Does it work in knit? A little guide.

Let's talk about making woven patterns with knit fabrics! It is a question I see a lot of. So here are a few basics! 

When deciding on a pattern to make with knits you are going to need to decide whether to downsize or if it will work AS IS. 

Patterns like the Sisboom Devon/Leighanna and the Meghan and Molly and Scientific seamstress Portrait Peasant work as is.  They are all peasants and so you don;t have to adjust. The fit of the main will be a bit more flowy than woven.

 but because the elastic in the neckline is what gives a peasant the stay on and shape nothing needs to change. As . you will want to be certain the most stretch direction is across the body though. if you have the stretch go up and down you will get a very wonky hemline.

The marlo is another option where you can do AS IS - but if you want to lengthen the ruffle or size down a bit you can for a closer fit 

Here is Leah modelling her knit Marlo with lengthened ruffle, which means the kids version, Cathy would work as well in knit. 

Some patterns work FAB in knit as the main part. but because of the design still need the stability of some woven and so if you keep the collar/ top bands in woven you can do the rest in woven! 

An example of this would be the Sisboom Shana which you also saw on the blog back in january

Which means the kids version, Emily would work as well.

Another pattern that follows this principle would be the Sisboom Dana and Maddie. and the Sisboom Vanessa and Bettyann as well as the Scientific Seamstress Bebop 

The arrows point to the pieces you can cut out in knits. just leave the armbands,straps,top bands woven. These patterns NEED the stability of woven in those places to hold shap and stay on!

The Easy fits also work GREAT in knit and so do the Sisboom Judy/Katies. For the Judy and Katie's use woven for the waistband facing.

and Tortola and Tobago are great in knit as long as you use woven facing, again it needs the stability to hold shape. You do NOT need to size down or cut on the bias to do the tanks in knit.

pic from AliCat&co - Thanks Brianne!

And remember that this knowledge is transferrable. So have a look at the pattern and how it is constructed to decide whether to proceed with making it knit or not. 

and as always check out our super amazing facebook group! 

and if you like SALES check out the September newsletter - and be sure to subscribe so you don;t miss out on any amazing deals and challenges in the future! 

cute as a button(up tank romper) can be!!! TUTORIAL

I love rompers on my kids! So cute and easy, no finding a matching (or not matching...) top and bottom for them to wear. and very sun friendly.

Today I mashed 2 patterns together to get this tank button up romper! The bow was a last minute addition and not in the tutorial.... but I'm sure you guys can figure it out if you want it, or ask in the LAB group on Facebook! 

To complete this look you will need the Sisboom Tobago (or Tortola if you want a ladies version) and the Easy fits for kids (or adult  if doing a lady version)

CUTTING:

Cut your easy fits to the pattern. I did a 4 inch is inseam length. Really just eyeball it and better safe than sorry, easier to cut off a bit than add to it.

The tank you will cut the back and back facing as per the pattern. The front you will cut a mirror image pair - with an extra inch added to the front of each piece and the facing pieces.

SEWING:

First I want you to take your front pieces and iron the edge over for your placket - do not sew. fold 1/4 inch and then fold 3/4 inch so you have a 3/4 placket - for small buttons this is perfect. If you want big buttons you will want to add extra room to the front in the cutting so you can increase the placket width.

Now sew your facings to the front along both sides as per the tank directions. just make sure you unfold your placket to sew the facings on. and sew the back and facings as well.

Now you will follow the directions in the pattern for the straps and putting the front to the back.

Then Refold the placket area and then stitch it down. Remember for girls the left goes over the right 

pin the tank fronts together overlapping and stitch. I left my pin in there to help the placket area stay together as I sewed - less fabric wiggling about.

**At this point I really feel the need to apologize for these pictures .... This is what happens when you sew and do tutorial pics at nighttime. sorry for the quality.**

Now sew up the sides of the tank as per the pattern. and the easy fits - but don't do the waist elastic. Finish the bottom edges of the tank and the top edge of the shorts.

Next, if the tank width is a bit more than the easy fits width - like mine was, add a little elastic to the tank sides and stretch while sewing. This brought mine in the inch ish that was needed to make it the same width. Yes there will be gathers when you sew to the shorts and it won;t be flat... but we are doing elastic casing in the waistband so you won;t even notice.

mark the sides of the shorts with a pin and place the tank inside - right sides together. pin sides and then pin about.

Sew along the top edge

and then sew another line 1/2 inch ish below that all around

Now flip the fabric flap up, and sew along the top edge - remember to leave an inch open to thread the elastic through. I used the elastic measures from the easy fits for the waistband.

Now do your buttons and holes or just do buttons for the top half and faux for the bottom half (like I did) The buttons do help with ease of getting it on and off so I don;t recommend faux all the way.

TA DA!!!! All done and cute as a button(up tank romper) can be!

and don't forget to be linking up your June sewing !!!! You could WIN!

Triangle Tortola/Tobago

To start with when you make a tortola or tobago out of knit you will NOT cut on the bias and you WILL use woven facing.  

To get the triangle hemline you will redraw your pattern piece as shown by the red lines below - do this for the front and back pieces. You do not need to do the dart since it is knit and loosened on the fit. Then simply sew as per the directions! 

The back view:

Simple, flowy, and comfy for summer!

EDITED: Someone asked in the LAB how to get the more down the sides handkerchief hemline look so I thought I'd let you know how here too:

Matching May: The Funky Pineapple

Matching May:

May 24-30

Match a favourite tv character/movie character. Be creative and have fun! If the yhave been on a screen let's see your look! ps. Ms. Frizzle anyone???? 

For my matching may I chose to do a pineapple. If you are How I Met Your Mother fans then I have no doubt the pineapple thing drove you nuts too. and since Ted's hair is always a mess like the pineapple This is what I created! 

For this version of the Tortola (or Tobago) you will make as directed for the top half. but when you cut measure where you want the faux peplum to be and cut straight across and then cut the peplum part w (1.5x the total bottom of the shirt)) x length (however long you need)

If you want to do the Funky Pineapple free motion applique I have made a bare bones instructions PDF for you (FREE) . Do the free motion applique before you begin sewing the garment.

Once you have the top part of the peplum completed you will gather your bottom rectangle and attach it to the top part. right sides together.

Finish the edges of the seam. Then on the sides I marked on both sides 4.5 inches do to an elastic casing to cinch it in a bit (you can change this length)

Add a piece of bias tape to the seam to help make a casing (ps, this is exactly how I do the elastic on the angie - just along the whole back)

Fold the now attached bias tape up and sew along the top edge

see - nice and pretty. then you will add your elastic. I always do the elastic so at full stretch it is JUST a bit longer than my casing. sew the elastic down at both ends of the casing.

Then if you want you can add little faux tabs to cover the elastic casing like I did, or leave plain :) 

IF I was doing Ms. Frizzle this would have been my dress btw ;)

What's your favourite TV show? Do you know how the pineapple on HIMYM came to be??? 

Tortola (and tobago) get the cap sleeve treatment!

To get cap sleeves you :

1. Redraw the shoulder lines for the front and back pieces.
2. Make a new facing set by tracing around the neckline-armpit and a few inches down the sides.
3. Sew as per the pattern directions

Isn't that a nice and easy tutorial? Gotta love an easy change up!

and if you reeeeeeaaaaaaalllllllyyyyy want to see it on.... here is my we just spent 4hrs in a car with a toddler screaming the last 20mins home because we PASSED grandma/grampa's house and didn't go get a motorcycle ride pic. You can see she is still fit throwing in the pic.... Oh the fun of 2!