TUTORIAL: Quick Knit Top

TUTORIAL: Easy Sew Knit Top

 

This sewing project is made for you! Have you been wanting a new shirt but don't want to spend a few hours making one? Then you will LOVE making this easy knit top! Literally it takes 10-15 minutes for a beginner - no serger needed. Read on and enjoy!

 

Time: 10-15 minutes

 

Materials needed: 1 yard knit fabric, sewing machine, thread, scissors, pins, straight edge, bias tape (optional) and a shirt from your closet in a knit or a looser fitting shirt if you want something not as snug as a t-shirt

1. Fold your shirt in half. Lay it on your folded fabric and line up the edges.

2. Cut around your shirt adding a 5/8 inch seam allowance along the shoulder and side seam only - not the neck or bottom

 

3. Repeat for the back of your shirt. I cut my neckline lower in the front (see below on the right).

 

4. Lay your shirt pieces right sides together and pin.

 

 

5. Sew using a 5/8 inch seam allowance only where the shoulder seams are and from the bottom of each sleeve down the side of your shirt all the way to the bottom. Do not sew along your neckline or your bottom edge.

 

Hint: You will use a stretch stitch. This is stitch #3 on my machine. It looks like a slanted zig-zag stitch.

 

I also made my stitch length longer and wider.

6. Trim threads. Turn right side out. Loving it??! 

 

OPTIONAL: If you want a bottom waistband, continue. If not, see below on neckline and shoulder hemming or binding hints.

 

 
7.  Cut a piece of fabric 8 inches long x the width of your shirt (I added an extra inch on either side, but if I did it again I would only add half an inch on either side.)

 

 

8. Place waistband pieces right sides together. Sew the left and right ends together using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Trim threads.

 

9. Now you have a circular shape that is your bottom waistband. Fold your waistband in half, making the bottom edge meet the top edge with wrong sides together. Your raw edges will be touching.

 

 

 

10. Lay your shirt right side up. Place it into your waistband and match up the raw edges of your waistband to the raw edges of your shirt. Pin through all 3 layers, attaching the waistband around the shirt.

11. Sew all the way around your pinned edge, removing pins as you sew.

12. Flip down the waistband.

13. I added elastic into the waistband so it would have more of a gathered look because I cut my waistband wider than the width of the shirt. If you wanted your waistband to gather your shirt without using elastic, simply cut your waistband 3 inches narrower than the width of your WAIST in step 7. The knit will stretch around your waist and gather your top.

I left the sleeves and neckline edges raw for this project. But if you wanted to hem them you have a few options:
*Fold under a 1/2 inch hem, pin and sew using a  stretch stitch.
*Bind the edges of the sleeves and neckline the same way you did the waistband. Cut a piece of fabric 1 inch x the width of your sleeve or neckline plus one inch. Sew the short ends together to make a circular shape. Fold your binding in half and place around your sleeve or neckline. Sew on.
*You also could use bias tape for your neckline. Apply the bias tape then fold it under toward the wrong side of your neckline. Sew again all the way around to hold the bias tape in place.

Happy Sewing!

Children and Women's sewing patterns on SALE

The kids are back in school - let's CELEBRATE!!

The $6.49 SALE!

Summer is finally over and the kids are in school. I find that I need some time to myself when I first have a break. When all I have is my sewing machine, a cup of coffee and an afternoon I find that I am at my most creative! It's hard finding the time to enjoy myself, to craft, to garden, to cook, to paint, to learn - when the kids are around, but when I take the time to do just one thing for myself it makes me happy for days!

If being crafty is your thing, don't ever give it up!

Go sew something!

Let's CELEBRATE back-to-school with a HUGE sewing pattern SALE!

All patterns are $6.49.

You have to see it to believe it!

The Seaside Dress

Boy's Classic Fit Pants - great for Fall!

The Women's Shirred Dress - Layer a cardigan over it for a date night or girls night out.

The Mimi Maxi Dress - Sew 1, 2 or 3 for yourself! You will wear it ALL THE TIME!

The Sunny Halter Top - comfortable, relaxed fit and longer length make this a staple in your closet!

The Rory Romper for Girls - imagine it in your favorite football team's colors.

Taigating time is coming!

Classically Cool Cargo Shorts sewing pattern for BOYS - coming Saturday!

Too cool for school - side slant pockets, faux fly and cargo pockets.

Your boy will swagger in style!

Go classic. The Classic A-Line Dress.

Great first project that you will LOVE sewing! Pair with a long-sleeved shirt for Fall.

Some tights and boots paired with The Classic A-Line Dress make every cowgirl ready to play!

And don't forget to sew for yourself! The Miss Mod Top - toss it on with skinny jeans and some flats and head out the door!

Did you see something you like?

YOU CAN MAKE all of this! Go for it!! You deserve it!!

The Ready, Set Sew SALE! 

Seamingly Smitten Sewing Pattern Shop- click here

OR

The Etsy Shop - click here

Boys sewing pattern - Cargo Shorts

How often do you sew for your little boy? I used to sew all the time for mine when he was younger. John Johns, pants, shorts, appliqued shirts - it was so much fun sewing for him! Now that he's older I have to make sure it is something he would actually wear and that the fabric suits his age.

These Classically Cool Cargo Shorts have some professional details in them that make them look handmade, not homemade. Classic in style, these cargo shorts have side slant pockets, cargo pockets, a waistband and a faux fly.

The pockets are all optional so you can have some great variations in different pairs. Make some with just cargo pockets, make some with just side slant pockets and make some with both kinds of pockets! Vary it up! Your boy will thank you!

Add a coordinating fabric to make your cargo pocket really POP and a bright button, too!

Find some fabric that is rock star worthy and your cargo shorts will be his favorite!

Pockets are perfect for treasures, rocks, coins, dinosaurs and match box cars.

Send your kid off to school with a stylish swagger.

The Classically Cool Cargo Shorts sewing pattern for Boys

 by Seamingly Smitten.

COMING SOON in the pattern shop.

Halter Top Sewing Pattern - easy women's sewing pattern

Have you sewn anything for yourself lately, ladies? Here's a super quick DIY easy sewing pattern for a halter top! Pick out a fabric, grab the pattern and get started! With a ribbon or bias tape strap, elastic gathered waist and comfortable fit, the halter top will look and feel great on you!

 It gathers at the waist to flatter every woman's shape - it doesn't hang there like most halter tops. Make it in a cotton, voile, print or solid, seersucker or silk - dress it up or down with some jeans, capris, pants or a skirt and wear it!

 Women's sewing pattern comes in sizes XS-XL (sizes 0-18) and can be found here.

Doesn't this look awesome in a print? I have sewn so many of these halter tops I have had to give them away to my friends and my sister because my closet has way too many already! That's how much fun it is to sew something for yourself! DIY today!

Like it? Comment

Love it? PIN it

Happy Sewing!!

Seamingly Smitten - Jenny