STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

theotherjess · Chanel

Sewers (people who sew, not sewage systems)

Elle · Hermes

Sounds fairly doable, especially if you'd be able to use your other dress for measurements and stuff.

I'd practice on some muslin first though!

Hermes

the only thing with knits is it's better to sew them with a serger. a regular stitch doesn't give with the fabric and is better for wovens. I have always avoided sewing with knits, but I know there are techniques you can use, and some stitches are better than others on a conventional sewing machine. I would google "sewing knit fabric" to see if you can find some info/tips.

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

if your machine has stretch stitch options, jersey is easy enough to sew. make sure you use a needle for stretch fabrics as well. you'll have to practice with scrap material to get the stitch tension right and be careful not to pull or stretch the fabric as you sew it. i used to sew a lot of knits and stretch material in high school including swimsuits and my workout gear for track practice using my mom's sewing machine. it's a bit more challenging than a woven, but it can be done well.

erin · Chanel

like detroit, i avoid sewing with knits at all costs!

is your mom experienced with sewing knits? if so...then i'd probably go for it, because she could help you when the going gets tough!

i've never used a serger, so i can't comment on that!

honey · Gucci

i agree with detroit about the serger. also looking at the picture it appears to be cut on a bias which seems to give it its shape. this can be tricky to figure out, but it sounds like your mom probably knows how to do it. i would definitely practice on spare material first and then move on to the real thing.

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Maybe there is a similar dress that you can find a pattern for? That way at least it would have instuctions and tips. I would definintly test sew on scrap fabric to see how the stitching comes out.

lynnie · Chanel

it looks pretty easy to make. if its cut on the bias though- you'd need a ton of fabric- that skirt looks like a lot of fabric. stretch knits do require more skills, but for something you wear once (in theory), you don't have to have the stitch be perfect. i've just used a zigzag stitch on tshirts and such and it was fine.

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

No advice here.. but cute dress!

laken1 · Hermes

JoceyBaby23 wrote:

No advice here.. but cute dress!

ditto & the title cracks me up everytime I see it!

lindsayp · Kenneth Cole

from my extensive sewing experience (watching Project Runway), don't you need an Overlock machine to sew stretch fabrics? I remember this being a big deal on the ice skating costume challenge.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

lindsayp wrote:

from my extensive sewing experience (watching Project Runway), don't you need an Overlock machine to sew stretch fabrics? I remember this being a big deal on the ice skating costume challenge.

you can use a zigzag stitch instead but it's pretty difficult to get it to give enough. My personal opinion is that this dress would take a ton of fabric and could totally overwealm you if you don't do it exactly right. I worry that it might come out looking a little like a nightgown

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

Stretch jersey is really hard to sew, and it's cut on the bias, which is hard too. The seams pucker and twist like you would not believe. And that dress is all about the seaming - it's more fitted than a tshirt. I think you would need a overlock/serger machine to get a good look. Sometimes you can rent one at fabric stores, though. I agree, why don't you buy a small amount of the fabric you plan to use and play around with the machine to see how it looks?

And how many sewers are there on this board? Usually I'm the only one I know, although I haven't done it in a while...