As I mentioned in my last post, I have decided to focus on sewing some more me-made basics. In my mind, there is nothing more basic than a striped tshirt so that is what I set out to make!

My style tends toward the vintage; I prefer longer skirts, cinched in waists, and 50s silhouettes. All of this meant that finding a tshirt pattern I liked was a challenge. I considered making a Lark or a Renfrew, but neither had a neckline that I loved. Then I found the Gable top by Jennifer Lauren Vintage!

The Gable has a wonderful 50s slash-neckline and a shaped bodice. It has three variations: short-sleeved, long-sleeved and contrast cuffs. I love how versatile the pattern is AND JLV has recently released an expansion pack for turning the top into a dress – score!

Since I knew that I loved the style, I wanted to have a little fun with it. No one said basics have to be boring! I picked a neon stripe for classics with a hint of daring — Neon Pink and White Jersey Knit. The Jersey is the perfect weight for a long-sleeved spring tshirt; it is very thin without being sheer.

Constructing the Gable is a breeze! The slash neck is sewn and stablized, the sleeves are inserted flat and then you hem. The whole thing can easily be done in under an hour. This was my third Gable and I think I sewed it in about 30 minutes — that’s with stripe matching! Another plus is this shirt can be made on a regular sewing machine; no serger required. I think it would be a great first knits project for a new sewist.

Given its versatility, I see many more Gables in my future! I have my eye on the neon orange version of this knit for another top and this mint slubbed jersey knit for a Gable dress. What’s your favorite t-shirt pattern?

Alexandra blogs about sewing and reading over at her blog The Library of Alexandra. You can also follow her day-to-day sewing adventures on Instagram where she’s @alexandrap529.