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.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made by a Fabricista: The Bernadette

By
Hello friends,  My Latest Fabricista Make: Friday pattern Co Bernadette Skirt x Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim Hi everyone, this is Byrd with my latest Fabricista make! When I saw Fabric Mart’s Muted Midnight Navy Cotton/Lycra Sateen Stretch Denim , I knew it would be perfect for my next project. The color is rich and versatile—a deep navy that works as a neutral but still has presence. The stretch denim has just the right balance: structure with a bit of give, making it great for a garment that needs both shape and comfort. It’s an ideal fabric for fall transitions, but it’s sturdy enough to carry straight into winter with tights and boots. For the pattern, I chose the Bernadette Skirt by Friday Pattern Company . This is one of their newer designs, and I knew immediately I wanted to sew it up. It’s a modern skirt that blends structure and style, with darts in the back and pleats in the front for a flattering fit. One of my favorite features is the belt, and of co...
6 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: Falling for Knits

By
We are now well into Fall, even though the temps are still relatively warm here in Texas.  I love the fall season and dressing for Fall.   When it comes to the conversation of knits vs. wovens I typically sew mostly wovens. So for this post I decided to sew completely knits!  With the holiday season right around the corner I saw these three dress styles as perfect for Friendsgiving/Thanksgiving gatherings.  The first look is a tried and true pattern Simplicity S9372.  Using this gorgeous burgundy ponte knit , I like how this pattern fits throughout. I chose this color to add to my typically neutral palette in my closet.  I also wanted something I could wear to my sorority meetings and found this color perfect.  It's an easy sew with back fisheye darts  and invisible zipper to add to the tapered style.  The neckline and armholes are finished with bias binding giving it a clean finish on the inside.  I used a universal needle to sew a...
5 comments
Continue Reading »

Made By A Fabricista: The Art of the Slow Make: My La Forme Double-Breasted Jacket

By
I started this project back in July — one of those mid-summer sewing plans meant to get me ahead for fall. My idea was simple: start my wardrobe a season (or two) early so that when cooler weather came, I’d already have a few handmade pieces ready to wear. That was the plan, anyway. But as sewing often reminds us, plans evolve. This jacket, made using La Forme pattern No. 0303, is a double-breasted design with peak lapels and an exaggerated hip detail that gives it such a striking silhouette. I fell in love with the structure of the pattern right away — it has that timeless, tailored feel I can never resist — but it also asked for patience. I picked it up and put it down several times over the months, letting it rest while I worked on other projects, until finally, the timing felt right to bring it to life. And now, here we are — the leaves are turning, there’s a chill in the air, and some parts of the country are even seeing snow. My summer-started jacket is finally finished, and it c...
12 comments
Continue Reading »