In mid May, right in time for Summer,  I got to test the Iris Pleated Tee by Forget Me Not Pattern. My Friend Heather alerted me to the pattern test and I immediately fell in love with the listing picture. I had never seen sleeves like this before on a t-shirt. I had to know how it was done, especially since it was listed as a beginner friendly pattern.

I was so impressed with this pattern that I decided to write my own little review on it. I was not asked to do this nor was I compensated. I just really like this pattern.

Here’s some pattern details:

“The Iris t-shirt is a pattern designed for knit fabrics which are easy to sew and easy to wear! If you want to stick with a classic basic, there are plain sleeve options in short and three-quarter lengths. But if you crave something just a little more interesting, there are two pleated options for the sleeves. Both pleat designs feature cleverly intersecting pleats which are surprisingly simple to sew. Iris features a classic women’s t-shirt fit which includes waist shaping without being clingy. The neckline is a classic crew neck. All sorts of knits work for this design. Emphasize the sculptural details of the pleats in a double knit, or let them drape in a slinky viscose. Or simply sew a classic tee with plain sleeves in a classic cotton t-shirting!”

Two things I noticed right off about this pattern is how Johanna, the pattern maker, drafts it in a way to use as little paper as possible. She also drafts it to have a 1/4in seam allowance so it’s perfect for sewing with a serger or overlock machine. Johanna is always thinking about the maker and tries to have as little waste as possible. As a pdf pattern enthusiast who is always printing and assembling patterns, I can really appreciate that kind of thoughtfulness from a pattern company.

I made 3 test versions all in the short pleated sleeve view. According to the size chart above, I was between sizes. I made a size 36 for the neck and armscye, and graded to a 38 from the armpit down to the length.

For my 1st test, I used a light French Terry in a blue color. I felt this fabric worked super well with this pattern. The french terry wasn’t as light as a jersey knit and it was quite stable. I felt that it emphasized the details of the sleeve structure, which is such a huge selling point for this unique pattern.

For my 2nd one I used a rayon Jersey blend knit in and arrow print. This fabric was quit slinky and draped really well. I love that it still showed the cute sleeve structure even though it was quite different from the  french terry.

For my 3rd make I used a cotton/poly blend jersey knit in a lemon print. It had less stretch than the previous two fabrics but still enough to be suitable for this t-shirt. It wrinkles quite easily which is a pain but I feel like the print distracts from that.

I also Love the neckline. It states in the description that it’s a classic crew neckline, which I’m not usually a fan of due to the fact that they make me feel like I’m wearing one of my son’s t-shirts. This one however, scoops just a bit making it both classic and feminine.

As different as all 3 fabrics were, they still showed the cute sleeve detail. I definitely wanted the sleeve to be noticeable so it didn’t look like just a plain t-shirt. I would definitely use these types of fabrics again for another Iris t-shirt.

This was my first time using a Forget Me Not Pattern and it did not disappoint! Pdf patterns can be more expensive than commercial patterns so it’s good to know when you find a Indie Company that really takes the time and care needed to make their patterns awesome.

Honestly these are the cutest t-shirts in my whole closet now. I can see myself making many more of them this summer. Don’t be intimidated by the sleeve pleats. The construction is so simple and cleaver!

I hope you love this pattern as much as I do. If you make an Iris tee remember share it on Instagram using the #forgetmenotpatterns and #fmniris . You could even tag me @koetiquemade so I can come Ooooohhh and Awwwwwe over your creation too.

Happy Sewing Friends!

Koe