Sailboat Patchwork Tee

If you grow up around a harbor you draw the same boat your whole life: two triangles and a half circle. This tee began as that drawing, cut out of fabric scraps on a kitchen table and hand-stitched onto a soft white cotton tee.

The sails are two different fabrics on purpose — one sky-blue polka dot, one soft aqua floral — because real sails never match once a season of sun has worked on them. The hull is red gingham, the same gingham you'd find on a picnic blanket at Jetties.

Each sail is cut freehand, turned under, and appliquéd with a small running stitch in ivory thread. Nothing is printed or machine-embroidered, so no two boats sit at exactly the same angle.