Skip to main content

Reader's Pick Sew-Along: Fabric Selection

On Saturday, as I was finishing up my Mad Men Challenge dress, I was thinking about what fabrics I would like to use for the sew-along. I will most likely be choosing something from my stash because I need to use some of it up! In the afternoon, I took a break from sewing and went to Jo-Ann's to pick up a copy of New Look 6097. When I got to the pattern drawers, I almost panicked! They didn't have a divider for the pattern---they had 6096 and 6098 but not the one I needed! So I sifted through the sections and they had ONE pattern left! If you're in the Reading, PA area, you may need to have the pattern ordered in or order it online. Sorry!

Before we get started sewing together, I wanted to share some thoughts about what fabrics to choose for the dress we will be making together. Some of you may already have picked out fabric and don't need any advice, but some of you may be working with knits for the first time! Whatever your experience, I'm just glad you are participating! 

The pattern calls for stretch knits only: jersey, matte jersey, lightweight double knits, two-way stretch. It is also suitable for fabrics with plaids or stripes. If you're new to the knit world, you're probably wondering what does this mean? Jersey is a stretchy, single-knit fabric with nice drape. This could include: ITY knit, rayon jersey knit, cotton jersey knit, matte jersey knit, etc. All of these fabrics usually have a nice drape and come in a nice selection of solids and prints. 

See how the folds of the fabric are close together? The folds show us that the fabric is lightweight with a nice drape. This is an ITY knit. 
BUC7526 Lattice Border ITY Knit

This is another good example of a jersey knit, cotton/rayon/lycra. Once again you can see that the folds are close together, creating a nice drape. 
BTA1631 - Pomegranate Jersey Knit


If you want a dress with a little more substance and sturdiness, go for the lightweight double knit. Normally double knits are stiff, with less drape than a jersey. But there are some double knits that have enough drape---a little harder to find. Below is a lightweight ponte knit. Once again, look at the folds. They are not as tight as the jerseys shown above, but still close. The folds form nice drapes. 
SOA7691 Red Pepper Pique Weave Ponte Knit


So what knits should you stay away from? Heavy sweater knits, heavy ponte/double knits, rib knits, interlock knits, activewear knits and maybe even slinky knits and burnout knits. Basically any knit that does not drape nicely. These are all lovely fabrics, but we're going for drape, you don't want anything that will make your garment boxy. 

So get shopping for your favorite jersey knit! We will start sewing on April 7th. I will be creating a flickr account where you can share photos of your fabric selections and finished projects. Stay tuned to more info on that. If you have any questions comment below! I can't wait to see what you choose!

Check out Fabric Mart's selection of knits now! Use the filter on the left side of the website to narrow down your search by content, type, weight, color, etc. 


And one last thing...You get to pick which fabric I sew with! Here are your choices:

1) Beaded Print ITY Knit from Cache. This is an oldie but a goodie from my stash. I bought this from Fabric Mart way back when I started! (About five years ago.) How many of your seasoned customers have this one in your stash? This is a lightweight ITY knit with nice fluid drape. I love the vibrant blue color. The beaded  print goes with the selvedge, therefore going with your body. 


2) Retro Floral Rayon Knit from France. This retro floral print is a rayon/lycra knit from France. This was in Julie's Picks about two years ago and I think also online for a short time. I love the print as much as the colors!


3) Paint Splatter ITY Knit from Maggy London. This print was on our website about two years ago as well. A Maggy London print never fails. I love the color combination!

You have until Wednesday, March 26th to vote. You may select your favorite, but if you've never sewn with one of these fabrics before, you may want to select one you have not worked with. I will be making a muslin out of a solid cotton/lycra knit that is a little heavier than these fabrics, but still drapey. It feels more like a lightweight ponte knit. 




Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Celebrating warm weather with Spring sewing!

Hi sewing friends! I don’t know about you but boy, was winter cold and dreary this year! The weather here in the Philadelphia area has been slowly improving, but Spring sure did take her sweet old time to arrive. So by April, I was definitely in the headspace of needing to sew up things that were either bright and cheery or meant for the warmer weather I am very much craving right now. I recently purchased a few SewBexx Patterns so I took them on a test run to create some Spring makes. First on my list was to make a top using this absolutely gorgeous ITY fabric I picked up last year. I had two yards which was enough for a long sleeve shirt. I chose the Olivia top, which is oversized with a drop shoulder, has multiple lengths and a split hem. I think the pattern is intended for heavier fabrics but I was envisioning how lovely this top would look with the drape of ITY knit fabric, and it did not disappoint. It came together for me quickly and was a straight forward sew…and I love the br...

Made By A Fabricista | Chasing Time: My White Rabbit-Inspired Look for Atlanta Frocktails

For this year’s Atlanta Frocktails, I found myself captivated by a character who’s been quietly tugging at my imagination for years—the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. There’s something so relatable about his frantic energy, always checking the time, always running late. While he’s worried about being on time, I’m usually calculating how late I can be and still technically arrive on time. Spoiler: I’m often wrong. It’s a cycle of procrastination and anxiety that I know all too well. So when I imagined my look for Frocktails, I thought—why not honor the White Rabbit? After all, time has been chasing me too. But this look isn’t just about Wonderland whimsy. It’s also deeply inspired by this year’s Met Gala theme, Tailored for You, which includes a focus on Black Dandyism—a celebration of Black elegance, intellect, and expressive style. I’ve been obsessed with this theme since it was announced. As a Black creative, I find it powerful and moving to see style used as a way to reclaim...

Made By A Fabricista: Getting into the Spirit of Summer

I'm not gonna lie y'all, I had a completely different project I wanted to do, but that's gonna take more time, and I wanted something cute, comfy and fun to wear for my birthday on the 19th. When I saw this goldenrod & off white linen jacquard , I thought it looked a bit like the design on a Koroks body, especially Makar from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker! I started with the bodice from the free Elderberry dress pattern from Mood, but deviated for the skirt, it felt a little plain of a design, and I had scraps of a Korok fabric that I knew would be a nice accent with some cut out pockets. I've made these pockets once before, deciding the cut out was based on aligning with the seam on the bodice for how far in, and as for how low depended on where I wanted the pouch of the pocket to start. From there I cut the visible part of the pocket, making sure to match the curve of the waist and following the line of the side seams of the skirt, as well as cutting a facing to...