Skip to main content

Made by a Fabricista: A Trio of Textured Knits

I simply love wearing knits. So comfortable, so easy to wear, so stylish and fun!  For this month's post, I decided to use a new knit from FM and two from my stash that are also from FM, it's just that I've had them for a while, so I will have to share some similar fabrics with you.  





First up is this textured activewear by Malden Mills.  You can see the fabric I used here: Activewear knits  



This is really nice fabric, perfect for working out in, or just hanging out in.  It's breathable and lightweight.  I decided to go for an athleisure look for my top.  

The pattern I used is from Itch to Stitch.  


The pattern goes together well and since I made it previously, I knew it would work with less of a drapey cowl.  I basically chopped about 2.5 inches from the biggest part of the cowl.  That's it.  Nothing magical.  



Because the knit is a bit lighter weight, I used woven SewkeysE tape to secure the edges or hems.  



You probably don't need to do this, but I thought it would be a good idea.  If you've never used this tape, try it!  It's the best out there and is for sale in the notions section of FM's site.  


My second top is made from a lacy knit I purchased a few years ago from this site.  This was a Julie's pick and I waited and waited to figure out what to use if for.  When DD1 was her for Christmas, she said that she was going to confiscate the fabric if I didn't figure something out quick.

 I decided on a simple top that I'd wear during the cooler months that could be a layering piece.  Here are some ideas from FMs site for fabric choices:   Geometric knit    

I chose this pattern by Papercut and this is the Rise and Fall Turtleneck.  

Rise & Fall Turtlenecks

This fabric sewed and pressed so easily, no wonder it was a Julie's pick!  I used the 'regular' SewkeysE tape for this top and it worked like a charm.  








For my third and final make, I used this heavily textured ponte from FM.  This has been in my stash for a while, but if you click on the links below, you can find some similar and very pretty choices. 





I really love this fabric and am glad I finally sewed this up!  It's about time!  I used my trusty McCalls 6886.  This pattern is a workhorse.  I've used it multiple times and every time I use it, I get excited about it all over again!


For this dress, I used what I call a textured ponte.  This fabric is just luscious!  Here are some similar fabrics from FMs site: Vibrant Pink Designer knit fabric  Imported from Italy fabric


Thanks for reading!  I hope you are making some great garments for 2019!  Happy New Year!
Sue from Ilove2sew!


Comments

  1. Hi Sue, I bought the same knit from Malden Mills. When I received it, it was much lighter than I expected. I wanted it for a warm winter knit top. How are you finding it for warmth? I am concerned I will be too chilly in it. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Roberta,
      It is lighter than I expected but I have been suprisingly warm in this!

      Delete
  2. Love all of your makes from textured fabric! Thanks for sharing about the cowl neck on Itch to Stitch pattern. I love that pattern but I am finding the cowl neck somewhat overwhelming.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree that it's large but wow, does it make a statement! Try decreasing it by half and see what you think. I like it both ways!

      Delete
  3. Textured fabrics are so cool! You get the benefit of a print, but they're so much more wearable with other garments since they're solid colored. The red is just fabulous on you, and the teal is too pretty!

    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 Sheer Volume Of It All!

This garment was inspired by a dress I saw in an ad, and when I went to purchase it (which I rarely do)…I realized that the dress didn’t come in my size. Ticked off and with $300 back in my pocket, I decided to draft it myself. The description listed the fabrication as a silk cotton voile, so I used that as a starting point to recreate the simple yet elegant silhouette.  My drafting experience is limited; I’ve only ever made garments that are pleated rectangles that fit into an elasticated waist. No darts, no complicated calculations, and definitely no sleeves. But I’d have that dress if it’s the last thing I do! I made a drawing, created a Pinterest board to document my inspiration, and narrowed down the features I really wanted to have: billowy bubble-hemmed bishop sleeves (say it three times fast!), a fitted and lined bodice, and a gathered tiered skirt. Finally, it was time to shop for fabric. I knew I wanted a silk blend of some kind, without breaking the bank. For weeks, I ke...

Made By A Fabricista: Just Wear It Out!

Originally I wasn’t happy with my make this time around. I put it on fresh off the sewing machine and didn’t love how it fit. My elastic was slightly too narrow for what the pattern called for. I did end up putting a stitch to close up the v-neck on the top. I thought my sewing on the waistband looked sloppy and I looked kind of frumpy in the outfit. I was going to put the project down to fix later but decided to wear it out for some feedback from our web manager and one of the describers.  I ended up pleasantly surprised! The fabric is super comfortable and I felt really good wearing it. All the things I didn’t like kind of melted away wearing it out. The flaws were so small that only I noticed them. I think it’s important to remember that while striving for perfect seams and flawless construction is good, a handmade garment doesn’t have to be perfect to be wearable. This isn’t the first time I’ve softened on a garment after wearing, and it certainly won’t be the last! The 100% c...

Made By A Fabricista: In Love with Linen

Linen is the best fabric to sew and wear. I selected a beautiful 100% linen from Fabric Mart that is a steel blue and cream floral linen to sew up a By Hand London Hannah Wrap Dress pattern. The flowers look like Dahlias. I originally sewed a Toile from a black and white cotton bedsheet, wore the dress a lot but never made it again. I gave the Toile away to a friend who always commented on how much she loved the dress. When I saw this fabric, I knew I wanted to make the Hannah again. Linen is so easy to sew the entire experience reminded me why linen remains one of my favorite fabrics to sew. I look for a light to medium weight  European linen for a dress. I like a rayon or cotton blend with linen because it seems to have more drape and be more soft. Linen gets softer with washing and wearing it. This particular linen feels crisp and after ironing and washing, softens up. I like how Fabric Mart describes the fabrics as top, dress, blouse, shirt weight under “Use” and will describe...