Last time we flirted with summer sundresses, and now we follow up with knit dresses! Here are a few
patterns from Vogue.
A little more slinky and sassy - let's have a look!
Vogue 8685 - Knit Dress
This is a close-fitting, mid-knee length dress with cap raglan sleeves. The bodice has fitting pleats in front and darts in back. It can also be made with a fuller a-line skirt. This dress would be nice in a classic, high quality, Ponte de Roma polyester knit.
We have white, black, grey, and every color of the rainbow!
Or how about something a bit more unconventional?
These charming polyester prints would fit the bill.
Looking for something with a bit more Va-voom?
How about giving an asymmetrical knit dress a try?
The bodice can be asymmetrical as above or there is also a variation with a slight cowl neck. This lined dress can also be made with a flared skirt. It can be made sleeveless, short sleeved or long sleeved. Lightweight double knit, lightweight crepe, and tropical wool are great choices.
We think it would be exciting in a fabulous polyester knit print.
Taylor, one of our sales associates, dares you to be bold...
...with an amazing polyester knit print!
Now, who dares to take this one on? 
This dress would also be nice in the Ponte de Roma Polyester.
Ponte is a double knit, which makes it a stable knit. Ponte is strong enough to handle the topstitching in this dress and to hold its shape during the multiple piecing of this pattern.
Pamela's Patterns are made to fit!
This T-Shirt pattern is unlike any you have ever tried before! It is made for a "real" woman, and addresses the most common fitting issues we face - high round back, forward shoulder, full hip and bust, and a good fit through the shoulder and neck. Design details include an "essence of waist", flattering shirt tail hemline, three necklines, and four sleeve lengths.
Want to learn to sew knits? Consider taking Terry McClintock's serger class. This is a great class! You will no longer be intimidated by your serger - in fact, Terry will teach you to love it! First and foremost you learn to use and thread your machine. By the end of class you will feel very comfortable threading (and re-threading) your machine at home. Best of all, you learn all sorts of tips and techniques so that you will have to do that less and less - Hooray!
390 - Intro To Serger / Overlock Sewing Machine
Terry teaches the four thread hem stitch, the three thread hem stitch, narrow hem, rolled hem, and how to flatlock!
You walk away from this class with your samples of five stitches.
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Satisfaction!
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TIP: If you don't own your own serger then consider that you can take the class, get comfortable using our sergers in class, and make an appointment to rent time ($5/hr) on our excellent
in- store Bernina sergers.
Now that you have the Intro class under your belt, you are ready to dive in and make a project! Continue on to make a great project in our serger techniques class. In
Serger Projects of your Choice, Terry McClintock helps you flat lock a t-shirt, make a great pair of yoga pants, a set of napkins, or the versatile Infinity/ Mobius scarf. Terry is also a big fan of Pamela's Patterns, she has made many of them, and she can help you with these great patterns for knits!
Tips for Sewing Knits From Terry McClintock
1) Use a small zigzag stitch (length 2 / width 1.5) to sew seams. Do not back stitch; this will keep the fabric from getting jammed in the throat plate.
2) When making a t-shirt, stabilize the shoulder seams with
Design Plus fusible seam tape. This small step will prevent wavy shoulder seams, and keep your tee looking like new longer.
3) Finish hems with a double needle. Simply thread two top threads through the thread guides, and remember to stitch right side up! (Most zigzag machines can use a double needle.) The bobbin thread will create a zigzag stitch for a nice finish that will stretch with your knit fabric.
HINT: To help your hem lay flat, lower the upper tension one number when stitching with a double needle.
Spend an evening and two days with Sandra Betzina making
Vogue 1291 and
Vogue 1292. These patterns are designed by Sandra herself, and nobody knows them better! You will go home with am outfit that fits you and guarantees loads of compliments! During construction on your project you will work with knits and slippery fabrics, flawless neck bindings, skirt linings, and a new elastic technique.
Want to make these dresses with some help? You can make them in
Beginning and Beyond 101 where you would have four or five sessions to complete it! If you have less time, you could make part or all of a dress project in our
Mini Beginning and Beyond 102 which is nine hours of sewing in two or three sessions.
If you need help fitting your dress, we recommend
Pattern Adjustment with Barbara Beccio or the
Fit Lab with Lynda Maynard. For fitting or construction assistance you can also take one of our popular
Sew Labs! Our Sew Labs are created to assist you on any phase of your project, so you get the help you need!
Sneak Peek
Our next eNewsletter will look at:
Kayla Kennington's Designs!
In the meantime -
Come by the store to see her trunk show!
