Made for ME: Red Stripey Knit Shirt
I've finally gotten back my selfish-sewing mojo. It disappears for a little while after Top Week as I tend to get completely burned out and never want to sew for myself again. For about a month. And then it comes back. This time I made a knit shirt out of that recycled cotton stripe I used for the baby tights (tutorial and pattern can be found on the sidebar).
someone insisted on being part of the photo shoot
I drafted the pattern for wovens but when the sample came out a little too tight I decided to try it with knit instead. I really will do any sort of trick to get out of hemming knits so the raw edge on the bottom just curls up, and rather than hem the arms I folded a band of fabric and half and just sewed it on. Once that was done I felt it needed something else, so I added some pockets. And by golly I think they're actually slimming, with that vertical striping near the waist.
I really appreciated the posts on Sew Mama Sew this past month about sewing knits (and now of course I can't find the category to link, sorry!); I used some "Lite Steam-a-Seam" for the edges of the placket and to hold the pockets in place while I sewed and it made sewing those edges much much easier (I think this trick came from Meg's post?). Another trick I've learned is to take a piece of paper (the thinner the better) and place it over the knit material under the presser foot; it fools your machine into thinking its sewing paper instead of knits and the whole process goes much better. For curved seams I cut the piece of paper to match the seam and then just place it over the edge I'm sewing. The needle creates a perforation in the paper that you can just tear away when you're finished sewing.
What I like about the photo above is what you can't see happening down at my feet. C discovered the kiddy pools and completely soaked herself and that cute boat dress. Well that makes four outfits for today...
