Saturday, September 15, 2012

Tricot-mania

I just can't seem to get enough of sewing with knits these days.  On Thursday, I sewed not one, not two, but three knit garments:  another Kimono Dress, a Dolman-Sleeve Tee and a Foldover Waist Skirt.  This morning I made a second Dolman-Sleeve Tee, and I'm hoping to knock out another this afternoon, plus maybe another skirt.  What is going on here?!

Let me show you my new wardrobe, in order of execution.  First up is the dress, in another of the fabrics I got on sale at Girl Charlee.  This fabric is called "Raining Dots."  It's a cotton-modal blend, and is so silky soft.


With this dress, I think I can say I've perfected my technique - it came off without a hitch!  Here's a closer look at the fabric:


Next I used Cindy's new, free top pattern.  I've been wanting to try this out since she first posted it.  I love her blog and I'm always so impressed by the way she just makes stuff - no pattern, just ingenuity! Of course, this is another sale fabric from my Girl Charlee haul - did anyone else stock up in the Labor Day sale like I did?  This fabric is called "Limoncello Floral Burnout" and is sadly no longer in stock.  It's quite thin, but doesn't have a whole lot of stretch.


The design is in pale yellow and cream, on a white burnout background:


I'm kind of a sucker for burnout!

Lastly, I knocked out the Foldover Waist Skirt pattern from the Craftsy class on sewing with knits.  This is a truly quick and cheap project - it only uses a yard of fabric (for the knee length skirt) and has three pieces:  front and back, which are the same, and one waistband piece.  Three seams and you're done!  It looked tiny, but fit perfectly.  The pattern is a-line, so I used the waist measurement to determine my size.  I made this from some very thin, drapey unidentified jersey I got at Vogue.  Because I didn't want to interfere with the amazing drape and swish at the bottom edge, I didn't hem it.  Sadly, I got a little over-zealous in my seam pressing, and stretched it out so much that it hangs on my hips!  But that didn't stop me from wearing it out for coffee with Alicia yesterday, which is why it looks wrinkled now!

 
waistband folded down

waistband unfolded - this is how I wore it

Yesterday I didn't sew a thing, but this morning I got back to it and made Dolman-Sleeved Top #2, in Girl Charlee's Graffiti Stripe Jersey in Tangerine.  I will admit that I spent a fair amount of time arranging my fabric so that the stripes would match, but even so, I was able to make this top in about an hour and fifteen minutes total!  That includes arranging the fabric, cutting out, sewing and ironing!  Upon completion, we headed over to Chinatown to get me the frozen yogurt I've been craving for two weeks.  Here I am in front of Joy Yee Plus, in my new tee shirt, frozen yogurt in hand:


I've got another piece of this fabric in navy and white stripe, which I'm hoping to make up this afternoon.  I'm also a sucker for dolman sleeves, so I really love this pattern!

26 comments:

  1. THREE?! You rock! I'm especially excited by the top.

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  2. Wow, you're on fire these days! Great job, girl!

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    1. I kind of gave myself a "sewing vacation" this week, so I could get it out of my system a little! Things should start slowing down now.

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  3. awesome makes! i totally understand the knit craze... fast, easy and super useful! you might be interested in the kirsten kimono tee by MariaDenmark, free over on craftsy. i made this up the other afternoon and really like it!

    here's the link--http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/clothing/kirsten-kimono-tee/23683

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    1. Thanks for that link, Lisa! Will be trying that one out! Can't wait to see yours!

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  4. Wow! You're going to empty your stash in no time! I especially love the orange top. It looks great on you!

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  5. Okay, that's just scary, lol! I'd be lucky to make a garment in a week and here you are making a few in a day! Seriously impressed and I admit a little jealous! :)

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    1. Somehow, knits just feel easier to me to cut. And of course sewing on the serger eliminates the need to finish seams, which I love!

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  6. Nice wardrobe beef-up! That dolman sleeve top is on my list to try too. (And yes, I did take advantage of GC's Labor Day sale, natch.) :-)

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  7. I absolutley love the print on that first dress! And you sew like the wind!

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    1. Thank you! They have it in voile too; I'm really thinking about getting some of that to make a blouse.

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  8. You are really inspiring me on the knit front. I need to jump dive in and make some simple tops. My first Renfrew/Maxi looked a bit butered on the inside. Totally turned me off until I buy an overlocker. I might just try and practice and hope my technique improves.

    I love that yoga skirt. It's been on my to-sew list for ages.

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    1. That skirt is so darn easy! I see more of those in my future! I'm also planning to make the yoga pants as well.

      I have to admit I didn't have a whole lot of luck with the knits on my regular machine, but I think I'm in the minority!

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  9. You make me want to learn to sew garments so badly, especially since everything you make turns out so perfectly! Any suggestions on where to start?

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    1. Do you have a sewing machine, or access to one? I'd probably say to start with a simple, a-line or full skirt, as those don't take too much fitting. Craftsy has a beginner class called "Sewing Studio with Diana Rupp." I haven't taken it, but it's listed as being for beginners.

      Or if you want to sew knits, I recommend the Craftsy "Sewing with Knits" class, which comes with 7 downloadable patterns. Knits are great because you generally don't have to do any fitting, since the fabric is so forgiving.

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  10. I'm really, really impressed, so much sewing and such high quality stuff made in a few hours!!! I'm loving these Dolman-sleeved tops!

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    1. It's really a great pattern! Cindy was so generous to offer it for free!

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  11. Wow - tricot mania indeed! Each one looks lovely and the more Kimono dresses I see, the more intrigued I'm by the pattern. My favourite of the fabrics you showed us is the yellow/burnout number - so pretty!

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    1. I really love that fabric too. I do wish it had a little more stretch and drape though.

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  12. you are definitely in a knit frenzy!! I can see why, they're so nice to sew and wear!

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    1. I'm wearing one of the dresses right now, and it's sooooo comfy!

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  13. Crikey! You HAVE been productive!
    I really love the orange painted stripe top :D

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    1. Hahaha! I love that word!

      And I now have a matching navy stripe top of the same design ;-)

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