Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: A Mesh Knit Top for Fall

Image
By
I have had a fear of sewing with mesh for years...literally!  I finally overcame it and tried a few projects and decided it's fun...just take a few precautions and you'll be fine.  

                   

Trust me!

                      
My original project I had planned was a total wadder which was too bad!  I really liked the fabric but despite making a muslin, it fit so weirdly and was very, very unflattering.  I can't even show it to you!  



Luckily I hadn't taken the time to blog about this top I am wearing--whew!  



Can you see how cool this fabric is?  It's comfortable on your skin too!  



This top is made in a 'cocoon' shape which is sort of funky but I like it!   However, you must choose the right fabric.  This is a StyleArc pattern and here is a picture from the site: 


The cocoon shape is more pronounced that it appears in the line drawing.  The sleeves are VERY narrow, so test the fit prior to sewing together.   


 Mesh is a great choice since it doesn't stand away from your body making you look like an egg, which is important! 



I tested this fabric using both a regular sewing machine and a serger.  It worked just perfect on my serger so that is how I stitched the entire thing.  



I topstitched the neck band on and then single-stitched the hems.  


\
What do you think of sewing with mesh?  If you are worried, don't be, just create some test strips and find out what works for your fabric and design.  

                   

Thanks for reading!
Sue from Ilove2sew!

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 19, 2016 at 10:09 AM

    very nice. Love how it drapes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ann BrodskyOctober 20, 2016 at 10:39 AM

    Very neat! I love that fabric. I too am a little hesitant to work with mesh. It's good to see your top looking so great in it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. NTROctober 20, 2016 at 12:44 PM

    Really like how the mesh works with this pattern. Nice top.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 20, 2016 at 2:28 PM

    That's a great top, it looks very comfy and you look great in it. Love your hair!

    ReplyDelete
  5. RobinOctober 22, 2016 at 10:38 AM

    I am a convert to mesh knit. I got an interesting piece in a FM mystery bundle. It was a camouflage print in orange, green aqua...kinda loud, but I made a Hawthorne T out of it and LOVE it! You're so right about picking the right pattern for this fabric. The Hawthorne works great, except I tried to hem the sleeves - big mistake. So I cut off the hem, and decided I needed to make the lower sleeves much smaller in circumference, because the mesh stretches pretty far and I wanted the sleeves to slay up when I push them up to the elbows. I used a knit lightening stitch and was pleasantly surprised my little economy Brother machine handled it well with no problems. I was able to double needle stitch the neckline too - the final product looks great and is very comfortable. Gotta love those bundles!

    ReplyDelete

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.

Recent Posts You Might Like

Help Our Buyers Shop!

By
  Comment on this post with what you are looking for right now and our buyers will seek it out!  I am craving wool gabardines and ponte knits in fun autumn colors. What about you?
129 comments
Continue Reading »

Sewing Vintage for Summer

By
Hello sewing friends!  I was highly motivated to try another one of the vintage Polynesian Pattern dresses I’ve collected during our hot weather. The patterns are all dramatic and fashionable and really apropos for summer styling. This one is number 204, the Pilialoha Dress.  The gown includes a wide boatneck that many of them feature, plus a very beautiful back gathering and wraparound closure. I always find that the special details on the back are such a chic surprise compared to the simple front.  I chose a lemon covered cotton lawn . I am really delighted with the quality of this cotton, it’s luxuriously soft and smooth. The scale of the lemons and blossoms are just right and not overwhelming, and the soft yellow background is beautiful. This could not be more charming and summery!  I also chose some excellent lightweight interfacing for my facings, and the real highlight is these Dritz Floral Sew-On Snaps that I’ve had my eye on for months! Finally, the perfect ...
4 comments
Continue Reading »

Athletic Wear Refresh: A Bold New Gym Set

By
There’s something especially motivating about refreshing your workout wardrobe with pieces that feel like you. As part of my ongoing athletic wear refresh, I’m adding another handmade set to my gym wardrobe—and this one might be the boldest yet. Lately, I’ve been taking a closer look at my handmade wardrobe and thinking more intentionally about what I actually wear in this season of my life. Athletic wear has become a big part of that. Instead of treating workout clothes as an afterthought, I want my gym wardrobe to have the same personality, color, and style as everything else I make. And this fabric made that very easy.  The Fabric That Started It All   The moment I saw this vibrant multicolored paisley, I was immediately drawn to it. The mix of warm reds, oranges, greens, turquoise, and golden yellow against the light background feels bold, energetic, and a little unexpected for athletic wear . There’s something about the print that reminds me of Etro and other higher-end f...
7 comments
Continue Reading »

Falling for Chiffon Again

By
Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Tira from Tira Cooks, and I finally made the perfect sundress too bad summer is almost over! This is my last sewing project of the summer season, and I chose a beautiful red-and-white print. The result is a lightweight, flowy dress that can easily transition from summer into fall and even winter with the right layers. This fabric was actually my second choice. I originally told myself, “You need a break from chiffon!” But here I am, sewing chiffon again. The crisp hems and sewing overall were surprisingly easy. The only reminder that I was working with chiffon fabric was all the fraying! Even better, this fabric is practically wrinkle resistant. I twisted, tied, and scrunched it, and it still came out looking beautiful with zero wrinkles. Because this was a border print, planning my layout before cutting was extremely important. I mapped out the pattern pieces first to make sure the print continued beautifully throughout the dress without breaking up the de...
6 comments
Continue Reading »