Wednesday 18 February 2015

Practising with jersey

Half-term greetings! Today I am stepping out of my comfort zone: woven fabric is my safe area, and I always feel a little bit uneasy sewing with knits. This year I am determined to get over this fear, and learn some skills. So, I am sewing up some basic T-shirts. Do you make your own basics or save your sewing for fancier stuff?


I actually rather enjoyed sewing this in the end, and happily it was a quick make. This is New Look 6216 and is defined as "easy". Nice comfy looking T-shirt; I chose this as the shape looks easy to wear and nice and baggy without being the classic shapeless box T-shirt.


The pattern does not disappoint. As it is such a loose shape, there's no need to fit, just follow the pattern. It is also very comfortable to wear, and drapes nicely around the body. I rather like the bat-wing shape to the sleeves. It's like being in the 80's all over again!


The fabric has a cute  print of grey, blue and black circles, and is a thin viscose jersey from the fabric Mecca that is Fabricland. I do shop in other places, honest! But having three children drastically curtails fabric shopping time and Fabricland is near, large enough to get into with a buggy, and - best of all - cheap.


I often struggle with neckline finishes on knit fabric, though I think a lot of it is psychological! This shirt has a neckband to finish the neck. I actually managed to get my head around what I should be doing. I just don't have enough hands: one hand holding the shirt, one stretching the neckband to fit the neckline; now, all I need is another to put in the pins, and I'll be fine!


I top-stitched the neck with a zigzag as I don't know if my machine would work with a twin needle. It only has one spool holder on top. Need to dig out the instruction manual for future reference.


It's not a bad job on the whole, but there is a tiny pucker on the back neck - not bad enough to warrant unpicking though!!

I feel like I should just keep making T-shirts till I get it right! In fact I went out today and bought some cotton jersey to have another go at that neck.  Hopefully, practice will make perfect.


These outdoor photos all look a bit sun-bleached. But they'll have to do as posing in the garden in winter is only possible when the sun is high in the sky.  Roll on spring...

10 comments:

  1. This pattern looks like a great place to start with stepping out of your comfort zone - it's a great basic top and I'm sure you'll get lots of wear out of it!

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  2. Your top looks great, I need to master the twin needle on my machine as well :)

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    1. Yes looks like I can use a twin needle, but I need to buy an extra spindle. Not sure I can be bothered really. I don't mind the zigzag top-stitching.

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  3. Looks great! It took me awhile to get comfortable with knits also but now I LOVE them! I will say that the necklines still cause me to break out in hives.....

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  4. This looks great! The neckband is something I struggled with too, finishing on knits in general is quite tricky I find. I really enjoy making t-shirts as I wear them all the time and enjoy knowing that I made it. Good luck with your next knit adventures!

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  5. Thank you. It is a good feeling wearing tops you've made.

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  6. Welcome to the world of knits! This is lovely - I love a good batwing top :) I still think finishing is the trickiest part of sewing with knits, but banded edges like this is my favourite method :)

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  7. I enjoyed sewing this and I am starting to get my head around finishing the neckline.

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