Pattern review: Craft Studio Tee - Matchy Matchy Sewing Club
- Emma Cartmel
- May 29
- 10 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
I’m a sucker for simple, oversized, and cropped tops—and this new design for Matchy Matchy Sewing Club ticks all the boxes.
I’m a sucker for simple, oversized, and cropped tops—and this new design from Matchy Matchy Sewing Club ticks all the boxes.
I’ll admit it: I’m more than a little obsessed with their patterns. At this point, there are only a couple I haven’t tried—and most of those, I’ve made multiple times.
That includes the Craft Studio Tee, which I’ve now made twice.
I was pretty stoked with how my first version turned out. The fabric choice was a bit outside my comfort zone—I usually lean toward solids in an autumnal palette—but I’m so glad I tried something different. It really paid off.
For my second version, I went with something more classic: a solid navy with contrast beige topstitching.
These tops have quickly become firm favourites in my wardrobe. They’re easygoing, comfortable, and effortlessly stylish—perfect whether I’m heading to work or just hanging out.
Here’s my full review of the Craft Studio Tee.
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The makers: Matchy Matchy Sewing Club
Matchy Matchy Sewing Club was founded by self-taught sewists Amy and Theresa, who turned their passion into a thriving indie pattern brand.
They released their first pattern—the Champagne Field Dress—in January 2022. Since then, their offering has grown to include a beautifully curated fabric collection and an impressive range of sewing patterns. But Matchy Matchy is more than just patterns and fabric—they’ve created a vibrant online space where sewists can connect, share ideas, and trade tips.
What really sets Matchy Matchy apart is their distinctive design aesthetic. Their patterns are minimal yet cleverly constructed, with thoughtful panel lines and versatile silhouettes that encourage creativity and personalisation—whether it’s colour-blocking, mixing prints, or using up treasured fabric scraps. No two Matchy Matchy garments ever look quite the same!
If you haven’t already, check out their full range of patterns and fabrics on their website—or follow them on Instagram at @matchymatchysewingclub for daily inspiration.
Pattern overview
The Craft Studio Tee is available as a free download when you sign up for Matchy Matchy’s newsletter. A no-brainer, really!
Design:
True to Matchy Matchy’s signature style, this pattern is all about simplicity.
The silhouette is oversized, boxy, and cropped, with a round—almost boat-style—neckline finished with a clean, polished facing. With no fastenings, it simply slips over the head, making it easy to sew and even easier to wear.
Described as “easy-going,” it offers a wide, relaxed fit that’s both comfortable and effortlessly stylish.
A standout feature is the centre seam running down both the front and back—perfect for colour-blocking, pattern mixing, or making the most of smaller fabric pieces from your stash. It’s a simple but clever detail that makes the pattern highly customisable.
The sleeves fall right at the wrist, adding to the tee’s laid-back yet refined look.
Skill level:
The Craft Studio Tee pattern is truly for everyone!
With just one view, it’s a straightforward yet stylish project that's suitable for sewists of all levels. For beginners, it’s an ideal introduction to essential techniques like straight stitching, understitching, attaching a facing, and hemming. It’s quick to sew, easy to follow, and perfect for building confidence at the machine.
Its simple shapes also make it a great canvas for tweaks or creative hacks—so there’s plenty of room to experiment.
Even for experienced sewists, it’s a satisfying, low-effort make with lots of potential for personalisation.
Sizing:
The pattern includes 11 sizes, from XXS to 6XL, and is drafted for a height of 5'7" (170 cm)—offering a great fit across a wide range of body types.
What’s included:
Once you sign up for the newsletter and receive the pattern, you’ll be emailed a download link. This typically comes either as a zip file or as a PDF with embedded hyperlinks.
Your download includes:
Clear, beginner-friendly sewing instructions.
Print-at-home pattern (25 pages).
Copy shop/A0 pattern (2 pages).
A mood board to help you plan your fabric choices.
The digital download includes nested patterns for all sizes, available in both at-home and copy shop formats. I printed my pattern using the A0 files at a copy shop here in Germany, which was super convenient. I keep all the sizes intact by folding back (and clipping along curves, if needed) the sizes I’m not using—so if I want to sew a different size later, it’s all ready to go. No reprinting needed!
Matchy Matchy’s instructions are minimal and clean—in the best possible way. They’re clearly written, supported by helpful diagrams, and neatly organised under subheadings, which makes it easy to find what you need as you go. To save paper, I usually skip printing the instructions and instead keep my laptop or phone nearby to reference them while I sew.
Fabric and notions
The Craft Studio Tee is designed for light- to midweight woven fabrics such as cotton and linen, making it both versatile and easy to wear. Since the top has no fastenings and simply slips over the head, you won’t need any extra bits or hardware.
The only notions required are some coordinating (or contrasting) thread and a small piece of fusible interfacing—such as Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex or EK130 Knit Fusible Interfacing—for the neck facing.
For my first version, I wanted to play with fabric direction, so I chose the cute 'Whimsical Loopy Indian Cotton' from Merchant & Mills. It features a cornflower blue background with coral-coloured stripes and loops—a playful pop of colour that felt just right for this project. As a handmade textile, it has small irregularities—not flaws, but beautiful details that reflect its artisanal origins. Since the fabric is only 112 cm wide, I bought a little extra to allow for pattern matching.
For my second version, I chose a European laundered linen and organic cotton blend in a rich dark navy, also from Merchant & Mills. This fabric measures 140 cm wide and weighs 7 oz (240 gsm), consisting of 47% linen, 11% recycled linen, and 42% organic cotton.
I previously used this fabric to make a pair of Archer Work Pants and loved the weight and feel, so I used the leftovers to create a matching Craft Studio Tee. I’ve been seeing a lot of stylish matching sets lately, so I thought, why not join the trend?
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out #craftstudiotee on social media to see how others have styled and sewn theirs—it’s a great source of fabric ideas and creative takes on the pattern.
Layout and cutting
As always, I recommend pre-washing your fabric according to the care instructions before you start cutting or sewing.
For my first version using the loopy cotton, I hand-washed the fabric with a sprinkle of salt to help set the dye. It softens beautifully after washing.
For more on pre-washing fabric, check out my article 'How to: Pre-wash your fabric'.
Pattern pieces:
This top is beautifully simple, made up of just five pattern pieces:
Front body (cut 1 pair)
Back body (cut 1 pair)
Sleeve (cut 1 pair)
Front neck facing (cut 1)
Back neck facing (cut 1)
Fabric efficiency:
This pattern is a winner when it comes to layout and fabric usage, thanks to the boxy shape of the pattern pieces.
For my first version, as I was working with a striped fabric, I chose to cut the front and back pieces individually, keeping the fabric flat (rather than folded). This allowed me to match the stripes at key points—shoulders, side seams, and sleeves. Everything lined up beautifully, and I didn’t run into any surprises during cutting or construction. Surprisingly, I ended up using less fabric than expected, even with a directional print and stripe matching.
The rectangular shapes work perfectly with some of my favourite quick-estimate techniques. Want to try it? Take a look at my guide 'How Much Fabric Do You Need? A Simple Estimation Method.'
One great inclusion with Matchy Matchy patterns is the "print-and-cut" labels (see image below). You can pin these to your fabric pieces as you cut to help keep everything organised—a particularly helpful touch, especially with similar-looking pieces like sleeves or side panels.
Fabric preparation:
Once your fabric is cut, here are a few prep steps I recommend to make your sewing process smoother:
Transfer all pattern markings and notches to your fabric using pins, chalk, or your preferred marking method.
Staystitch the neckline on both the front and back pieces to prevent stretching or distortion.
Pre-press the hems on the body and sleeves—this small step makes the final hemming much neater and easier.
Apply interfacing to the front and back neck facings before you begin sewing.
Construction
As mentioned earlier, The Craft Studio Tee is such a great beginner-friendly project—easy, enjoyable, and low-stress.
This top is perfect for beginners wanting to build essential skills through simple shapes and clear construction. You’ll practice sewing straight seams, stay-stitching, understitching, hemming, and attaching a neck facing—making it a satisfying, low-pressure project.
It comes together quickly, and honestly, I hardly referenced the instructions because the next steps just felt so intuitive. That said, the instructions—true to Matchy Matchy form—are super clear, with helpful diagrams and well-organised subheadings to guide you if needed.
The trickiest part wasn’t the pattern itself—it was my perfectionist urge to match the stripes of my first version at every seam! The fabric I chose was a bit delicate and didn’t like being unpicked, so I had to work slowly and carefully. I managed to match most of the stripes, with only a couple of tiny misalignments. In fact, cutting out the fabric with all that stripe matching probably took longer than sewing the whole top. If I’d used a solid or non-directional print, I could have easily finished it in just a couple of hours.
No major tweaks were needed for this pattern—it’s such a simple, well-drafted design that it really didn’t call for any!
The only minor adjustments I made were to the hem depths. I altered them slightly to achieve a sleeve length I preferred and to ensure the stripe placement looked just right.
I also chose to skip the interfacing. My fabric had a slightly loose weave, and I felt it didn’t need the extra structure. In fact, I preferred leaving it out to preserve the fabric’s natural drape.
Size and fit
My measurements:
Bust: 79cm
Waist: 62.5cm
Hips: 89cm
Height: 155cm
The pattern is drafted for a height of 5'7" (170 cm), and it's recommended to choose your size based on the finished garment measurements.
One of the great things about this pattern is how flexible the fit is. The relaxed, oversized design—with dropped shoulders and roomy sleeves—makes it far more forgiving than more fitted styles. You could easily size up for an even slouchier look; the shape really lends itself well to that kind of freedom.
If you're unsure what that much ease really looks like, try holding a tape measure loosely around your body at key points—like a hula hoop! It's a quick and easy way to visualise how the garment will sit and how roomy it will feel on you.
Having made a few Matchy Matchy tops before, I went with my usual size (XXS) and didn’t run into any fit issues. The top turned out perfectly oversized—just as intended (scroll through images below to see it on me). I didn’t need to make any adjustments to the pattern itself, though I did shorten both the sleeves and the hem in my first version by a couple of centimetres to suit the stripe placement.
I’m on the shorter side (155 cm), but I found the cropped length just right for me—finishing around hip level, which makes it a great match for high-waisted skirts and pants.
The almost boat-neck style neckline is another flattering detail. It slips on easily, fitting comfortably over the head without any fastenings, adding to the effortless throw-on vibe of this top.
If you prefer a longer or shorter length, it would be super easy to adjust. Thanks to the rectangular, boxy shape of the pattern pieces, you can simply trim from the hem or extend it to suit your style.
Styling
This tee is so comfortable to wear. The oversized, boxy fit is flattering, and the cropped length works perfectly with high-waisted bottoms.
As you can see, I’ve styled mine a few different ways—paired simply with denim jeans for an easy, casual look, with baggy linen trousers, and even a short skirt. It honestly works with just about anything: pants, shorts, skirts… I even layered it over a dress for a fun top-and-skirt effect.
It really is one of those effortlessly versatile pieces, and the shape makes it so easy to throw on and go. I especially love this cornflower blue paired with black—it’s such a fresh, unexpected combo.
Personal reflection
Why did I choose to make this?
This pattern fits my style to a tee—literally! The simple silhouette is easy to wear and even easier to sew, which makes it a perfect go-to piece. It also gave me the perfect excuse to finally dip into some cute loopy fabric—a fun change from my usual solid tones. Best of all, it’s a versatile staple that pairs effortlessly with so many pieces in my wardrobe.
What did I love?
I don’t think I’ve ever made a Matchy Matchy pattern I didn’t love.
If I had to sum up my style in one brand, it would be theirs—uncomplicated, modern, and full of ease. Their designs are based on simple shapes, nothing too fitted, and always feel relaxed.
I love the simplicity of this pattern—it really lets the fabric shine and makes the sewing process enjoyable. It’s also incredibly versatile. You can keep it basic for an everyday wardrobe staple, or play around with the design to create something more unique. It's one of those patterns you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again.
What might I do differently next time?
The design is so simple—it’s practically asking to be hacked and reinterpreted. I’m thinking of trying a gathered peplum hem (you know I love a good peplum!), or maybe experimenting with an uneven hem for something a little different. I'd also love to play with colour-blocking to really make the most of those clean lines.
Would you recommend it?
For sure!—this is a 5/5 for me. A must-make for beginners and seasoned sewists alike. It's a low-pressure, high-reward kind of sew and so easy to put your own spin on.
Please get in touch or leave me a comment. I would love to know if I have inspired you to check out the Craft Studio Tee from Matchy Matchy Sewing Club.
Thanks for reading.
Emma xx
This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions contained on this site are my own. Unless stated otherwise, I am not affiliated with any brands, products, or organisations mentioned, and do not receive any sponsorship, payment, or other compensation for any of the content on this site.
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