Sleeve Question

[cereal K]

A question for those who sew apparel: I have a “vision”...you know how those go lol

I find myself in possession of about two yards of fluorescent pink liverpool and about two yards of a matching fluorescent pink chiffon-type fabric. In my head, I want to make a top where the body is liverpool and the sleeves are chiffon - maybe a slight bishop with a lil’ puff at the shoulder. I’m eyeing the Made For Mermaids Pepper top. Does anyone have experience with this pattern, specifically using knit and woven together? I searched the FB group and found the same question asked but never answered. I love the fit of Ellie & Mac’s Fall In Love sweater, but am drawn to Pepper’s sleeves. I’m not confident enough to try and mesh parts from two different pattern designers!!

Would love any advice, pointers, etc. 

I took a pic of the fabric ages ago (in crappy light). If I can find it, I’ll post it. 

[aprilsails]

A gathered sleeve is the perfect option for pattern hacking and mixing knits and solids. You have the benefit of having excess fabric at the joint, so things don’t need to fit together absolutely perfectly.

Since the Pepper sweater has knit sleeves I would advise some caution though: in a woven, which has less body, it’s not going to look as gathered. I would probably slash and spread the arm piece by 2-3” in the middle down the full length to get a true gathered sleeve look. You are also either going to have to do the wristbands in knit or elastic. If you tried to finish them with woven they will be too tight to put on. You would need a button placket to achieve the same look.

As far as blending the two it is just a matter of gathering your woven in advance to match the circumference of the knit piece. Do it with removable basting stitches, and use a stretch stitch or small zigzag for the seam so that it still has some give. Finish with a zigzag or serger. You would then remove the basting stitches since you want the woven part to be able to ease to match the knit fabric as it stretches.

[pooh8402]

I love the Pepper pattern. LOVE. I made a shirt last winter with a bishop sleeve with a long cuff. I do agree with above re: converting a knit pattern to use a woven fabric. With knit fabric, it only has a little gather, and you'll want more to use the woven fabric.

[pooh8402]

Here is the Pepper I made with a nice bamboo rib knit

[Michelle]

Mar 9, 2022 20:44:49 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Here is the Pepper I made with a nice bamboo rib knit

Your blouse - and you - are super cute!!

[pooh8402]

Mar 13, 2022 11:07:55 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Mar 9, 2022 20:44:49 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Here is the Pepper I made with a nice bamboo rib knit

Your blouse - and you - are super cute!!

Thank you!