Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 01-01-2007, 11:27 PM (1 of 18)
|
Since I got my serger for Christmas, I'm itching to make a few tops. I'm hoping to find a good basic T-shirt pattern to start from, and I was wondering if you guys had any recommendations. Kwik Sew seems to have a couple of patterns with directions specific for sergers -- has anyone tried those? Thank for the help yet again!
http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
|
User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222 
|
From: PaulineG
Date: 01-02-2007, 04:37 AM (2 of 18)
|
I don't own a serger but I do have tons of Kwik Sew patterns - some specifically for a serger that I've made on my ordinary sewing machine. They are fantastic - absolutely foolproof instructions - for a long time they were the only brand I would use - too many issues with incorrect or confusing instructions or nonfitting of clothes with other brands. I'm over that now but they are still definitely my favourite. However you don't need to use a specifically for serger pattern if all you're making is a tshirt - what the pattern means is that you don't NEED a sewing machine - there are things a sewing machine can do that a serger can't. So a serger pattern will work for either but other patterns might require the use of a sewing machine - it would be unusual for a tshirt to be one of those. Good luck and have fun. 
Pauline
|
User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: sewingrandma
Date: 01-02-2007, 02:14 PM (3 of 18)
|
I like my Kwik Sew patterns also for t-shirts. I have one pattern that I can vary the neck line from crew, to round, boat, to v without any problems and fit perfectly every time. This particular pattern is in the Easy Sewing the Kwik Sew Way. Pricey but that is what gift cards are for.
Brockie
|
User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 01-02-2007, 05:45 PM (4 of 18)
|
I have that book but haven't made anything from it yet. I bought it on Ebay for about $6 and its in pretty good condition. Pattern shopping on Ebay and in thrift shops seems to be the cheapest way to go.
Pauline
|
User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-02-2007, 07:58 PM (5 of 18)
|
Jalie has some nice t shirt patterns, their basic t has a round, v neck and boat neck with short and elbow length sleeves. easy to do on the serger with a nice fit. Jeanette
|
User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
|
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-03-2007, 07:57 PM (6 of 18)
|
Abouyt 20 years ago (give or take a couple), Shirley Adams came here for a trunk showing and half-day workshop.. Cost was very low.. She had , I think, her second series on PBS at the time.. When you got there and handed to ticket taker your ticket, she presented you with 2 patterns... FREE... one of them was a KWik Sew T-shirt or Sweat shirt pattern.. fits all sizes from pxsm to exl... I have made over a hundred shirts from that pattern... I use it for pj tops , sleep shirts (gown length), and I have never had to buy another.. (except for kids) You cannot beat them for clarity of instructions, etc.. I always hemmed mine on my Sewing machine til I finally bought a Coverpro last april.. Other than hemming , they are made on the serger.. I can make one in less than 30 mins.. anytime.. I ue 1/8 or 1/4 inch ribbon in the shoulder seams to keep the shape nice, but my serger has a slot in the presser foot and the ribbon slips in there and it is so easy to do.. I could not afford twill tape as many shirts as I make.. That ribbon is the 44 cents a spool stuff at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, A C Moore, and all the craft stores..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-03-2007, 08:25 PM (7 of 18)
Libby do you like your coverpro? I was oogling one but was out of the budget (don't feel too sorry for me I have a very nice machine collection already )
Jeanette
|
User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
|
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 01-03-2007, 10:44 PM (8 of 18)
|
Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I think I'm going to have to check out Kwik Sew patterns. I don't usually have too much trouble following pattern instructions, but sometimes they are pretty convoluted! It would be nice to have some good instructions. Thanks for the tip of checking on Ebay! Jalie looks interesting too -- is it confusing with all those sizes on one pattern? Another question -- what do you ladies usually do for hems? I was thinking about flatlocking them, but I could do them on my regular machine. Do you use a straight stitch, or a stretch straight stitch, or zigzag? I feel like a zigzag stitch would look funny on a hem, but I would be nervous that a regular straight stitch would pop really easily. Thanks for your help again! http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
|
User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222
|
From: sewingrandma
Date: 01-04-2007, 05:35 PM (9 of 18)
|
I don't have any problems with the multiple sizes on Kwik sew because each size is a different color, easy to follow. T-shirt hems I always use a twin needle on my regular sewing machine. To me it is the easiest and best looking for a t-shirt. Brockie
|
User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 01-04-2007, 07:06 PM (10 of 18)
|
Unfortunately, I can't seem to get the tension right to do twin needle stitching on my sewing machine -- it always tunnels. If I had been buying for myself, I probably would have upgraded my sewing machine before I got a serger, but I have to admit the serger is a lot more fun.
http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
|
User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222
|
From: Shellymoon
Date: 01-06-2007, 10:59 PM (11 of 18)
|
Don't waste your time on t-shirt patterns from the big 3. I've had pretty good luck with Burda patterns. I just bought a Sandra Betzina Voge pattern that has a simple t-shirt as one of the options. Her designs are made for real bodies and boy, do I have a real body. The link is below. Haven't sewn it up yet, but all her other patterns have been nearly perfect. She's eliminated the monstrous shoulders and neckline problem that I have with so many other designs. http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/voguepatterns/shop.cgi?s.item.V8151=x&TI=20008&page=2 Shelly Moon
|
User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-08-2007, 11:48 AM (12 of 18)
|
Yes, I love my Cover-pro... My serger is more than 15 years old, but still good as the day I first brought it home, so I didn't need to spend $1500. on one to get the coverstitch feature, so I bought the 900 series coverpro machine from Janome... I LOVE IT ! ! !
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
|
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-17-2007, 04:11 PM (13 of 18)
|
yeah, the extra $$ to get the coverstitch was a bit daunting plus the switch over on the viking looked a bit fiddly to me. Maybe later....
Jeanette
|
User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838
|
From: MaryW
Date: 01-18-2007, 08:29 AM (14 of 18)
|
Shelly, I am going to start that top this weekend. I have loads of knits. When I saw SB last fall I think it was, she was wearing it. Nice and comfy.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: Lackey
Date: 03-09-2007, 02:51 PM (15 of 18)
|
I am not, by any time scale, new to sewing, but I was wondering what is a Cover-pro?
Syd & JuJu's Nana
|
User: Lackey
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 8 |
From: temom
Date: 03-10-2007, 08:46 AM (16 of 18)
|
Unfortunately, I can't seem to get the tension right to do twin needle stitching on my sewing machine -- it always tunnels. If you use a stabilizer underneath, it won't tunnel. I used a tear a way that was about a dollar a yard, and it worked very well. You may have to use two layers of stabilzer, but if you play with it with a scrap of material, you will find what works very quickly. Theresa
|
User: temom
Member since: 01-19-2007 Total posts: 410 
|
From: bridesmom
Date: 03-12-2007, 08:05 PM (17 of 18)
|
Have you tried loosening your top tension?? When I do mine, I loosen the tension from a 4 to a 3. A coverpro is a machine that sews the double lined seam that you see on RTW knits. I think that's about all it does, and I think you can get a serger that does the coverstitch as well. I don't have one, and I don't think I'd use one all that much, at least not enough to warrant the price of one, though if I ever upgrade my serger, I'd go for all the bells and whistles. Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Kaitlinnegan
Date: 03-12-2007, 09:16 PM (18 of 18)
I tried loosening the top tension -- I can't remember what happened exactly since was a while ago, but I remember that there was no point where it was right. Thanks for the stabilizer tip -- I'll have to try it. The fabric I was practicing on was a very light weight and stretch polyester/lycra knit -- it might do better on a little thicker fabric. I suppose I won't give up on it just yet.  Now I just have to find the time to work on all my projects! 
http://www.sew-whats-up.com - the new home for Sew What's New
|
User: Kaitlinnegan
Member since: 03-20-2006 Total posts: 222
|
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-21100.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft