You Don't have to Knit to make a Sweater!

Years ago, Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics carried yarn in the store. We had a whole community of knitters and crocheters who could made the most beautiful hand-made sweaters, scarves and craft projects. In time, other great yarn stores opened up and we eventually settled into doing what we do best - selling fabric!

Out an about wearing my new Helene Cardigan, Lark Tee, and Emerson Pants

That being said, just because you don't knit or crochet doesn't mean that you can't have a beautiful sweater. Our Indie pattern designers are always out there in front of the design curve, adding unique sweater patterns to their collections.

Check out the pattern choices!

Remember this knit cocoon Cardigan from Jalie? 
I love and wear this so much!

Jalie Cocoon Cardigan - #3353 - link here

Ann's Cardigan and Tank

This open cardigan with cascading panels is
another wonderful choice by Sewing Workshop Patterns

The Fjord Cardi

I love this one too -
Its the super comfy cardigan named the Fjord Cardi!

Papercut Patterns Fjord Cardi!

Jalie has so many great patterns and we love this classic jewel neck cardigan called the Charlotte

And of course, Stonemountain has jumped in with both feet to provide you with a wide array of knit fabrics perfect for the perfect sweater! Can we talk cozy and unique fabrics?

A closer look...

Beautiful Speckled Sweater Knit

Double faced wool sweater knit

Viscose Sweater Knit - Alpine Stripe!

Check out this Jacquard Sweater Knit with this Geometric Panel - you can really use these panels in such creative ways!

Sewing sweater fabric may seam a little daunting, but the only difference in sewing these fabrics and ordinary knits used for tees and dresses is their considerable weight. Adjustments to your machine's tension, stitch length may be necessary to achieve a nice finish.

I chose this ribbed knit for my Helene sweater, from Jalie. 

The Helene is an open front cardigan with a high back neck, slight peplum to the back with a super easy pocket and a waist seam that allows for color blocking. We made it up in Jalies' size V, which is pretty much a size 8.

Since the ribbed knit had such a distinct pattern, we decided to change the direction for the lower half of the sweater to add some pizazz! The sleeve ribbing runs in the same direction as the top half of the sweater.

Laurel chose to sew most of our sweater with her serger, allowing for the most stretch in the knit, although certain seams were sewn on her machine using a tight zig-zag stitch. It isn't really necessary to machine finish or bind the seams of most knit fabrics and they normally don't ravel, even though we did so on this garment.

Note: Many sergers are challenging to thread, so often times, sewists just keep using the same threads.  However, when you are actually "sewing" a garment together using a serger, you may want the left-hand needle thread to match your fabric as closely as possible. And since we don't always find serger thread that matches exactly, you can use your high quality sewing machine thread for the perfect match.  We stock so many colors of Gutermann threads!

The pattern instructions call for a machine finished hems and edging, by folding the hems 3/4" and then top stitching.  An alternative method would be turn the hems and blind stitch them in place by hand, the method we used for this ribbed knit.

Sweaters are the perfect layering garments for my work day at the store. This Helene is awesome!

Laurel and I out celebrating our collaboration of over 6 years! We love our mission to sew up patterns for this blog and to display at Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics. Laurel is wearing a wonderful Hinterland Dress out of a fabulous Japanese Cotton.

I am wishing you warmth, creativity, 

and love in this new year!

In gratitude,

Suzan

follow me on Instagram @fabriclady3

email me at fabriclady3@gmail.com or email my store with any questions at info@stonemountainfabric.com

Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley

since 1981

www.stonemountainfabric.com (full service brick and mortar and online pageant of fine fabrics, patterns, and notions)

2518 Shattuck Ave.

Berkeley, CA 94704

I would like to leave you with this message,

“There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life.” 

― Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha