Category: knit

Remnants – my case ‘Your Honour’

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Why are remnant fabrics my weakness? Maybe it’s because they’re a challenge. Finding a pattern to suit the amount of fabric I’ve found is a challenge.

Vogue 8815 test using Cue remnants from Pitt Trading

Do remnant fabrics ignite my passion for puzzle solving? Should I see a shrink about trawling for fabric especially when the sign on the basket says ‘designer remnants’?

Original Charlie Brown remnant fabric from Pitt Trading

The case in my defence remains, remnants are a low risk purchase to test a future pattern. Making a pattern fit usually means testing it out. Using calico to test a pattern for knit fabric or stretch wovens doesn’t work.

This Charlie Brown abstract knit looked too big for a shortie like me, but I tried to used the main print where it made sense. I bought this fabric at Pitt Trading a few years ago.

See where the longest part of the print is? I’ve used New Look 6149 for this top.

And I’ve kept the front ‘clean’ at the waist. I love my Minerva black jeans.

Below is the second knit remnant I bought ages ago at Pitt Trading. Both prints were from Charlie Brown. The main buying guide I used was to choose strong colours for possible wearable toiles and at the time of purchase, I hadn’t made the purple skinny jeans below.

Test #1: This top above was my attempt at recreating a RTW top. The shaping didn’t come out as planned. The neckline gaped so I added knit lace so the neckline and armholes sat properly. This print gave me a practice at matching the print at the side seam and balancing it on me.
Test 2: New Look 6940 was tested using this fabric. Again, testing it with this fabric confirmed the fit and I got to play with print placement.

And the Bomber jacket above was made using an Ikea remnant. This jacket is a keeper.

Test 3: I used this remnant again to test the bodice for the PR Winter dress. I wasn’t sure about the neckline or shoulder fit. I was also curious about the waistline.  

So once I put this top together, I had just enough fabric left to put a band at the base of the top.

I rest my case ‘Your Honour’. 

Have a lovely Easter break everyone.

zebra print – m5752

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View A is the cap sleeve version and I’ve used this zebra print in a poly knit fabric.

The key pieces to get this pattern to sit right are the midriff panels.

Before I attempted making this dress I had to face up to the my actually sizing, take a deep breath of reality and adjust the midriff. The adjustment lines are on the pattern with an additional instruction sheet to help adjust the pattern to fit your shape.

The midriff facing is a nude colour knit and I think if you really want to have some support, use a power knit that you would use for swimwear, as an option. I’ve also used seams great on the shoulder seams for long term stability.

This is definitely going to be a social dress and not one that I wear to work, although I’m tempted to put the zebra amongst the pidgeons 🙂

Knits for knotted weather – V8379

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While getting used to my eyes changing and my right hand still mending, I’ve gone back over old ground with this knit dress.

I bought this printed knit from The Fabric Store during a rushed afternoon in town. I was at a course that finished early so straight to The Fabric Store I went, just before closing time. The blonde behind the counter was not impressed but the guy who served me was patient and helpful.

As you can see, only the top has the wrap finish to it. The skirt isn’t wrap style. Syl at work gave me hemming advice so I took 2″ off the hem. For some reason, the lines on the print line up fairly well, and it’s a good style while our weather is trying to cool down.

This week, DH has been on the road for work so I snuck the baby machine downstairs and sewed in front of the telly – woo hoo.

The result was this real wrap dress with short sleeves. I was contemplating not working on it because we had a cold snap last week, and this week we’re back to 25C days, so I finished this dress last night.

What I didn’t realise was how fitted the sleeve was so last night, I cut into the sleeve and cut out a triangle with 12cm in the base and this morning, I added the triangle piece into the sleeve. Why? I didn’t want to unpick the sleeve, because I have two rows of stitching in the sleeve head.
So now the extra sleeve piece has softened the sleeve on a fairly plain grey dress. It was comfortable to wear in the office.
I must admit that wrap skirts are one of my fears – I don’t like it when the wind blows the wrap open. Today the wind did have a go at my dress but there’s plenty of wrap in the skirt so it’s easy to save yourself from embarrassment.
The technical changes of this pattern are on a previous post of my $4 dress.

colour break – Kwik Sew 2683

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As you can see, I’m taking a colour break.


This was the first top I made today. There’s no science in the pattern placement and the neckling on the pattern was tight around my neck, so I’ve dropped it a bit.


When I sewed on the FOE on the neckline, that’s when I had used the one step process with a ‘few tears’ when I had to resew the FOE on the back neckline.
This pattern has my usual adjustments. I got this knit last month when Pitt Trading had their 50% off sale.
By the way, this is a really comfortable top to wear to work with my purple skirt. My work mates have been very supportive as they usually see me in greys and blacks around the office..

The beginnings of a set – Kwik Sew 3378

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This was a quick top to make at our sewing weekend, with one hitch. I cut out the small size and not the medium size. The view above shows the extra piece I added to the side seams.


When I wore it as a small, my tummy rolls where there for all to stare at. OMG. What was I thinking.

The additional side pieces can’t easily be seen and the original suggestion to add the extra as ruching made me feel more self conscious about my rolls, so the top sits flat on my body. Phew. This is another piece that I bought when we were in Melbourne fabric shopping. The rest of the fabric will be made into a cardie.

Well matured fabric/pattern

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Double knits are great to use when you’re building up a new wardrobe, or are refreshing an established one. This is a Lincraft pattern from way back, possibly 15 years.

The story behind this trim is this – I bought some cushion covers for the dining table and the cushions were held together with this ribbon. The idea isn’t anything new but I thought that I should challenge my skills a bit.

I’ve kept the details close to my face, so the style is kept simple and clean. The jacket is interfaced with texture weft, to give the jacket more durability.
I wore it last night and it’s comfortable and a nice layer to wear in the cold. I did notice the the back needs more shaping so I’ll work on that in the coming weeks. For now, this is a nice addition to my winter wardrobe.

Knit or woven?

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This fabric came from The Fabric Store. I bought it in November with a view to playing with it for winter. It’s a chardonnay/verdehlo fabric.

Because I have a couple of pair of brown boots, they finish this dress off really well.
This fabric is a double knit but looks like corduroy. This seams must be overlocked. I was fooled into thinking that they would be fine, unfinished.


I originally left the sleeve hems unfinished because the selvedge is on the sleeve hem looks like a really short fringe. Since wearing it for a day, I’ve overlocked and finshed the sleeve hem.

Sewing hints

  • foldover elastic was used for the neckline.

  • The seams are overlocked.

  • seams great was used on the shoulder seam

  • I’ve reinforced the sleeve head.

The brown knit jacket is coming up next, using fabric from Knitwit direct (7 years ago). Definitely a red wine fabric.