Garments, Uncategorized

2 Quilt Market Outfits, and Craftsy’s Sewing With Knits!

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I am really excited to review another Craftsy class for you! This is Sewing With Knits: 5 Wardrobe Essentials, an on-line Craftsy class by Meg McElwee of the pattern company Sew Liberated. I own several Sew Liberated women’s garment patterns, and one of the first women’s items that I ever sewed up was the Sew Liberated Emmaline Apron. So, needless to say I was already familiar with Meg’s patterns and was looking forward to this class! If you’re not familiar with Craftsy classes, once purchased, they stay in your on-line account forever, to be viewed at your leisure. This particular pattern contains the pattern pieces to make all of the garments pictured above, as well as video instruction to make each piece. Craftsy is great because it’s not only a class, but it’s a community. You can ask questions of the Craftsy instructor (or see questions that have already been asked and answered), and I think that it’s basically everything that I love about the on-line sewing community.

This class features instruction and pattern for 5 different knit garments (pictured in the banner above), so this class is really a fantastic value! I invite you to read through my review, and check out the bottom of my post, for a chance to win this class!

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After being introduced to Meg and getting an overview of the class, the instruction jumps right in to a history of knits and a basic explanation of what kind of weave separates a knit fabric from a woven fabric. Meg gives specific attention to each of 13 different types of knit fabrics, which I really appreciated. As someone who’s only sewn with knits a handful of times, I really needed to know the information that Meg presented. I purchased fabric on-line to make some outfits for Quilt Market this week, and because I didn’t know the difference between the knits that I was buying, I bought several different kinds on-line, knowing that if I ordered the wrong kind when it arrived and I actually saw it in person, at least I’d have a few options to choose from. If I had watched this class before I’d ordered, I would have felt confident in my buying choice (which would have saved me money).

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In regards to the different types of knits, Meg addresses ‘stretchability’ as well, using the fabric and a measuring tape; stretchability means the ability of the knit to stretch and come back down to the original size. This matters depending on what you’re sewing (a form-fitting t-shirt versus a loose knit children’s t-shirt), and most patterns for knits will specifiy how much stretchability your chosen knit will need to have.

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The beginning of lesson 3, titled ‘Why Knits Scare People’, I thought was hilarious (but so true!). Meg explained why a regular straight stitch with knit fabrics does not normally work. While she did mention a serger, Meg actually did not make any of the garments for the class with a serger, so really anyone can make a knit garment! There is also a lot of discussion about notions and tools needed for sewing knits, as well as a few tricks to make sewing easier! Feet, needles, and more!

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So, as I mentioned earlier, this class walks you through 5 different garments and how to make them, with the pattern pieces provided with the class that you can print at home: Fleece Hoodie, Scoop Neck T-shirt, V-Neck T-shirt, Yoga Shorts, and Surplice Dress (the dress and the hoodie are pictured above, and Meg is wearing the Scoop-neck t-shirt). Besides being able to print out the pattern pieces, there is also a reference document that you can print, which contains information such as size chart, recommended fabrics for each project, where to purchase fabric, etc. It’s a good-sized document and a great reference to have as you are ready to start planning your project.

The class segment for each project ranges from 35-45 minutes. Meg doesn’t just jump in with sewing, but she begins with cutting out your pattern pieces, cutting out the correct size from your fabric, and most importantly, cutting the pieces that need to be cut on the grain.

I cannot speak enough how well Meg instructs in this class. Her method is friendly, encouraging, and no detail is left out. A beginner or beginner with knits would well be able to complete any of the projects in this class. It is so helpful to actually be able to see someone sewing their way through a pattern and being able to follow along!

My mom made me my outfits for Quilt Market this time (because I was the dum-dum that had her book deadline and prep for her Quilt Market booth all in the same month, so I had to call in my mom and grandma for help clothing me for my trip, lol). We referenced Meg’s class in preparation for the tops that my mom made me (although these are bodysuits from the Closet Case Files Nettie Bodysuit, the principles for sewing it are the same as for the Scoop Neck T-shirt, which we referenced when she made the top; not that that pattern is not a great stand-alone, it was just great because I had this Craftsy class already stored in my Craftsy library). The tops were both made in my Jungle Ave. knits, and the skirts were made with a circle skirt pattern piece that I had (the skirts are each several layers of tulle and a bottom layer of tricot knit).

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I hope you enjoyed my review of Craftsy’s Sewing With Knits: 5 Wardrobe Essentials. If you would like to read more details about this class, purchase it for yourself, or enter to win this class, please click here!! And if you’ll be in Houston this weekend, I hope you’ll say hi! I’m at booth #1766!

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8 thoughts on “2 Quilt Market Outfits, and Craftsy’s Sewing With Knits!

  1. Christina Wang says:

    Wow your outfits are soo gorgeous! Wish i could go to quilt market . Thanks so much for the review on knits, sounds like a great class to have.

  2. Jane says:

    Your outfits are fun!!! I am just a regular person, attending next week. I hope your booth will still be there!!

  3. Heather says:

    I took this class this summer and have made several knit garments since! It was just the thing to get me sewing with knits.

  4. Beth says:

    Your market outfits are the cutest yet!!! Don’t you love a twirly skirt? And the tops in your very own fabrics. 🙂 Great review on the class. I am getting more mobile after my ankle break and one think I want to do is make some clothes. Try and make them.
    Have a great time at market. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures.

  5. Cindy Sliker says:

    Awesome outfits, Sara! (thanks Mom!) I did not know your fabric line included knits, so I’m glad I read this particular blog. How do you do the waistbands on those circle skirts??? Please share!

  6. Donna says:

    You are blessed to have your mom and grandma to the rescue, I adore them both!! Wishing you the best at Market-wish I was going!

  7. pam says:

    Hope you are having a great time at market dressed in your own fabric! Your knits for comfort and the twirly skirts for fun! Yes, I am also curious how your skirt’s elastic waist was constructed since it does not look bulky. Nice job Sara, Sara’s mom, and grandma!

  8. Megan says:

    Ah! I just bought my first knit fabric as I am wanting to make a maxi-skirt with it and/or maxi-dress and I was just going to go with it; however once I saw Craftsy offering this class I decided to join in on it! Can’t wait to watch it all and become more familiar with it so I can accurately work with the knit fabric!!! Thanks for this post!

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