Creative articles about sewing

Sewing instructions for the “Birthe” T-shirt.

The free INSPIRATION pattern for April 2021 is the T-shirt Birthe. You will find the sewing instructions for the Birthe shirt here. Find all about the free pattern download in this blogpost: Sewing the Birthe shirt with free pattern.

The supplies for the Birthe shirt:

Image of BERNINA 710.

BERNINA 710

The BERNINA 710 offers many features to make sewing easier. Inventions such as the semi-automatic threading system, the BERNINA Stitch Regulator (BSR), the BERNINA DualFeed, and the embroidery system, are proof of this superior quality.

Learn more
Image of BERNINA L 460.

BERNINA L 460

The BERNINA overlocker L 460 offers up to 1500 stitches per minute and ensures beautiful and flexible stitches. The BERNINA L 460 is the perfect overlocker/serger for the creative sewer of knitwear.

Learn more

Let’s give it a start:

Print the pattern. I printed in a copy shop, size A0. If you print at home, puzzle and glue all the sheets.

Compare all measures to your own body  sizes. I needed to do some adjustments and that’s why I have a seam in the back.

If you need to adjust shoulder width, don’t forget to adjust the shoulder piece as well :).

Cut out the pattern. It’s easy to copy the facing into a new pattern piece. Seam allowance are not included in the pattern.

Place the front part on the fabric, mark the pattern position on the fabric.

Remove the pattern and mark the position for the embroidery. 

Hoop the wash away stabilizer (I used 3 layers) and put the fabric on top.  Above the jersey I added another layer of light weight soluble stabilizer. Fix with pins.

Embroider the pocket with metallic thread.

Take the project out of the hoop and cut away as much stabilizer as you can.

Put the paper pattern for the shirt on the folded fabric again.

Cut out all pattern pieces and the facing for front and back, mark notches.

How to sew the shirt Birthe:

I had a quite firm faux leather and used it in a single layer (finished with bias tape).

Position the shoulder pieces right sides facing on the front panel (the front side is mentioned on the pattern piece). Put the facing on top.

Do the same for the back panel.

Fix the facings to the front and back panel with a zigzag stitch in the seam allowance. This will help you later on when placing the sleeves in the shirt.

Close side seams of the shirt with the overlock. Choose for a 4 thread stitch and maximum stitch width on the BERNINA L 460 (9mm). Close sleeve seams.

Turn the shirt inside out and the sleeves right side out. Put the sleeves in the shirt, pin and overlock. Be sure to take your pins away in time before overlocking the seams. Basting is a smart idea as well!

You know: overlockers don’t like pins…

Finish the hem and the sleeves with twin needles or coverlock. Or sew with Mettler Seraflex elastic thread, so interesting!

The shirt Birthe is ready.

It is not difficult at all, I’m sure I will use this pattern again! I hope you liked the sewing instructions for the Birthe shirt.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions or comment. I’m curious about the reactions.

Most of my other makes can be found on Instagram (BeaCallemeyn).

Free sewing pattern & instructions: Shirt „Birte“

Difficulty level: Beginner
Used Material: metallic embroidery thread, Mettler Seraflex elastic thread, Mettler Seralene, Mettler Seralon, middle weight jersey, wash-away stabilizer
Used Products:
BERNINA 710
BERNINA 710
BERNINA L 460
BERNINA L 460
Open Embroidery Foot #20
Open Embroidery Foot #20
Standard Overlock Foot (with Tape Guide)
Standard Overlock Foot (with Tape Guide)
Medium hoop
Medium hoop

Topics to this post , , , , , , ,

Link this post Trackback URL

Related content you may be interested in

Comments of this post

2 Responses

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Required fields are marked *

Dear BERNINA Blog readers,

if you want to publish pictures via the comment function, please log in to the blog first. Click here to sign in.

You haven't registered for the BERNINA blog yet? Click here to create your free account.

Thank you very much

Your BERNINA Blog Team