Hello all! I’m a relatively new sewer but I’m interested in trying some pieces with knit fabric, but there’s something about knits that I’m unclear about… I would like to make a sweater/cardigan with that has both cable/double/’regular’ knit and a ‘tighter’ ribbed knit along the bottom, collars, and cuffs similar to the ones pictured at these sites:
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=8988&pid=502820&scid=502820072
Are these different types of knit on clothes sewn from different pieces of knit fabric or is it something that is continuous and has to be incorporated into the fabric when it’s knitted? I’m probably looking in all the wrong places but I can’t seem to find any ‘sewing’ patterns for knit sweaters and can’t really find ‘ribbed knit’ alone to purchase so I’m really quite confused…
Any help/websites/advice would be much appreciated 🙂
Happy sewing,
~LC
Replies
Some years ago you could buy sweaters in kit form - ready cut pieces that you assembled by machine. I vaguely remember an article in Sew News (I think) that provided a source of supply. Try googling "Sweater Kits". Here's a link I found
http://www.sewnews.com/library/sewnews/library/aamach1002.htm
Good luck.
Katina
The GAP sweater is knit that way, not pieced together; I can't tell about the other one. However, even as an extremely experienced sewer, I wouldn't try to replicate either by sewing. First, it's very, very difficult to find good quality knitted "fabric," and once you do, it's very difficult to sew using typical sewing techniques. Usually, only very cheap sweaters are sewn together, and their "fabric" is not usually worth working on.
I have tried to re-make knit sweaters from large sizes to smaller sizes using sewing techniques, but they've never really come out well. If you are not a knitter, you're better off looking for bargains on ready-made sweaters (I just got a gorgeous Liz Claiborne cableknit pullover for $5.49 at an off-price retailer!) than wasting a lot of time and money on something that probably won't fit or wear as well.
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