features a pretty round neckline, slightly low-cut. It is quite fitted at the bust and flares towards the bottom. It is available for free on the brand’s website (in PDF). Moreover, it is available from size 34 to size 50, which is really great to grade (for free) up to 50. 

Finally, the tee-shirt is offered with 3 sleeve lengths: short, 3/4, or long. It is also possible to add the elbow patch option. Plenty of fun to be had already and to create quite a few looks, but also to discover a brand worth checking out. 

2. The Odette tee-shirt from La Maison Victor

You surely know the magazines from La Maison Victor, which are very well done in terms of pattern tutorials. Well, La Maison Victor has a website where some free patterns are available, including the Odette tee-shirt. 

The Odette t-shirt is a classic round-neck t-shirt with cuffed sleeves. It was the first t-shirt I sewed for myself and it was a wonderful discovery. It is a pattern that runs relatively large, so you will be delighted if you are looking for a slightly looser t-shirt. 

It is available for free (in PDF) on the La Maison Victor website and from size 30 to 56. 

3. The Wanted t-shirt by Vanessa Pouzet

I also dedicated an article to it because I love this model created by Vanessa Pouzet. Wanted is a sexy square-neck t-shirt without vulgarity. It is a fitted t-shirt, so you need to choose your size carefully or risk being "sausage-packed." 

It is available from size 34 to 48 on the brand's website for 7.9 euros. 

Note: the square neckline makes this t-shirt a bit more difficult to make. If you have never made a t-shirt or are a beginner, it is better to start by making a round-neck t-shirt before attempting the Wanted. 

4. The Badiane t-shirt by Christelle Beneytout

Christelle offers us a t-shirt model with a pretty original neckline. This model is available for free on the brand's website from size 32 to 52. 

It is a relatively loose and therefore comfortable model. It can be made with short sleeves or 3/4 sleeves. 

5. The Micky t-shirt from Urban Fairy Patterns 

Elsa offers us a lovely fitted t-shirt called Micky. It is tight around the chest and waist and flares slightly at the hips. The neckline is U-shaped and the sleeves come in two versions: long sleeves or very short sleeves that help slim the arms. 

The pattern is available on the brand's website from size 32 to 52 for 10 euros. 

For men

1. the Hercule t-shirt from Urban Fairy patterns

Elsa offers us the Hercule men's t-shirt. It's a classic t-shirt with a straight cut and moderate ease. Its neckline is crew neck. 

It is available in 6 sizes from XS to XXL. 

2. the t-shirts from the Canadian brand Thread Theory 

This English-speaking Canadian brand has a nice pattern library of men's designs. Several men's t-shirt patterns are available. Plus, since it's an American brand, the patterns go up to 4XL, so there's something for those looking for plus-size patterns. 

My eye caught the Sayward Raglan pattern which, as the name suggests, has raglan sleeves; which is a nice change from classic patterns. 

To finish

I must also recommend a book that has become my bible for sewing jersey: "Coudre le stretch" by Marie Poisson. I dedicated an article to it because it is truly a reference for sewing knit fabrics: t-shirt, sweatshirt, dress... 

I had sewn the Briac and Lucette pattern. 

I invite you to discover the article here. 

I hope you like my little selection. There are still many other patterns to discover.