Bev, your blog won't let me comment, so hoping you see this post.
Bev is writing her blog posts about using knit fabrics. I know of a wonderful tool that anyone who sews with knits would find invaluable.
Christine Johnson of http://www.cjpatterns.com/ has devised and written a "Perfect Sizing Worksheet". It enables you to calculate how much ease your finished knit garment will have, using fabric with any amount of stretch. For example, you measure your T-shirt pattern (or pants, or skirt, or whatever) at key points--bust, waist, hip. Write them on the worksheet. Determine the percentage of stretch your fabric has, and write it on the worksheet. Then, using her method of calculating, (easy math), you will know how much ease your Tshirt has using fabric with 25% stretch, 50% stretch, 75% stretch, or none at all.
It's genius. And it's free! To get it, go to the link above. Click on "Tips and Techniques". Next, click on "Perfect Sizing Worksheet". The first 3 pages are devoted to her own pattern line, where she has written all the measurements of her patterns. Go to page 4, where you'll see the "Perfect Sizing Worksheet". You can print it out, and use it every time you make a knit garment.
No more guessing how your knit garment is going to fit!
Enjoy!
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4 weeks ago
12 Talk to me:
This is awesome, Gwen! Thanks for the link.
This is great! Thank you Gwen.
Barb
Knits scare me for this reason. I am getting ready to start sewing for myself and will want to use some knits, so thanks.
Ooooh, thanks Gwen!
Gwen, this is part of of post from Sew4Fun and I have found her change to the formula works better for me.
"The only thing I question is the formula uses "maximum stretch" to work out the amount of ease. Firstly the only garment I would ever wear at maximum stretch is a swimsuit and secondly using maximum stretch results in really large nunbers for the amount of ease. Numbers that to my mind don't make a lot of sense.
I decided to change the formula to use half the amount of stretch because that's the most I would want a fabric to stretch when worn.
TPM + (TPM x 1/2 stretch %) = Max Stretch
The resulting amount of ease made a lot more sense to my mind."
Thanks for the link. I will have to test its accuracy based on some knit tops I plan to make for an upcoming vacation.
I had the same problem on Bev's blog. Most bloggers love comments so it's frustrating when the computer somehow blocks me. BTW, I haven't been able to get into your blog for a while. My computer is very picky. I know that you were having some posting problems. I guess my computer was just looking out for me. Now I've got to check if I can see your jacket. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out!
That is an awesome resource. Thank you for posting the link!
A great reference. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the info.
C
Very useful info - thanks!
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