Saturday 6 December 2014

From one knit to another...

I've read a lot of people talking about their 'fear fabric', the one that you avoid at all costs because you just don't believe that you can possibly do anything with it... let alone anything beautiful or useful. I actually have a few of these. I shudder at the thought of chiffon (yet I long to create wonderful things with this beautiful flowing fabric). Making things with jersey fabric, it just can't be done surely (yet it's one of my favourite things to wear).
I found it very reassuring that so many other people struggle with knit fabrics, and it is just because of this that so many blogs and websites have wonderful articles on how to tackle this slippery stretchy stuff (well maybe not slippery... definitely stretchy). I found the one by Tilly and the Buttons particularly good.
So I got myself a ballpoint needle (and several spares), found myself a walking foot, and explored the world of knit fabric patterns, and found myself the fantastic (and free) Plantain t shirt.


As modelled on the Deer and Doe website
I love love love this t shirt!! It's a loose fitting, flattering, elbow patched piece of loveliness. Well if I was going to do it and try out the knit, this was the one for me! It's a free download to be printed out, which means some cutting and sticking, but there are only a couple of pieces (one extra if you want the elbow patched... but honestly... who wouldn't!). It looks like a simple thing to put together, no darts or any complicated stuff. I made my first attempt up in a sweatshirt fabric rather than a t-shirt (it gets mighty cold up here in the grim north).
snug and cosy let me tell you!
This is a red (just lighter than wine colour) with lovely white speckles in it, I found it on (you guessed it) eBay for just a couple of bob. I must say I found this much much easier than I expected to. The walking foot is nice and steady and eliminates any wibbly wobbly seams (made by the regular foot stretching out the fabric as it sews). The fabric itself doesn't fray at the seams so any overlocking (made with a zig zag stitch on my regular machine) is there just to make it look neater rather than to stop the whole thing unravelling after the first wash.
and do a twirl
I've worn the hell out of this bad boy! I love how loose it is on the body, without making one look frumpy (we can't have that now can we). And, you may have guessed by now, I LOVE the elbow patches.
Oh elbow patch, how I love thee, let me count the ways... One elbow, two elbow... oh that's it I guess.
These ones were made by just turning the fabric inside out to leave the rough side showing. It gives it a lovely 'slightly darker but still matching' look without having to buy any extra fabric.
I really love this, so much that within a week I had churned out another...
Let me introduce... butterflies
My second one is in a lighter jersey with much more stretch. It feels much more silky and has a lovely drape to it. I went without the elbow patches on this one, figured the fabric was quite a busy one anyway.

I know I keep harping on about the elbow patches, but I learned a new skill with this little pattern. The finish on the neckline is just lovely, I panicked a bit at the instructions but this really is a doddle, and looks really professional. I'm super proud of this.
I plan on many more of this t shirt (different fabrics, colours, maybe a colour block version... oh the possibilities are endless), it goes firmly on my 'tried and tested' list.
Happy little sewist

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