In this week’s second episode of Sew Knits With Confidence on Sewing With Nancy, we’ll look at ways to really take knits to the next level. We’ve covered the basics in episode one, and now we’ll add easy touches to really personalize your knit sewing.
Extra Touches
Combine knits and lightweight woven fabric such as organza around the neck and hemline for a trendy finish. The sewing is streamlined with the help of paper-backed fusible web. Press, fuse, stitch—it’s a three-step process!
Ruffles
Another creative option is to add ruffles. This time the organza edges are not finished, giving a shabby chic appearance. Bias strips with a minimum of gathering add this easy extra touch to your favorite knit top.
Pleated Posies
Cotton batik or lightweight knit creates these tumbling petals. A stiletto or even a seam ripper will serve as a valuable tool as you add texture.
T-shirt Makeover
Could it be that the fabric for your next creation is hanging in your closet? An over-sized tee-shirt can easily be transformed into a more attractive knit top. Sometimes you can use the existing neckline and only modify the body shape. Other times you can turn a billboard tee-shirt into a knit top with an attractive silhouette. Knowing how to sew gives you the tools to be creative!
Embroidery on Knits
In this second episode, I show you how to gain confidence when sewing and embroidering on knits. Make it easy on yourself and don’t over plan or over stitch. The streamlined steps are made possible by selecting knit-friendly stabilizers.
Flouncy Tee
The cascading flounces created for this tee are raw-edge and easy to achieve. Use your favorite knit top pattern and make a few modifications to create a top with charming details.
All the techniques featured on TV, plus many more, are in my book, Sew Knits with Confidence.
For a chance to win a copy of Sew Knits with Confidence, let me know your most challenging part of sewing with knits. A random winner will be announced on July 30.
Watch Sew Knits with Confidence on Sewing With Nancy online.
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Bye for now,
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My biggest challenge with knits is being afraid to embroider on a garment and ruining it.
I desperately need help sewing knits! The necklines are the hardest , then the arm hole fishing.
I hope you pick me!
LuLu
I desperately need help sewing knits! The necklines are the hardest , then the arm hole fishing.
I hope you pick me!
I haven’t tried sewing with knit fabric in a long time because the seams never seemed to give enough even though I used the knit stitches on my machine. But lately when I tried to repair a ripped out hem on a knit top, it always ends up bunchy.
My biggest challenge sewing with knits is hemming. I do not have a coverstitch machine and have had varying degrees of luck with a double needle. Would love to win this book.
I would love to win this book so that I can help by granddaughters with sewing knits. We just sewed pajama bottoms out of fleece, and while fleece is not considered a knit, there is some stretch to it. I’m sure this book would help all of us.
would love to win this book, have sewn with knits before but sure could use some new techniques. Knits are so comfortable, and just love the ruffles you have made.
The most difficult part of sewing on knits for me is keeping the fabric from stretching out of shape. I would love to have this book and try to sew with knits in a more skilled manner. Thank you for all your videos!
I would love to win this book. I have been learning new techniques on different fabrics & have yet to “go for it” on knits. This book would be a great confidence builder.
I’ve been intimidated by the stretch. I have purchased a serger but haven’t tried using it as yet… much to learn, and I thank you for all the tips to help in my creative journey.
My biggest challenge is getting a nice smooth neck opening on slinky knit. Another is finding nice Heavy cotton or cotton blend to use to make slacks. The knits Nancy sells are lovely but too soft and drapey for the pants I want to make. I’m not wearing Yoga pants to go out for dinner.
I would love to sew knits without the stretched-looking or lumpy seams. I also need to figure out the best knit for a particular garment. I haven’t had much luck with knits!
I used to have embroidery issues, but watched a tutorial on hooping correctly & can now do amazing things.(at least I think they are!) Next thing is to learn to do a placket in a polo shirt without a big bubble!
Knits are so comfy, I love sewing knit skirts…But I really want to sew tops, but not ones that look like T-shirts…I am an older women who wants comfort and to look good also…
I am looking forward to making some school clothes for my granddaughter. Knits are probably the most comfy things for a soon to be 6 year old. I am sure that these blogs are going to help me in a big way!
I have trouble finding good quality knits in my city, and although I do order online, sometimes it’s difficult to know exactly what you’re getting.
Some of the time I have a hard time to get a nice, smooth hem when sewing with knits. thanks for the great giveaway.
I like knits but am afraid of failure. Different knits have different stretch.
Like someone else here I also have a hard time finding knits in prints suitable for an adult. There’s lots of cute kids knits prints but not so much for adults.
It has to be embroidery on knits! I think the most challenging thing is getting the pre-made knits into or onto the hoop and not distorting the whole piece.
I don’t have a problem with stretchy fabric -I’ve been making my own leotards for ballet class for a decade or so – but I hate it when my cover stitch machine skips stitches consistently and the maker can’t offer me useful advice to fix the issue!
stretchy fabric is scary
I can not get the hems from being wavy. I know your book will really help me with that.
Thanks love your shows.
Maxine
Wow! I’m a beginner with embroidery. My husband wanted me to put his name on his knit shirts. I had some left over stabilizer that was in the cabinet with no directions. I thought I can use it. WRONG. You should of seen how his name came out. You could barely read his name. After reading your steps and stabilizers used I know where I messed up. I went and bought the right stabilizer for knits and from now on I will label my stabelizers.
Hi Nancy
I have your book “Sew Knits with Confidence” and I have a question.
I have sloped shoulders and all my shirts are shorter in the back than in the front.
Do I just add an 1 1/2″ to the back of the pattern? I have many of your books and I have learned so much from you.
Thank you for your help.
Joan
My most challenging part of sewing knits is finding quality, cotton, printed knit fabric! I don’t care for polyester knits, and cotton knits usually have “kid prints” on them. This is so frustrating.
I think sewing the waistband of pants or curved shoulder or neck seams are the hardest! I’d love to win this book! Thanks!
Getting my hems to lay flat is the most challenging. They always turn out wavy.
Starting. I don’t like retail fabrics and designs. And I am nervous when I buy the fabric that is will work with what I want to make. So, I am off to the thrift store to buy existing shirts and just sew on them, cut them up and make different things. Investigate how they were constructed. And, what about interfacing? And on and on.
Diane in Wyoming
I find it difficult to do hemline without it stretching..
and how to keep hemline from stretching.
Thank you Carolyn
I find it difficult to do hemline without it stretching..
and how to keep hemline from stretching.
Thank you Carolyn scarborough
I love the embellishments that make these simple shirts extra special.
Hemming is the most challenging part of working with knits for me.
As young adult I learned to sew knit fabrics on my mechanical machine using a small zig-zag stitch. After giving up on the results and homemade appearance, I’d now love to learn current techniques for handling and sewing knits. Thank you for keeping the home-sewing industry alive!
Love that knits are making a come-back. Wavy seams and hems still a problem even with the help of a serger.
I hate doing the rib neckline on a v-neck. That 90 degree corner in front is always bulky and never looks like rally good quality tee’s do.
Making a hem that isn’t wavey
I have difficulty sewing a nice looking hem in knits. I find it very frustrating, as I end up with a wave or skipped stitches.
Making the neckline look right, no ripples etc, and making a nice hem without a serger.
I’ve always struggled with the simplest thing – seams! And hems. The fabric seems to grow and stretch, especially thinner knits, like t-shirt material. It seems like a serger might make sewing with knits easier, but I don’t have a serger. I hope this series will help me. Thanks!
I too have a problem sewing with knits and can use all the help I can get.
clc97423@gmail.com
Stretched seams on knits has always been a bug-bear.
My biggest challenge is working with an old serger without a differential feed, self adjusting tension, or any of the “modern” conveniences.
I find the neck line to be the most challenging on working with knits. The opportunity to win the Sewing with Confidence book/DVD is appreciated.
One of my most challenging parts of sewing with knits is to keep the hems flat and not wavy like a flag!
The most challenging part for of dealing with knits is getting started. I tried to make a shirt from corduroy shirt material and never finished. So I think the guidance of the DVD would help.
My only problem would be not stretching the seam when it is sewn. I love sewing knits and highly reccomend the coverstitch machine for beautiful hemmed clothes.
I shy away from knits that stretch in two directions they just seem too hard to control straight seams.
Hems Ugh.
I’m from the polyester generation and I really have difficulty getting my seams and hems to not be wavy.
My biggest challenge with sewing knits is to get the stretch juuuust right so that the seam doesn’t wave (too stretchy) or break (not enough stretch). I’d really like to get the technique down as I love wearing knit tops, but don’t want to wear boring, run-of-the-mill tops.
My biggest challenge when sewing knits is to be careful not to stretch the fabric when doing the sewing. Keeping my touch light and gentle is something I need to keep in the front of my mind. Thanks for the chance to win this book and DVD.
I struggle with remembering to stabilize so I won’t have deformed hems
The movement of the fabric.
I think the most challenging part of sewing with knits is not overstretching! I’m from the generation of the original polyester, double stretch knits, and todays fabrics are so much lighter.
I have the same issue with not having directions for using a serger. Also, it seems like I can never get everything to lie flat! My seams end up looking bumpy.
I’m going back to sewing knit blouses, jackets and dresses because of the comfort and wearability ..Ive noticed that in ready to wear the edges are left raw.. My main problem is cutting out the fabric to know where the stretch will give with the body when sewing a simple dress and adding a skirt to leggings to fit right going to try that first.. Love your show been watching you for years every week and have several of your quilt books..
I like using my serger to sew knits, yet it seems most patterns don’t have directions for serging, so I have to plan ahead to maximize sewing flat seams (like setting the sleeves in first before the side seams).
Everything about sewing w/knits drives me crazy. Hopefully watching & following along w/you will help me get sane when working w/knits.