I have been working on some sewing projects lately with jersey knit fabric, which for some reason I had never really used before. I have to say that I am now a very big fan of jersey knits. Stretchy enough that you don’t need zippers, supple enough to drape beautifully but it doesn’t tend to slip or bunch excessively. This is a fabric that works perfectly for many styles of pullover tops and dresses. Plus there are so many gorgeous prints and colors and it’s usually pretty budget friendly. Most of the jersey prints I’ve seen online clock in at around $5 a yard. Most dresses take around 2 yards, so you can make something cute for around a tenner. Hard to beat that!
So, here are my recent stretchy creations:
The fabric is a peculiar blend of colors, but once I turned it into a dress, I kind of fell in love with it. This dress had originally been just to test out the sewing pattern, but this weird fabric actually really suited the design and I expect to get a lot of wear out of this dress. I have a ribbon belt that is the same terra-cotta color if I want to change the look a bit.
The pattern is from this Vogue “wardrobe” pattern, V8679, I had bought it originally for the suit jacket pattern which is really sharp, but so far I have made the dress twice and nothing else. But I think I will use the jacket and trouser pattern together to make a proper ladies’ suit pretty soon.
This is the other dress I made with that pattern. It is amazing the difference a fabric choice makes! The dress on the pattern envelope looks so classic and proper and preppy, whereas mine is raucous and silly, with this crazy graffiti print. It has Vikings and spork-wielding robot monkeys and stripey-tongued alien monsters…how could I go wrong?
It also looks surprisingly good with my cycling helmet!
I wore the dress and the zig-zag-stripey tights to work last Friday, and on the way home realized that my helmet made the whole affair into a surprisingly co-ordinated ensemble.
The last of my trio of Jersey successes is a dress that I think has a sort of mid-1970s feeling, though that may be on account of the fabric which is another odd mustardy print. I’d bought this fabric off the internet and it can be kind of hard to judge colors via a monitor. I’d been expecting something more brownish from the first print, and something much more yellow with this one, whereas they’re both in the “Grey Poupon With Flowers” family. Which is acceptable, but not quite what I’d originally envisioned.
Anyway:
This was another “test dress” which turned out well enough that it will be in regular rotation in my working wardrobe.
It’s basically View A, but with the skirt length from Views CD&E. I like a knee-length skirt, which is what you get if you use the cutting lines for CDE. I discovered that the neck-band as drafted, is about 2″ too short. Instead of cutting a new one, though, I just gathered the center front of the neckline a bit. So the dress has a little bit higher neckline than it shows on the pattern envelope. Next time I will just cut the neckband a little bit longer, but it is okay this way, too.
The next time I use this pattern, though, I think I am going to use the cross-over bodice instead. I bought it to use the crossover bodice as a shirt pattern, which I probably will do eventually, but I like it as a dress a lot, too. The fitted midriff with a flared skirt and slightly gathered bustline really suits my figure. I think I may make it up in a piece of leopard-print Jersey fabric I have on hand. The leopard print had been going to be a couple of pullover tops, but I think I found some fabric that will work better for that project.
How can you go wrong with anything that wields a spork?? Love those zig-zag tights and how they go with the helmet!
I love your sewing projects. And your fabric. Where did you get those jersey prints??
This sounds silly as can be, but I’m pretty sure both the monster print and this floral/geometric came from fabric.com. I recently placed a small order coming from fashionfabricsclub.com, too (should be in later this week, I think). They’re both pretty similar sites in that you can search for fabric type, content, color, etc. They tend to have a better selection of interesting knits than what I usually find at regular fabric shops. Seems like JoAnn’s and Hancock carry nice woven fabrics and a LOT of prom/bridal fabrics, but not much for knits, and what knits they do have tend to be solid color, heavier tee-shirt cotton.
Hi,
I’m a drunk Brit and I just want to tell you your dresses are amazing and have made me want to start sewing again.
You know about Spoonflower, right? You can design your own fabrics and they do jersey now.
And have you seen Urbandon? Good god!
Just wanted to tell you that you’re a genius, please keep on making more dresses.
I’ll go and sober up now.
Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoyed having a look at my creations and I’m glad you got in a few good beverages. What else is a Friday evening for but blowing off a little steam?!
Did you find your way over here via Antonia’s blooming blog?
Thanks for the heads up on Spoonflower. Last time I looked at them, they only did woven – I’d considered using their service for a line of cycling hats I was going to make…but never got around to.
Urbandon is not a site I’m aware of, but I’m off to rectify that.
Yup, found you through Whoopee.
BTW even when the wine wore off I’ve been so inspired by your creations that I’ve ordered a Vogue tee-shirt pattern and a couple of yards of lovely weird modern printed jersey. Am now having qualms about whether I need to learn overlocking or something (never sewed jersey before) but the information is surely available on the internet. Onward! Thanks for putting the idea in my head.
I do all my sewing on a 1958 Singer Model 401A. If the edges seem like they’ll fray, I just zig-zag them. With the jersey, I’ve just been using a normal straight stitch and “ball-point” needles which are designed for knits. I’ve had no problem, so long as I use those needles. Regular needles for woven fabrics tend to cause snags and pulls.
Fantastic! This is what I need to know! Who knew drunk-typing could be so productive. In vino veritas. Thanks Meetzorp, I will away and purchase even those very needles.