Because I was working with a mesh fabric, there were some changes I needed to make it wearable in public. Mesh, by its very nature, is sheer. You can counteract that in several ways: wear a camisole underneath, line it with tricot fabric or take the "Sweet Pea approach", which is what I did.
A couple of years ago I bought myself a top by Sweet Pea. The top is mesh, and it had some interesting construction details. To solve the sheerness issue in the body of the shirt, they used a double layer of the mesh, with the wrong sides together:
The sleeves, on the other hand, are just a single layer:
This is quite easy to translate to your sewing projects. Cut duplicates of the pattern pieces that you want to cover up sensitive parts, and just singles of the rest. In the case of the Jalie top I cut the front, the back and the yoke pieces twice. I cut the sleeves and the neckbands (which are folded over anyway) just once.
I basted the fronts and backs together just as you do with an underlined pattern piece. Like the Sweet Pea top, I basted them wrong sides together so the right sides face the world and the body. I then proceeded to sew the top together just as the instructions say. There were no other changes. The result is a top that is sunny, but not see through.
The other thing to know about mesh is that it doesn't run or ravel, so you don't need to finish the hems on it. Here you can see it in the sleeve and at the bottom:
It makes it a snap to finish! Of course, you do want to finish your seams nicely so they don't leave thread tails hanging down. Since I used a serger for this project, the way I finished off my seams was by threading the tails back through the stitches using a large-eye needle:
Trim off the excess and you're ready to go. I've done this lots of times and it works great.It's supposed to rain again tomorrow. You can be darned sure I'll be wearing my sunny top.
Happy sewing!
33 comments:
Now I just need to get my Citrus Paisley top made. ;) Thanks for the tip on lining with the same fabric, I might have enough to try that. I am guessing that this method doesn't change the basic color of the fabric like lining with a solid color tricot does.
Lois K
I love your top! I'm curious - did you have to line up the motifs on the two layers so the bottom print doesn't show through?
That's a good point Dawn. No, you don't have to line up the motifs. There isn't any show-through.
That is a great idea! I saw fabric similar to that today and had no idea what to do with it because it was so sheer.
Lovely top - very pretty style and fabric. Thanks for the mesh tips. Got just a bit of this type of fabric in the stash ;)
That is a great fabric and glad to see you use it demonstrating that technique. I have eyed it on your website for weeks, but was intimidated by the sheerness. How hard is it to sew, is it slippery?
Myra, it was very easy to sew. This mesh doesn't slip around at all.
Wonderful top, I just love that fabric!
I love the greens and yellows together in this top. It does look like sunshine!!
Nice sunshine top. I'd gladly trade weather with you thought. In MI it is H.O.T. !!!
Love your sunny top. Thanks for the tutorial on sewing mesh.
Love the color of your top! The weather *has* been awful here hasn't it? I've started making sweaters again!
Your fabric is cheery...and I know what you mean about the rain...I'm waiting to see Noah and the ark float down 5th Avenue any day now!
What a fantastic idea! Thank you so much for sharing it. I've always been intimidated by sheer fabrics, now I can't wait to dive into a top like yours!
Thank you so much -- you've answered almost all my questions about sewing with mesh.
Can I ask add certified-beginner (read: dumb) questions? How stretchy is mesh? In other words, how do you allow for the stretch if you are buying the mesh over the internet?
Your top is gorgeous!
Beautiful !
Brilliant idea! Your new top will definitely bring some sunshine into your life . . . even if the weather doesn't!
I have that exact fabric bought from *gasp* Gorgeous Fabrics but will wait until (our) Summer to make it up. I have made a similar top with double mesh in the top and single layer on the arms (copied from RTW) but I did right side to wrong side and actually got a show through (on purpose) & liked it in the black/white fabric I used, so I don't think you can go wrong with this method you just need to decide on the look you are after! Well done to your son on his dancing efforts! I work with someone involved in Ballroon Dancing so hear a little about the effort involved, so well done all of you for supporting him through it!
Nice top--I love the style and may need to look into getting me some Jalie! The mesh is very pretty too.
Very cute top, Ann! I keep eyeing the meshes at Spandex House myself.
It's dreary here again today. Same in Boston?
Cute top. Love the print. It's a 100 degrees here in Texas with more sunshine then anyone needs.
The other mesh technique I've seen I want to try: wrong sides together, with the inside fabric slightly longer. So cool.
Anyhow, I have this pattern, an expensive one, so I should try what Anne just did.
Great top - the fabric is TDF!
Lovely top and thanks for the tip about doubling the fabric.
This print is perfect for this pattern!
The back to back lining is brilliant! Thanks so much for the tute. Love the top.
Thank you for the tutorial. What stitch did you use on the serger? And did you use regular serger thread?
I bought a mesh last year, made it up in 2 layers with the 4 thread safety stitch and it was awful. The seams sagged. I now have another piece and am afraid to touch it because I really like this print.
That looks great!! I bought this fabric from you and was thinking I'd use the tricot to line it, but this is a great idea too! I have a RTW top that is constructed similarly as well.
Very beautiful top! Thanks for the info & tips on mesh. I have one piece in my stash and have been intimidated by it - not any more.
Love it, love it, love it! Thank you for the ray of sunshine. I think we had day #4 of sunshine this month today.
Catching up on my reading. Glad I came here. I have some mesh knit that I have not done anything with and was debated how I wanted to line it. Double the mesh! Great idea! Thanks.
Sorry the sun is not shining yet. Our rainy spell finally ended and the sun has been like a spotlight.
I have a few nice-quality Tshirts from Coldwater Creek that are double layers like this. Really helps with a white Tshirt.
Your shirt is lovely!! Thank you for sharing your tips for working with mesh fabric!!
I posted a link on Craft Gossip Sewing: http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tips-sewing-with-mesh-fabric/2009/07/20/
--Anne
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