Adding a cowl to the LDT with free pattern

Dec 19, 2015 | Free, Freebie, How To, LDT | 5 comments

One of my favorite features of the girls version of the Laundry Day Tee (Li’l LDT) is the drape-y cowl. I love a good cowl! It’s like a built in scarf. After releasing the Li’l LDT I have gotten SO many requests for a ladies add-on. I have done a couple of patterns (Origami Tunic, La Bella Donna) with a cowl and it is possible to use one of those pattern pieces to add to the LDT but that requires a little tweaking, not to mention buying another pattern if you don’t already have it. So, I’ve decided to post the cowl here on the blog for your use. You can probably even use this cowl piece on other patterns! You’d just need to be sure the neckline of whatever you’re using is the same as the LDT or a smidgen smaller.

The Li’l LDT shirt with cowl

For those wondering about the other features of the Li’l for the LDT- I won’t be offering an add-on pattern pack in the shop. I’ll just be posting quick tutorials with needed pattern pieces here on the blog as I get to them. The next one I do will most likely be the hood.

Let’s Sew

First, download & print the attached file: Love Notions free cowl add-on. As always, be sure you are opening the file directly from Adobe, print at 100% and check the 1″ square for accuracy.

See the first page in the download for help assembling the pattern. The add-on follows my trimless + layers format. See here for more help.

Sew up your tops shoulder seams, sleeves and side seams. You can even hem the bottom and sleeves at this point or you can wait until you’ve completed the cowl.

1. Align cowl pieces right sides together. Stitch/serge upper curved edge. Press seam open or to one side if serged.

Step 1

2. Open up sewn cowl and align straight edges right sides together. Stitch/serge seam. Press seam open or to one side if serged.
Fold top of cowl down over the bottom matching curved raw edges. The right sides will now be facing out.

Step 2

Step 2b

3. Mark center front and center back of cowl as well as the points inbetween those. The center back is the seam created in the previous step. Mark quarter points on neckline.

Step 3

4. Slip cowl over neckline matching center front and center back, right sides together. Stitch/serge cowl to neckline, stretching cowl slightly to fit.
Press seam allowance down towards body. Topstitch if desired. Press well.

Step 4

And there you have it! A Laundry Day Tee with cowl. You’ll notice the cowl will lie differently based on the fabric chosen (just like the LDT itself). The tutorial here shows a cowl made with Art Gallery cotton/lycra. It’s lies stiffer and doesn’t have as much drape as if I were to use something like a jersey/rayon blend like in the last picture below.