Thursday, January 21, 2010

The not-so-quick-sew Kwik Sew 3338



Here's the deal:when it comes to wovens I have good theory and sound practice. When it comes to knits I have a little theory and virtually no practice. When I sew a knit, I remember what it is like to be a floundering beginner. I am even a little nervous, certainly hesitant and with wavering confidence.

I started with the Kwik Sew pattern so beautifully made up by EmilyKate. I had no idea what to do about size, so I started with a large and pinned it in fabric. Far too tight across the bust, too loose across the back. Did a FBA on the front, removed the excess through waist and hip. Shoulder and upper body still too large - the scoop neck will not sit flat, there is not enough tension in the sizing to force it to hold its shape. Now I know, I need to start with a medium and grade up, not start with a large and grade down.

I love the colour and the stripe is not so pronounced in its contrast as to create too unforgiving a vertical line. TMB says it looks nice, and about such matters he does not lie, subjected as he is to forced appraisals about every single thing I sew. He has learned over the years that a frank opinion is what is required: he gets hounded far more with "are you sure it looks nice" if he says it all looks nice, but the occasional "it's not your best look" buys him a little respite.

Cost: Fabric - cotton/lycra Global fabrics 40% off VIP price $12, Kwik sew pattern $18, thread $1 = $31.

11 comments:

  1. I think your new top looks great! Knits really are another animal, aren't they? I find that the less I know about knits formally and the more I just mess around with them, the faster my confidence grows.

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  2. Simon would sympathise with TMB, as he is often grilled for his honest, NO, HONEST, opinion. About the last thing I sewed, which was not a success, he said "none of your other tops look like THAT". It said it all.
    Your new top looks very nice, I must say.

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  3. It looks like a great TNT shirt. I was just looking at the Kwik Sew book--cute dresses for Spring/Summer!

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  4. I thought I had the hang of sewing with knits but have wadded the last two items!

    I like the stripe in that top - I bet you will wear it a lot.

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  5. Hi there - I think the top looks great. WHen I blew up the photo to get a good look at the picture you look very young and slim.

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  6. I like your t shirt. I am a knit nervous novice, despite having more expensive equipment with which to sew knits than any sane person should need.

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  7. I taught myself to sew with knits and was nervous when I first sewed wovens, lol. I figure I'm probably going to have wadders either way.
    Your new top looks very nice and well worth the bother fitting it.

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  8. I'm the opposite. Knits are easy, wovens woeful. My suggestion is not to bother with full bust adjustments as the stretch in the fabric usually covers it (literally in this case).

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  9. Looks great! I actually went down to Bernina the other day to buy this pattern but you must have just got there before me (they only carry one copy, I think). I love the neckline shape - if I hadn't seen this pattern made up at a couple of blogs I never would have bought it based on the ugly KS drawing though ;-)

    I reckon it'll be a great TNT Tshirt pattern.

    J

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  10. After sewing knits, I'm always relieved to go back to wovens. I just wish I could buy t-shirts to fit. That whole appraisal process is a tough one...I'm sure Peter wishes I had somebody else to ask. Your shirt looks good and once you have a tnt pattern you'll be able to whip up a bundle in a weekend and be done with knits for the rest of the year!

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  11. I love it! Knits just take practice till you learn how to wrangle them. That neckband seemed too long when I made my tee too, have had to kind of experiment with each new fabric I make it from cos the degree of stretch is different with each. I really like your fabric.

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