SewLibra:
Kwik Sew 2821, night shirt. I could only find this pattern as a PDF, so I had to copy and tape it together. Not my favorite thing to do, but the reviews are good and I like the different neck and sleeve variations.
SewLibra:
Since I might sew this for others, I traced off all pieces except the bands, which can be folded on the size line. For the V-neck view I only traced down to the shorten/lengthen line. I can fold View B and pin View C to it before cutting the fabric.
SewLibra:
The fabric I used for my night shirt is 1.5 yds of Art Gallery Blush Jersey Knit Floret Honeydew from fabric.com. It's 95% cotton, 5% spandex, and super soft! I have a second Art Gallery fabric of the same content waiting for the next night shirt.
SewLibra:
I cut my 1" Knit-N-Stable fusible tape in half lengthwise to stabilize the shoulder seams.
SewLibra:
Instead of 1/4" SA the instructions call for, I used 3/8". As you can see here, a 3/8" SA rides at the right side of the clear foot "J" on my Brother machine.
SewLibra:
Instead of the pattern's instructions for the neck band, I sewed it in just like I do for tee shirts. I use the Sarah Veblen method of stretching and sewing in the round, then I topstitch under the seam to hold the SA down.
SewLibra:
I really wanted contrasting solid arm bands and neck band, but I had nothing in my stash that was the right color. I did try to make each arm band the same, though they are a little off.
SewLibra:
I did the sleeve bands in a similar method as the neck band. Quarter your opening and your band and place pins to mark the quarters.
SewLibra:
Stretch the band to be flat with the opening from one pin to the next, taking out the pins as you go along. These bands are almost the same length as the opening, so there isn't much stretching going on!
SewLibra:
This is the sleeve with band right as it came off the sewing machine. It looks puffy but after pressing and topstitching it didn't. Looks cute puffy though!
SewLibra:
I would never want a serger without a free arm for sleeves and pant hems. I "sewed in the round" on my first serger, but a free arm allows more visibility.
SewLibra:
After serging the seam allowance (SA), I used an edge foot to topstitch below the seam of the sleeve bands. This keeps the SA down.
SewLibra:
Even with a knit, be sure to press your seams. Serged seams are pressed to one side and you want the seam to be sewn in the hems in the same direction to avoid twisting.
SewLibra:
This fabric curled badly! Here I'm pinning up a 1" hem using pins to hold it down for pressing. After that I coverstitched the hem on my Janome 900CPX. This fabric did not require any stabilizer for that.
SewLibra:
Finished night shirt. I think it's cute! On to the next one, which will be View C, the V-neck, in a small pretty ivory and pink floral.