Wednesday 10 November 2010

A trio of tops - my love affair with Jalie continues ...

The arrival of my new cover stitch machine coincided with the discovery that my wardrobe is seriously lacking some basic long-sleeve t-shirts – an essential for the British winter. Because I was so pleased with my Jalie scarf collar top (blogged about here), I thought I would turn to Jalie for a simple t-shirt pattern. I picked out Jalie 2806 and thought it was so quick and easy that I whipped up three!

Here’s the first one – ‘the flower print one’ made in a rayon/lycra knit.

The pattern gives you a choice of necklines and sleeves that you can mix and match. Here’s the pattern envelope.


I made the gathered neck with three-quarter length sleeves. It’s very straight forward to make – the most difficult part is attaching the neckline band. You need to take a little care to make sure the gathers are distributed evenly and that you sew the band on so that the width is exactly right all the way round.

So, here’s the second one – ‘the Liberty print one’. (I’m not modelling this one – I mean, how many pictures of me in a t-shirt do you need to look at?!)

Because Liberty of London is so famous for its cotton lawn, you might not be aware that they also make knit fabrics, but they do. As it is a cotton knit, it isn’t drapey like the rayon knit and doesn’t have the same kind of stretch or recovery. But it makes a nice, beefy t-shirt that is good to wear with jeans and the prints and colours they use are interesting. I extended the sleeves to make them full length for this version.

Lastly, as I had got my confidence up by now, is ‘the luxury one’ made from a 100% silk jersey purchased from Gorgeous Fabrics.

This picture doesn’t really do it justice. The fabric has a wonderful lustrous sheen and drapes perfectly. The top works worn casually but also looks very nice and dressy with a skirt.

I am quite enchanted with my cover stitch machine. Of course it is perfectly possible to make hems on knits without one but I do like how the machine can so easily make a knit garment look professional. Here’s a close-up of the hem (both the outside and inside) on the flower print top

The triple row of stitching is on the outside and inside the looper thread ‘covers’ the raw edge. It looks super-neat and you can stretch it as far as the fabric will go without the stitches breaking. You can also do a double row of stitching, rather than a triple row if you want to (which is what I did for the other two tops).

So, now that I have some tops, my winter wardrobe building is going to continue with a classic black pencil skirt but more on that soon ….

35 comments:

  1. Очень красиво и аккуратно!Поздравляю!

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  2. All three look lovely! I envy that coverstitch machine...

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  3. How nice the cover stitching looks...it really does make a difference. I love the silk one you made. The colour is so rich and deep.

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  4. All three are lovely! And I do understand you making 3 at one time...I'm itching to make a dozen turtlenecks in all colors because my current supply is getting old and raggedy!

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  5. I love your tops---especially the floral one! As they say the best things come in "3's". It's great you were able to take advantage of such a great pattern. I have this pattern and definitely need to put it to use. Quick question, I have a serger/coverstitch machine combo (I ultimately want a separate coverstitch machine) but do you have any issues coverstitching over side seams? Do you adjust your pressure foot to handle the added thickness? My machine does a great coverstitch but it's hard to get over those sideseams sometimes without the stitch wavering. Please let me know if you have that issue to. I've heard the single machines have less of that issue.

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  6. These look great - you can never have too many knit tops!
    Victoria - maybe one trick you could try is to fold the hem seam allowance opposite to the outer seam allowance to reduce some bulk.

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  7. You are turning into a knit superstar! I have been admiring your Jalie top with the scarf tie, gotta get that pattern.
    beautiful hem stitching, I am envious of your new machine.
    Love that solid pink one.

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  8. These are great tops! Funny thing is that today I'm wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt for the first time this fall, and I was thinking this morning: I really should have more of them. So, no better inspiration than your shirts.
    Have fun with your coverstitch machine!

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  9. Hi Victoria. Thanks for your comment! I haven't used my coverstitch machine on any especially thick fabrics, just regular weight knits, but so far I can say that I haven't encountered a problem when stitching across the side seams. The machine feels pretty sturdy and goes over the bump without trouble - I haven't needed to adjust the pressure foot. I'll report back if I do encounter problems in the future!

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  10. I am becoming increasingly envious of your coverstitch machine.

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  11. Your tops look really great. I especially like the fuchsia coloured one.
    I am usually a bit afraid of sewing with knits (and sheer fabrics :-)), but I've got a Janome coverstitch too and it really makes my (sewing) life easier. It's easier to use than I thought before purchasing it and the results always look proessional - even by a not-so-professional-yet sewer like me ;-).

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  12. Wow! You've been busy - those tops are fabulous! I am very jealous of that coverstitch!

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  13. Made that same top too. It's a winner on everyone. Love your versions.

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  14. All three are really beautiful, but the latter has for me something special. I do not know if the color .... You enjoy your toy ..... We enjoy your creations!

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  15. Love all three tops. I'm also still super envious of your coverstitch machine. SO. ENVIOUS!

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  16. I'll join in with the others to say - I'm quite envious of your coverstitch machine. The shirts are absolutely beautiful. I will definitely have to acquire some Jalie patterns - after all, they are Canadian, eh? A much better reason - all the tee's I've seen done from these patterns look SO good.

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  17. Wonderful new tops. Jalie is a great pattern company.

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  18. Beautiful tops. I've been thinking long sleeved myself. I haven't practiced converting my serger to a coverstitch and envy the ease that you have with yours.

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  19. I'm with you on the Jalie love affaire. Once you get one, you just want more'n more of 'em. They're very moresome...

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  20. All three tops came out wonderfully! I am a fan of the Jalie tops you have made, even though I have not sewn one before.

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  21. They're all lovely and I'm totally jealous that you have a coverstitch machine! I too am on a long sleeved tee jag, must be the weather :)

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  22. I love all three of your tops!

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  23. This T-shirt sure has a nice silhouette. Cranking out three at a time is a great way to beef up your wardrobe. I've made the cascading front one, but really like this view you are showing. Will have to pull this one out again! Lovely choices on your fabric!

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  24. Great tops! I just bought some silk jersey so I know what you mean about the sheen. I love a little bit of shine in an outfit.

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  25. Nice tops, Eugenia! I bet that silk jersey top is awesome to wear. Funny, I've made Jalie 2806 and fine tuned the fit on the pattern last week. It's in the Kew. I have a love affair with Jalie tops also.

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  26. Ohh.. those are awesome basic tops!! The stitching from the coverstitch is amazing... drool...

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  27. Wow, those turned out fantastic! And you have made me really, really want a coverstitch machine. The gathers at the front neckline are a great touch.

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  28. Really nice tops Eugenia! I too need to beef up my wardrobe and you're really inspiring me to get my "you know what" in gear!! I don't have this pattern, but your versions are so nice, it's a must have for me now! Great job!

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  29. I would have loved to see in you in the other 2 tops. They are all fabulous.

    My baby lock has a cover stitch option that I use here and there, but seeing your professional finish makes me think I should go for that more often with my knits.

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  30. I have this pattern. I will have to see what all the hullabaloo is. ;) It looks fantastic on you!

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  31. What a great top on you. May need to add this to my pattern stash.

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  32. I've yet to try a Jalie pattern, but I always read wonderful things about them. Long sleeve tops are on my to do list. Yours are all so lovely! Thanks for the nice comment on my blog.

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  33. Great shirts! I think I need to ask Santa for a coverstitch machine!

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  34. Such great tops! Isn't it nice to whip out some staples you'll wear all season long? I need to get on that.

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  35. All three are uniquely cute. Already you've got a lot of use out of the Jalie. Congratulatiopns on your precious new coverstitch machine. I want one too. Wink, Wink.
    C

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