The Grainline Studio Lark Tee pattern has been a staple in my wardrobe for years now. It was actually the first pattern I ever learned to sew with! In retrospect, I’m not sure why I started with knits, but thankfully the Lark Tee is so easy that I didn’t even realize how tricky knits were. I’ve experimented with a few other knit tee patterns, including the Megan Nielsen Rowan, but the Lark Tee is still my favorite.
Fabric and Sizing
At this point, I’ve made about 6 lark tees all in slightly different materials. The pattern calls for knits with at least 20% stretch. I’ve made the pattern in jerseys, rib knits, and cotton knits and haven’t had a problem with any of them. The version shown here is a cotton rib knit.
I make the lark in size 0 and find that it fits perfectly. It’s not intended to be super tight fitted, but it is a slim fit and not oversized. The only adjustment I make the to the sizing is the length of the bodice as I feel like it’s a bit too long for my torso. If you also prefer your t-shirts a bit shorter, you might be able to save on fabric and buy slightly less than whats called for.
Sewing the Grainline Studio Lark Tee
Knits can be intimidating, but the Lark Tee is so easy to sew! All of Grainline Studios patterns are drafted so well and the directions are so clear, that it’s easy and quick even for a novice sewer. The pattern is 4 pattern pieces: front bodice, back bodice, neckline, and sleeves. The trickiest part is probably making sure the neckline piece is evenly stretched to fit the bodice, but the pattern has very clear directions on how to do this well.
One of the best parts of this pattern is how many different styles you can get out of it. With 4 necklines and 3 sleeve types, you can create a full set of layering basics!
Final thoughts
I love the Grainline Lark tee. It’s a staple in my wardrobe and I don’t think it’s going anywhere. Once you get the hang of the pattern it’s super quick! At this point I can whip one out in a few hours. While sewing basic t-shirts isn’t the most exciting thing, it’s always nice to have easy layering pieces and the lark tee is perfect for that.
