Briar Variation

So,  I have recently started working from home a couple of days a week and the extra two hours (at least, probably more when you account for faffing time too) gained from not having to drive into work on these days are very productive....

The latest project I have completed is this modified Megan Nielsen Briar pattern. I really wanted a lightweight jumper and I found this grey knit fabric on Leicester market the other day for only £2 so thought I'd have a go at editing the pattern.

Firstly - this material was an absolute nightmare to so with!! it feels really nice because it is so soft and drapey but it catch on any bit of rough skin on your hands and absolutely does not want to do what it's told. 

I nearly gave up several times.

To get the fit I wanted I used the short version of Briar but cut straight across at the longest part of the back hem for both front and back. I also added about 1 inch to the back width (because I was going to put in a pleat but forgot, however, it came out a nice size anyway). I also wanted a much higher neckline on the front I added this mostly by guess work.

To finish the neckline off I did't use binding as the pattern suggests but overlocked some stay tape to the wrong side of the front and back pieces before joining the shoulder seams. After sewing up the shoulders I then turned over the neck edge by about 0.5 inches and sewed a single line of top stitching. This gave a nice stable and neat finish to the neck. 

I attached the sleeves following the pattern but altered the side seam to stop 3 inches before the hem. I overlocked the unfinished edges of the hem and the open side seams before folding under 0.5 inches and using a twin needle top stitched around the hem and side seam openings. The sleeves were also finished off with twin needle top stitching.

I like how the top has come out although as I said it was a bit of a headache to sew at times. It's not the best finished off garment in my wardrobe but it's perfect for throwing on over a t-shirt as we are heading to autumn. It has also left me with a nice pattern design to try out again with some other material, maybe I will add a patch pocket next time too.

First Overlocker Project - Briar T-shirt

After a lot of deliberating, today I finally took the leap to owning my first overlocker! 

Even though I do a lot of sewing with jersey fabrics I haven't been sure how much use I would get out of one. I was also worried about how difficult they would be to use so it has taken me a while before finally deciding to go for it. With it being the bank holiday weekend I thought it was a good opportunity to have loads of time to play with it too.

I went to Crafty Sew and So in Leicester because when I had been in their previously they had been really friendly and helpful and supporting local business is really important to me - especially sewing ones. Before buying the machine the shop were really helpful in answering all my questions and showing me how to get started. They also offer a free 20 minute "how to use the overlocker" demonstration which is super useful too!

I did quite a lot of reading about different overlockers before choosing the brother 1034D. Mostly because it isn't very expensive but has a nifty threading mechanism to make it easier to get started - more expensive ones have automatic threaders. It also came with a range of different feet and adjustable feed pressure - two things that I really wanted given the type of sewing I mainly do. 

The overlocker comes out of the box with some white thread to try it out with, so after reading the book from cover to cover I thought I'd give it a go with some scrap jersey fabric - wooohoooo it goes so much faster than an ordinary machine!! 

For my first project I bought some cheap fabric from the "jersey man" on Leicester market - it's a great place for cheap bits mostly of jersey this piece I bought for £1 and it is enough to make a Megan Nielsen Briar T-shirt - so here goes!

The overlocker produced really neat shoulder seams although I went back to my regular machine to attach the neck band, I might finish the edge of the neck band with overlocking first next time to neaten it up. 

Putting the sleeves in was a little tricky as controlling the speed was necessary to stop any puckering and I had to remember to take the pins out far enough in advance. 

I trimmed off about 2.5 inches before hemming the t-shirt. I overlocked the raw edge before using a twin needle on my ordinary machine to make a nice neat edge. Excuse the picture as I only had white thread for the overlocker so it looks a bit messy but the finish is really neat!

 And finished - my first project on the overlocker!

Just to add - I LOVE this pattern!! I really didn't think I would like the loose fitting T-shirt style but I have made several of them while it has been warm (and now they are even easier with the overlocker). I really like both the long and shorter views and I already have some thicker jersey and knit fabrics to try the longer sleeved version as a jumper.