Pages

Sunday 19 February 2012

I love overlockers!!!!

When Zoe brought round her overlocker last week she said "this will change your world".  Well she wasn't kidding.

I now love overlockers.  I made myself this Renfrew T-shirt in about 3-4 hours. 


It was my first time handling knit fabric, and using an overlocker, but once the dreaded cutting process was over (thank heavens I have a a rotary cutter), it was so quick and easy to put together. 

Almost matching stripes
The jersey I used was pretty cheapy and thin, so I'm not mad about the T-shirt itself.  Also I think I need to tweak the pattern a bit, I cut a size 10 in the end, but reckon I could go smaller in the waist.  However I am dead chuffed with this first attempt. 
Stretchy jersey!
Also the overlocker's abilities impressed John so much that, when I asked him what he thought of the finished T, he actually looked up and passed comment, rather than glancing my way and murmuring in a usual vaguely positive way!  I think realising I could make him customised T-shirts has sparked an interest in the overlocker.  This means I could actually buy one, without having to justify the practical necessity of the purchase, which is something I struggle to achieve when it comes to my other hobby, hula-hooping. 

Any more entry level overlocker recommendations greatly appreciated!

10 comments:

  1. Yay!! Well done!! It looks great :)
    Ashley x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Woo hoo! Great going Laura. I'm so impressed .- esp those matching stripes. You are clearly a natural. I'd recommend built by Wendy home stretch. It has patterns for lots if adaptable styles. You will have lots of choice for what's next It's my knit bible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well coincidentally Zoe has also lent me that book. It is totally a knit bible!

      Delete
  3. Wow, good work! You've matched those stripes up brilliantly too!

    I made a Renfrew too today, but even though I have an overlocker, I still used my sewing machine. What a loser eh!?! Do you literally just overlock the whole thing instead of sewing then?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah pretty much. Only, because the Renfrew has a 5/8ths seam allowance, you need to take that into account when sewing the pieces together. I marked the seam allowances on my pieces, and overlocked along that line, and the machine cut off the excess (about 3/8ths). But I guess you could trim the piece down beforehand reducing the seam allowance to about 1/4 inch), but what’s the point as your overlocker cuts it off for you anyway!

      Delete
    2. If the overlocker does the job, then why waste time helping it out I say ;o)

      Delete
  4. ah brillo effort lady cakes! That looks super smashing! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, I love it! I love the Renfrew! I graded between bust and waist and between waist and hips, which I fell like unless you are a true pear shape is good to do. But this looks amazing! Well done.

    strugglesewsastraightseam.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks great Laura! I'm going to try the Renfrew pattern this week too - hope mine comes out as good as yours :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love this - you can't beat a classic striped t-shirt.

    ReplyDelete

Please comment, I'd love to hear from you

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...