6 years ago
Textured Knits for the Win!
Hello everyone! I'm back with another post for you today! This time it's a bit of a two for one post. I'm going to tell you all about my newest dress and my newest top! I've got a few seasons covered here, so matter where you are in the world or what season it is, I've got you covered!
It is absolutely not news that I can't resist a good floral fabric, so of course this fabric made my heart sing as soon as I saw it. It's got great stretch and great recovery and it has a texture that adds that much more to it! I've sewn with fabric similar to this that I purchased locally before a few times that was listed as Liverpool. I'm not sure if this textured knit is indeed what I've known as Liverpool, but if it's not, its definitely very similar in feel, drape and weight. Minerva has loads of gorgeous textured knits to choose from - I'm completely smitten with the Lady McElroy beauties on the site. I'd recommend any of them for these project!
I thought the Sew Over It Emma dress was a great pattern match for the fabric and so set to work on that right away. It actually took less fabric than the pattern instructions suggested, which left me with just enough to make a Halla Patterns Agnes top as well!
Let's start with the Emma. It's a very simple pattern - I believe it was featured originally just in the Sew Over It's intro to sewing knits course, but I purchased my pattern when they released it as an individual PDF pattern. I wasn't sure about the tulip style skirt as it branches out pretty far from my usual half or full circle skirt that I normally gravitate towards, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway. I'm so glad I did! It was a perfect pairing with the fabric and although I was sceptical about the fit as I was sewing it, I think it turned out great!
I did make a few very tiny changes to the pattern but they were nothing too much. My first change was to add some length to the bodice. I know that Sew Over It patterns are always very short waisted on me, so that's standard for me. The next thing I did was eliminating the zip. I basted the bodice back together and tried it on. The fabric has enough stretch that it was easy to get on and off without it, so I didn't see the sense in taking the time nor wasting a zip when it was not necessary! The third change I made was to add pockets. Because everything should have pockets, right?!?
I'm so happy with my dress. I feel like a million dollars in it. I love dresses that are comfy and easy to wear. With the three quarter sleeves I feel like it'll be a great one for both winter (who doesn't love a bright floral print to cheer up the winter doldrums?) and for spring when the sun is coming out, the snow is melting, but the temperatures are still cool.
Working with the textured knit is so simple. Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy! It doesn't fray of course and the edges don't curl. The texture allows it to sort of grip to itself, so it doesn't slip and slide around at all either when cutting it out or sewing it making it a great fabric for beginner sewists wanting to dip their toes into a knit fabric. I really love how this knit doesn't droop with the weight of the skirt, and holds the pleats so well. This is not a fabric that will have you leave the house in the morning with a knee length skirt and come home in the evening with it sagging to mid-calf like some lighter, stretchier knits will. The fabric has beautiful, brilliant colour for the print and didn't fade in the least in the wash, which is always such a huge bonus! Oh and before I forget? Another perk of this fabric, and quite a practical one... it doesn't stick to my tights or ride up with static when I walk like some other knits are prone to do, making it really easy to wear as well! Textured knits for the win!!
Let's move onto my bonus project, the Halla Patterns Agnes. If you've not seen the Halla Agnes before, it's a super simple swing top and dress that consists of one pattern piece for the front and back and then bands for the armholes and neckline. The pattern has been updated to include sleeves and a maxi length as well. I always lower the front neckline as I don't like anything too close to my neck, but that's pretty much the only change I make. This is one of my tried and true patterns. I have three sleeveless Agnes dresses (one of which is out of a textured knit) that I live in as well as an Agnes top that also is in constant rotation throughout the heat of the summer. The first time I made the pattern I did my top version out of one of the aforementioned Liverpool fabrics, which is why I knew exactly what to make with my leftovers from my Emma Dress!
It takes no time to sew up. It's just shoulder seams, side seams, armbands, neckband, hem and done. I can't wait to be able to wear this one! It'll need to warm up just a bit outside though or I could pair it with a cropped cardi I think for the cooler weather we’re in right now.
The day I took the photos for this post, it was quite chilly in the backyard and super windy (as you'll see in the photo where my skirt was whipping across my legs in the wind or the photo where my hair is going rogue). Thankfully I had sleeves and tights for the dress, but I nearly froze taking the photos of the Agnes top! The things we do to show off our hand mades! Ha ha!
So there we go! Two brand new garments added to my wardrobe to get me through winter, spring and summer in bright and cheery style! I hope you feel inspired and eager to try out textured knits for yourself! Until next time, thanks for reading and happy crafting!
#minervamakers #minervamakes #sewover40 #sewwithknits #soiemmadress #hallapatternsagnes #imakemyownclothes #selfsewnwardrobe #sewing #indiepatterns #pdfpatterns #sewoverit #hallapatterns #Manitobasewist #texturedknits
Hello everyone! I'm back with another post for you today! This time it's a bit of a two for one post. I'm going to tell you all about my newest dress and my newest top! I've got a few seasons covered here, so matter where you are in the world or what season it is, I've got you covered!
It is absolutely not news that I can't resist a good floral fabric, so of course this fabric made my heart sing as soon as I saw it. It's got great stretch and great recovery and it has a texture that adds that much more to it! I've sewn with fabric similar to this that I purchased locally before a few times that was listed as Liverpool. I'm not sure if this textured knit is indeed what I've known as Liverpool, but if it's not, its definitely very similar in feel, drape and weight. Minerva has loads of gorgeous textured knits to choose from - I'm completely smitten with the Lady McElroy beauties on the site. I'd recommend any of them for these project!
I thought the Sew Over It Emma dress was a great pattern match for the fabric and so set to work on that right away. It actually took less fabric than the pattern instructions suggested, which left me with just enough to make a Halla Patterns Agnes top as well!
Let's start with the Emma. It's a very simple pattern - I believe it was featured originally just in the Sew Over It's intro to sewing knits course, but I purchased my pattern when they released it as an individual PDF pattern. I wasn't sure about the tulip style skirt as it branches out pretty far from my usual half or full circle skirt that I normally gravitate towards, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway. I'm so glad I did! It was a perfect pairing with the fabric and although I was sceptical about the fit as I was sewing it, I think it turned out great!
I did make a few very tiny changes to the pattern but they were nothing too much. My first change was to add some length to the bodice. I know that Sew Over It patterns are always very short waisted on me, so that's standard for me. The next thing I did was eliminating the zip. I basted the bodice back together and tried it on. The fabric has enough stretch that it was easy to get on and off without it, so I didn't see the sense in taking the time nor wasting a zip when it was not necessary! The third change I made was to add pockets. Because everything should have pockets, right?!?
I'm so happy with my dress. I feel like a million dollars in it. I love dresses that are comfy and easy to wear. With the three quarter sleeves I feel like it'll be a great one for both winter (who doesn't love a bright floral print to cheer up the winter doldrums?) and for spring when the sun is coming out, the snow is melting, but the temperatures are still cool.
Working with the textured knit is so simple. Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy! It doesn't fray of course and the edges don't curl. The texture allows it to sort of grip to itself, so it doesn't slip and slide around at all either when cutting it out or sewing it making it a great fabric for beginner sewists wanting to dip their toes into a knit fabric. I really love how this knit doesn't droop with the weight of the skirt, and holds the pleats so well. This is not a fabric that will have you leave the house in the morning with a knee length skirt and come home in the evening with it sagging to mid-calf like some lighter, stretchier knits will. The fabric has beautiful, brilliant colour for the print and didn't fade in the least in the wash, which is always such a huge bonus! Oh and before I forget? Another perk of this fabric, and quite a practical one... it doesn't stick to my tights or ride up with static when I walk like some other knits are prone to do, making it really easy to wear as well! Textured knits for the win!!
Let's move onto my bonus project, the Halla Patterns Agnes. If you've not seen the Halla Agnes before, it's a super simple swing top and dress that consists of one pattern piece for the front and back and then bands for the armholes and neckline. The pattern has been updated to include sleeves and a maxi length as well. I always lower the front neckline as I don't like anything too close to my neck, but that's pretty much the only change I make. This is one of my tried and true patterns. I have three sleeveless Agnes dresses (one of which is out of a textured knit) that I live in as well as an Agnes top that also is in constant rotation throughout the heat of the summer. The first time I made the pattern I did my top version out of one of the aforementioned Liverpool fabrics, which is why I knew exactly what to make with my leftovers from my Emma Dress!
It takes no time to sew up. It's just shoulder seams, side seams, armbands, neckband, hem and done. I can't wait to be able to wear this one! It'll need to warm up just a bit outside though or I could pair it with a cropped cardi I think for the cooler weather we’re in right now.
The day I took the photos for this post, it was quite chilly in the backyard and super windy (as you'll see in the photo where my skirt was whipping across my legs in the wind or the photo where my hair is going rogue). Thankfully I had sleeves and tights for the dress, but I nearly froze taking the photos of the Agnes top! The things we do to show off our hand mades! Ha ha!
So there we go! Two brand new garments added to my wardrobe to get me through winter, spring and summer in bright and cheery style! I hope you feel inspired and eager to try out textured knits for yourself! Until next time, thanks for reading and happy crafting!
#minervamakers #minervamakes #sewover40 #sewwithknits #soiemmadress #hallapatternsagnes #imakemyownclothes #selfsewnwardrobe #sewing #indiepatterns #pdfpatterns #sewoverit #hallapatterns #Manitobasewist #texturedknits