142 Old Mexico Shirt in a knit

September 08, 2018 3 Comments on 142 Old Mexico Shirt in a knit

Earlier this week, I wanted to make another quick summer sewing project before I tackled my fall sewing list. And, I bought a several inspiring fabrics from Stone Mountain and Daughter a few weeks ago. One of which I decided to use to make our 142 Old Mexico Shirt - a striped, lightweight, jersey knit.

All of our patterns are meant for woven fabrics since woven fabrics have been all that is available around the world for sewing until the last 60 years.  So, while some of our patterns could be used with knit fabrics, it is not something we usually do (we have no samples in knit fabrics!).

The 142 Old Mexico Shirt is simple enough that it seems like a good candidate for a knit fabric - no darts, shirring, tucks, etc.  I made the Small, which worked well, though I probably could have gone down another size.  Since there is lots of ease in this pattern and knit fabrics have stretch, you might choose a size below your measurements (or if you are across measurements, choose the smaller size).  

I followed the instructions fairly closely, but serged all of the seams, though they could be sewn with a zig-zag stitch (1.5 to 2 width and 1.5-2 length).  On the sleeve, below, I serged at an angle toward the hem (rather that stay with the original 2 angles in the pattern piece).

Because I serged, I did not need to trim the neck seam for turning. 

The shirt came together very quickly.  I sewed all the stay stitching (for pleats and to hold the yoke pieces together at sides) with a regular sewing machine stitch. 

I hemmed the sleeves and bottom edge with a double pointed needle in my sewing machine.  All other seams were serged.  I set in the sleeves and sewed from one side of the bottom of the armsyce to the other.  It worked really well! 

This was an easy and quick project, and I love my new shirt!  It is so comfortable and light.  Perfect for this hot late-summer weather we are having!

Do you use knit fabrics for garments meant for wovens?  Any major successes or failures? 

I will try to keep doing this occasionally with our patterns that lend themselves to knit fabrics  (I'm thinking 157 Moroccan Djellaba, 254 Swing Coat, 119 Sarouelles, etc.).

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