Wrapped blouse featured in Threads
OK guys – it is raining in Connecticut ( not complaining – we need it!!) and I am temporarily unemployed (a situation I am hoping to rectify SOON) but I figured that even though it is summer, I might try my hand at something other than quilting.
There was a blouse featured in Threads in the past 6 months where one side of the front wrapped over the other. It was kind of like the KwikSew pattern 3635 but without the waistband. Threads featured it becasue they said they used the pattern inblack for a lot of fittings and realized it looked good on all kinds of figures.
So – first, does anyone know the pattern? Next, has anyone tried it and with what material? I am betting it calls for knits, which I am scared silly to sew because the seams always pop on me. Tips or feedback??
Replies
Hi - if you search the postings with words like sewing and knits, you'll get several hits. Also, Taunton published a book about sewing with knits, by Connie Long.
Good luck - Katina
I have found one, not a few months ago, but in 2004 and am not sure that this is the one you are after
http://store.taunton.com/onlinestore/storeitem.html?iid=15330
Thank you! I went down to my sewing room to see if I had that back issue. I didn't but I DID find the issue! November 2007, issue 133. Taunton actually calls it a tee shirt but this I think is much more sophisticated.I am going to buy one of the patterns suggested, but has anyone made one of these? Since my waistline left home after I turned 45, I am hoping that this will make a nice flattering top. Any tips or tricks would be appreciated!
Yes, I made it! I needed a top for a wedding, so I bought the pattern, ordered fabric from Emmaonesock.com, and dove in. It's great. The key is the pattern is designed to cut the side seams wider than you may need, then you baste the sides together, adjust the fit, then do final stitching. All knits have different stretch, so you must go through this step. And check the placement of the dart. I've noticed that I need to move mine down to keep up with gravity!
Meg - which pattern did you use? The article cited several, including KwikSew and Butterick. To all - is it worth making a muslin version first? Or will that not reflect how the knit would actually fit?You can tell, I don't do much with knits!
About making a "muslin" first..... ALWAYS, but it must be a similar cloth... so use an inexpensive knit with the same amount of stretch as your expensive knit and do a trial garment first!Becky
I used Vogue 8151. It's designed by Sandra Betzina, a Today's fit pattern. I'm not sure that a muslin would work too well for most of the fit EXCEPT for the bust dart placement. Even knits of the same type & manufacturer can differ with color sometimes; I surmise it's a difference in the individual dye's properties and how they affect the fibers.
OK - still working up the courage to try this. I have some single knit,lightweight material in a gruesome shade of blue - the stretch is cross grain and also on the bias.Would this work for a pattern template? The edges roll so I am going to have to stabilize them somehow.....
OK - it was scary but I did it! My first foray into knits! Actually I was REALLY daring - I drafted the tee shirt pattern myself so new experience with drafting a pattern and sewing the knit!
It came out so well that my mom (who sews) asked where I bought it!NOw I need to go buy the pattern and try some fancier fabric.....
No that's a success story. Good job!
BRAVO! Now that wasn't so bad now was it. :) Cathy
Your question rang a bell because I was just looking at the Marcy Tilton article on surplice tops ("A Figure-Flattering Tee" in Threads #133). Could that be the one you are thinking about? She does say that she discovered how good the style looks on so many women, when she did a workshop and got black ones for the participants to try on with other garments. She mentions several patterns, but doesn't specify which one was used for the photos in the article; in fact she stresses that the patterns should be customized for your own preferences concerning neckline and position of crossover. The patterns she suggests are Butterick 4347, View C; Kwik-Sew 2694, 3360 View B, 3497; and Vogue 8151 View A. Hope this is helpful.I went back to find the article myself because I have several knits in my stash and I want to finally attempt to sew some knits. (Yes, the Tilton article was about knits.) I haven't tried t-shirts before, but I'm determined to before the summer ends. So many people on this forum have been encouraging, and the videos I've watched make me think it isn't impossible after all. That article is itself full of tips for sewing knits. So let's get started!
Edited 7/23/2008 1:43 pm ET by Josefly
Ever since I learned to sew knits, (yrs ago), they have been my preferred choice for most of my projects as they are a little more forgiving in the fitting department. A nice full bodied knit fabric is easy to sew, flatters the best parts, and rides over the bumpier parts, and is comfortable to wear. There are almost as many choices in knit fabrics now as there are in woven. You will find it a lot simpler once you get into it. Cathy
Cathy, I couldn't agree with you more. I absolutely love experimenting with all the newer knits, especially the raschels.
Thanks for the encouragement. I intend to dive in now. Just finished a handbag for daughter-in-law, then went out of town for a week, now I'm going to play with knits, starting with a too-large t-shirt I bought for $3, just to alter neckline, shorten at hemline, to see how it goes with knits, for practice. Then I'll pull out the knits from my stash, hopefully to breeze into perfect knits!
You are so welcome. Any questions, just ask away. Lots of people here to back you up. There are quite a few good sewing with knit manuals floating around, any one would be a good resource. The one I have is from an old pattern line, Basic, very similar to the Kwik Sew patterns. It was written in the days before the stretch stitches came out on the sewing machines, but the principles of construction are the same. Cathy
You might have got this sorted by now - but before overlockers - i was advised to always use a stretch stitch - or at least a zig-zag stitch for the seam line (stops the popping u mentioned)
I must have read Marcy Tilton's article 6 times before I even attempted to sew anything. I have a Bernina that does have stretch stitch but I used a regular #12 needle, made sure that the stretch on the material was across my body, stabilized the shoulders, used spray adhesive to hem the bottom and set the sleeves open and on the bottom. It worked like a DREAM - Marcy had some excellent tips that really resulted in a very pretty garment (even though the color is kind of awful!. I even made a keyhole neck and bound it with bias cut woven strips per her instructions. I would HIGHLY recommend Marcy's article if anyone is going to sew this - it really works!I really need to get a nice fabric and make more of these - also because after only 6 weeks out of work after they eliminated my job, I now have a new job!!! Ahhh - new wardrobe!!!
Congrats on the new job so soon! When you said a regular #12 needle, did you mean a universal needle? The thing to watch for with knits, and why a ballpoint is better, is that it slips between the threads in the knit rather than cutting them, like a regular needle, or universal does. The problem with that in a knit, is that depending on the type of knit, it can cause runs in the fabric, or holes where the stitches are. This is really important if you have to unpick your stitching. I am glad you had such success with your first project. Cathy
Actually yes, a universal needle (Schmentz) but I am going to get a ballpoint needle for the new project - my mom said the same thing you did!I'm going to get fabric tomorrow. Ahhh, decisions, decisions.....
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