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Free top pattern round-up

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Did you know that many of the independent pattern companies have top patterns that are available for free? It’s a fun way for them to get people to try their designs, and of course it’s a bonus for all of us! However, how suitable are they for curvy figures? Unfortunately only one of them extends into true plus sizes, but the others are very “gradable” and can be a good way to learn how to do an FBA or grade up. Here’s a quick round up!

SBCC Tonic T-shirt

tonic

The Tonic T-shirt from Skinny Bitch, Curvy Chick patterns has a classic short sleeved, scoop neck design. It’s free as a downloadable PDF (or $13 for a printed pattern). It’s available up to a 3XL, which is 54″ chest and 49″ waist.

Michelle has made up a couple of versions including this lovely striped number.

tonicmichelle

Colette Sorbetto

sorbetto

The Sorbetto is a simple woven top with bust darts, a front pleat and bias binding. It’s a great beginners project – in fact, it was my second ever garment! There’s also lots of potential to customize it.

The sizing goes up to an 18, which is a 46″ bust and 38″ waist. However, it’s also a good pattern to learn to do an FBA on, if you’re planning on giving it a go.

Many curvy bloggers have made lovely Sorbettos, including Rosie at SparkleNeedles.

RosieSorbetto

Deer & Doe Plantain

plantain

The Plantain is a swingy flared t-shirt pattern made for knits, with a scoop neck, two arm lengths and elbow patches. It goes up to a European size 46, which is a 41″ bust and 33″ waist… not great. However! Many people have noted that there is a lot of ease in the pattern, and it’s also pretty easy to grade up.

In fact, our very own Laurence graded it up and loves it! So much so she’s made a bunch of different versions, and even turned it into a maxi dress.

Blue front

Long profile

Grainline Hemlock 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The Hemlock is designed as a slouchy tee with drop shoulders, and it’s available in one size: 44.5″ bust and 46.5″ hip. I couldn’t easily find an example of a plus size sewist who’s made it up: have you?

Have you used these, or any other top patterns? What type of styles would you like to see in the future?

Comments

  1. I know I’m late to the party but I just sewed my first Colette Sorbetto last week. I managed to make it work but found I needed to add lots of length and do a MAJOR adjustment for a small bust. I need to learn more techniques for grading up while making a small bust adjustment at the same time… Any suggestions?

  2. Have you guys done a post about how you would go about grading these patterns? I would love to see something like that, done by a real person who needs to make one of these patterns just a little bigger.

  3. All these tops look great to stitch and look really easy. Never realized there were so many out there I need to try. I can’t wait to to have a sewing budget again so I can stitch these up.

  4. Sewing Cake has a free top (Under her old blog, “3 hours past” – I think it’s called the Blank Canvas tee?) The Kirsten Kimono Tee from Maria Denmark is also free and fabulous!
    I’ve made a hemlock but it was horrific based on the fabric. My bust is 41, so way larger than Jen from Grainlines, but not larger than the finished dimensions of the tee.

  5. Oh hey, I’m actually wearing that striped SBCC Tonic Tee right now (and I didn’t know that this post was coming out today.)

    Other free top patterns… Lekala has a few free top patterns where you can try their custom sizing system. My one Lekala experiment (a knit top) was a wadder, but I’ve since learned/observed that their system works better with wovens, so I’m going to give them another shot, with that in mind.

    And no longer free (although both patterns once were), for those who have been wanting to try StyleArc, they’re now offering inexpensive PDF downloads for both the Ann t-shirt and Barb pants: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StyleArc?section_id=16770999&ref=shopsection_leftnav_9

    • I forgot Lekala has a few freebies to try custom sizing. I thought I had heard they only did a few freebies in their standard sizes.
      And I love that shirt– happy colors!

  8. I have done the Hemlock, by Grainline… love that t-shirt style, but I was not successful in grading it. I am sure there is nothing wrong with the pattern…it is for sure my lack of experience grading. And I will NOT share a picture wearing it, because I look like a bad fat hot dog badly wrapped!!!

  12. Don’t forget Sewing Cake’s The Tee. It goes to a 59″ bust.
    http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/the-tee/10435

    not affiliated, I just like Cake patterns because they are easy to fit to my figure.

    Here’s another that goes up to 47″ bust. Never made it, but it’s in my “to sew” pile.
    http://seamsterpatterns.com/product/yellow-tail-camisole-3101/

    And one more that’s in my “to sew” pile. Up to 42″ bust
    http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/gathered-front-top/80620

    • The Polly top’s two piece front does not work for me (that long seam and I do not compute), but I have used the back as a sloper about a billion times. I was on a trip and needed a quick sloper, went to the computer and printed that out! Done!
      Free patterns from indie companies are a great way to find out if their instructional style works for you. So many free t’s out there! And thanks for links to more, friends!

  14. HotPatterns has a number of free patterns. Some are at HP’s site, some are at fabric.com.
    Also Cake has a free T shirt as well.

  15. I’m borderline obsessed with the Plantain, having made five shirts and two dresses out of it, with many more to come. I’d love to see more comfy, chic woven tops, like the Sutton blouse.

    • Some of HP’s freebies at fabric.com (the gypsy peasant top is one I remember off the top of my head) is for wovens, as is the BHL Polly. And HP’s Joyful is for mixed fabrics.

  16. Maria Denmarks kimono sleeve tee goes up 4XL, which is 49-42.5-52. I’ve not made it yet (i’m hoping to this week!) but I’ve seen a lot of nice ones online. You have to sign up to the newsletter to get the pattern, the info on it is here:
    http://blog.mariadenmark.com/?p=875

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