I live in T-shirts, but I must say that finding the perfect-fitting T-shirt is an elusive beast. It doesn’t help that I will love the fit of one shirt one day then hate it the next. As my father used to say, “Picky, picky, picky.” It’s a good thing, then, that there’s such variety in T-shirts.
And how’s this for variety! This shirt looks like a normal T-shirt with set-in sleeves from the front, but heyyyyy, raglan in the back! I first saw this on
Yoshimi’s blog. She is one of those overachieving Japanese women who looks perfect in anything and everything, and that alone should have made me very suspicious of her, but I decided to keep an open mind and follow her lead.
The shirt pattern is called “
Fujiko” and is available from Japanese pattern shop Tamanegi Kobo. Now, the name of the shop should have made me suspicious as well, since “tamanegi” means “onion,” and I detest onions. But anyway, the shop has made it very easy for international shoppers. Pay with PayPal and download the PDF pattern, and there you go!
Some tips and other info:
– set the paper size on your printer to A4, cuz that’s what they use in Japan
– I did not do the whole bodysuit thing, so no snapping crotches or anything
– the directions are in Japanese, but you basically just have three pattern pieces, so you don’t really need directions. I found it easier for my spatially challenged brain to sew the back (raglan) part of the sleeve to the bodice first. There is some curvy stuff happening with the front part of the sleeve, but do not fear it!
– I made the size small (seam allowances ARE included), but I am planning to make a size medium for comparison’s sake (I am more comfortable with a tad more ease)
– I used some sort of fleecy base layer fabric that I got at
Rose City Textiles a while back. I realize it is summer and I have no business wearing a thermal-type of layer, but ask anyone here–it has been unacceptably cold all summer!
And the beat goes on.
can you make me one? probably an extra-large if you’re going to be a medium. or maybe XXL. basically redraw the entire pattern in a size that fits a big midwestern woman and not a teeny tiny japanese woman like yourself. then if it fits well, you can make me like 9700 of them. because i am completely in love with it.
that is a fantastic t-shirt! I love the sleeve/back shoulder detail. If only I could sew (decently).
This is really cute I think. I say make five or six more.
Great fit on that one. You’re intrepid!
That is awesome!!! Make us all one!!! Please?!?! Pretty please?!?!
Oooh, I like. It fits well, doesn’t look too tight, looks easier to modify for those of us with a few more assets up front, and I really want one.
Heck, I want to knit one (altogether harder than buying the pattern).
You are NOT slouching. I like that.
a) I like how you pull off cropped pants. Well! b) That’s a great fit! Do you like the arm holes?
at first i thought the leash was some kind of bondage thing… you know, to spice up the picture… then i saw the dog….
and i think you should tie dye that t-shirt!!!
Wow! I LOVE it. And I think size small fits you absolutely perfectly. I want that shirt!
Wait! I thought you were one of those overachieving Japanese women?!? That is a great t-shirt, my flat-seated pal. And show your pretty face in a photo sometime soon!
Hi Mariko!
It looks very cool, never seen anything like it before. Suits you very well, just like the cropped pants:)
Wow, that’s an amazing piece of work! What a cool shirt.