So for me shopping for knits almost always means online, and knits can be a little harder than other fabrics to end up with what you were expecting if you aren’t buying it in person. Though I have been known to rant on occasion about the difficulty of finding good (quality) knits online, I don’t think it’s a total lost cause. You just have to know what to look for. But before I go any further, I want to state my core belief when it comes to fabric shopping:

It is a waste of time and money to make handmade things with cheap fabric. (Repeat after me)

I do not deny that there are plenty of online shops selling cheap (and by “cheap” I mean poor quality, not necessarily inexpensive) jersey with bajillions of novelty prints, and while the prices are enticing, I value my time too much to sew with fabric that will pill up immediately with the first wear. I’d rather spend a little bit more on fabric that I know will last (and if it’s safer for my kids and the earth, even better). If that makes me a “Fabric Snob,” I guess I just have to accept that, but even if, scratch that, ESPECIALLY if you’re on a budget, it seems like you should be even more wary of super-cheap stuff. It’s easy to justify the purchase at the time, but if it doesn’t hold up, it’s a waste of money and your time, and it doesn’t make sense in the long run. If you can find low prices on high quality fabric, great! It’s just harder to tell the difference when you’re shopping from a computer screen.

Pay attention to the TYPE of knit
The first rule is know what you’re getting, so read the item description to make sure you know exactly what type of knit it is. Jersey and interlock are a good place to start if you’re new to knits, but if I had to recommend just one I would say go for the jersey. It’s not quite as easy to sew with as interlock because it’s often a little more stretchy, but I tend to like the fit and finished product more when I make it with jersey. You can also leave rolled or raw edges on jersey unsewn, so the hemming goes much quicker, if you’re into the “raw” look (SORRY Grandma G – I know you hate those raw edges!! ). Also, is it cotton? wool? silk? Polyester? These things make a difference in where and how it can be worn and washed.

Pay attention to WEIGHT
Make sure you know if you’re getting something heavy, medium, or lightweight. The medium-weight stuff usually works well for tops, and maybe even skirts, but heavy weight knit would be nicer for pants. And you don’t want to buy something that’s tissue thin if you’re trying to make a skirt (or maybe you do?? Not judgin’). Many online shops will even list the weight (usually in the US that’s in oz/linear yard or oz/square yard), which isn’t the most useful on it’s own BUT could be if you just need to compare one knit to another, or to one you’ve already purchased. And if the weight isn’t listed, just ask; the shop owner can easily get that information for you. If you buy a swatch (see below), the weight is often given on the swatch sticker.

Pay attention to WIDTH
Remember that most knits come in widths of 54-60″ so you’re automatically getting roughly 30-50% more fabric per yard than on the more common 42/44″ width which is more typical for quilting cottons and apparel fabrics. If you’d pay $10 a yard for quilting cotton, that’s equivalent to $13-$15/yard for a wider knit fabric. And for that price, you can get some REALLY nice knit. Something to keep in mind. But also be careful; double-layer knits can sometimes be quite a bit narrower, like 30,” so you’ll need to buy more. And then some knits are also sold tubular (which is how they were made on the knitting machine), so when you cut them open they’ll be twice as wide.

Remember the manufacturers you like
If you like one knit from a particular manufacturer, buying it in another color/pattern is a safe bet. Example: I really liked some of the Patty Young knits from Michael Miller that were available recently; I ordered a 1/2 yard of a striped knit to try it out and it was super soft and held up well over time. So I ordered some solids as well, and they were predictably similar. I feel I can be fairly certain that if I can find knits I like from MM, they’ll be of similar quality. Shops that sell knit fabric are getting smart and including the manufacturer in the listing, which really helps.

Look at other people’s stuff
I always try to pay attention when I see something in a Flickr pool (like the Celebrate the BOY pool, for example) made with a knit I like. Most people who have a blog will share the pattern they used and where they found the fabric. I’ve found so many great places this way that I never knew about!

*I have to admit, writing this sort of post gets tricky for me. I want to tell you where and how I buy my fabrics without coming off as advertise-y or sponsor-driven. But the truth is, I do buy most of my fabric (at full price) from my sponsors, because I want to support the people who own these independent shops, and dang it, they carry good stuff, otherwise I wouldn’t have slapped their button up on my blog in the first place. Can you dig it?

I bought two different types, the pile shown above is jerseys, as you can maybe see by the “curl” along the edges, and that one that looks white is actually a very pale cloud blue. The weight is nice and light, perfect for a top or t-shirt or leggings for Clementine. These jerseys are the Laguna Solids from Robert Kaufman.

This series of posts is all about empowering you to sew with knits. Now go sew some knits!!! See more right here

Instructions for this “bound” neck finish are included in the pattern.

Flashback Skinny Tee pattern page

And more:

1. Lightning bolt skinny shirt (4T), 2. Upcycle Skinny Tee (3T), 3. flashback skinny tee, 4. Yellow Stripey Tee

One of the testers, Emily over at the Boy Trifecta started pumping them out like a champ immediately:

Here are some of her posts about the tee: The Flashback Tee, I want my MTV and The Stefon Tee. The “Keep on Truckin’” one totally cracks me up, and I love this houndstooth version she made:

And I just love Katie’s cloud and raindrop version, you can see this Rain Cloud Tee version (which features a FREE applique/tutorial, pic shown below) and her short-sleeved yellow version (shown above) on her blog The Red Kitchen

Thanks to all of my fabulous testers!!!

Click here to see the NEW Flashback Skinny Tee Sewing Pattern

Shannon’s blog is a little online haven for mommas where she makes you feel right at home. Sometimes there’s sewing, knitting, or roundups. She shares Weekend Wishes, guest posts, and also has a fun series called “Moms in the Mommyhood” which features women who have their own crafty businesses. Recently Shannon’s been on a mission to get the word out about sewing with knits (here’s her sewing with knits tips & tricks roundup) – I love the passion she has for helping people get over their fear of knits. And on top of that, she just released the recent Mallory Cowl knitting pattern. I seriously don’t know how she does it all! Here’s some of her knit tutorials for Sewing with Knits Mondays:

You might also want to check out these guest tutorials from Sewing with Knits Mondays:

Super speedy simple skirt from no big dill
Stretch Dress from Piccoli Pisseli

And here are some neat guest tutorials on knits from Shannon’s Versus blog/mag:

A Springy Tote from Happy Together
Spring Wrap Belt & Bracelet from Piccoli Piselli
Everything’s Coming Up Roses Skirt from Smashed Peas & Carrots
Empire Waist Dress Tutorial from the Cottage Home
Billy Cardi from No Big Dill
Ruched Leggings from Made

Here’s Shannon:

I’m so excited to be here today to be part of the KNITS -Stretch Yourself series! We love sewing with knits over on luvinthemommyhood so when the fabulous Rae asked me to join in I just knew I had to get a hat idea that I had been working on since xmas finished.  I am a die hard knitter and love to mix elements & techniques, so for this hat I wanted to replicate the movement and texture that I love out of my knitted slouch hats and incorporate them into an actual sewn hat.  I also wanted a hat to wear during the warmer and cooler months.  A lightweight, stylish slouch that has a bit of flair and personality. My favorite part of this hat is the construction.  I made test hat after test hat to get this just right for you folks.  It’s super easy, fast, and simple to customize and even more fabulous to wear!!

The best part is that the hat is made all in one piece!  What?!  Yep, that’s right – just one pattern piece!  There is literally only two side seams to sew and a  stitch around the hat.  How awesome is that?  The rest is some fun hand stitching and customization done to your taste!  The twisted cable is actually part of the hat and not an additional piece that is sewn on! I hate bulky ends on a hat and the construction of this hat allows for a softer drape for a sewn garment without the weight and bulk from seam construction.  The small side bows add a feminine and whimsical touch that slim the cheekbones and draw your eye up and away for a slimming effect instead of adding bulk and width to the face.  If you’ve never been able to wear a bulky slouch hat before this may be the time for you try out the slouch style without the added bulk.  Made with a soft, thin stretch it’s light weight, soft and comfortable to wear!

This hat is also a great way for you to practice your sewing with knits skills so brew a pot of coffee, put the wee ones down for a nap and come pop on over to luvinthemommyhood to make your own “Twisted Slouch Hat” and let’s get sewing with knits!  It’s time to whip up an adorable new slouch hat!!!  I promise sewing with knits is easier than it all sounds and once you jump into it you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about and why it took you so long.  There’s no seams to finish and it’s fast and fun to sew with!  We can’t wait to see you!  Thanks again for having me Rae – luv ya girl! xoxoxo

You can find all things luvinthemommyhood here:
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Thanks so much for being here today, Shannon! And the pattern is SUPERCUTE, I can’t wait to try it out!

This series of posts is all about empowering you to sew with knits. Now go sew some knits!!! See more right here