Sewing

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From my studio last week: April 18, 2011

by 5 Comments

It was another one project week last week.  And it was another project for myself.  Woot! 

I ordered a bunch of different knit fabrics and they came in last week.  I’ve been keeping my knit sewing to 100% cottons or mostly-cotton blends.  But the prints in the other fibers are often so much prettier – so I took a chance and ordered a bunch of rayon jersey knit prints.  The colors, the patterns, the soft soft drape of the rayon, oh my!!

The shirt is based on the idea of the Peek-A-Boo Shoulder Shirt that I made for my daughter, though without the slits on the shoulder.  Just like the Peek-A-Boulder Shirt, I finished the edges with foldover elastic.  I added a band at the bottom to blouse the shirt.  The band has the added benefit of finishing off the bottom edge. 

I love my new shirt!!  It’s so soft and comfy, and forgiving of my “feeling fat days” without me feeling like I’m wearing a tent.

So that’s what I made last week.  Actually, I made two more shirts just like it this morning, but I haven’t photo’d them yet.  One is a black & white & teal stripe, and the other is orange & white with silver accents.

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Comments

  1. Oh I love this, and I also love the fabric! Could you share where you find your knits? I’ve been looking for a good site to order them from, but I’m striking out on finding any prints that aren’t juvenile.

    Reply

    • Thanks so much!! I know what you mean about juvenile knit prints. That’s actually why I got brave and went with a rayon knit. I got mine from fabric.com. Be sure to read about the fiber content of the different knits, though, so you’ll know what you’re getting. I don’t like wearing polyester, so I avoided those. –Anne

      Reply

  2. Will you please do a tutorial on this shirt? I know you did one for the peek-a-boo one but I’m nervous to attempt the bottom band on my own.

    Reply

Have you read?

Learn All About Sewing Velvet Fabric

 

I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store.  So much texture!  And the way the fibers catch the light!  But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think.  That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl.  That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction.  That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared.  And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet. 

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects.  Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter.  Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long. 

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success.  There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid.  She describes the different types of velvet available.  And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric.  Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric.  There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric. 

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]

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