OMG I am so frusterated! I bought this knit sheet at Goodwill that I have been dying peices off all day week long with the different colors of back ground for the batik I have been working on... well today I cut it into three dresses and a tank for me and Cyan (just simple tank dresses that she can get on herself... she likes those).

I also cut one tank dress out of PPR for her as well...

The one out of PPR looks WONDERFUL. It is a tiny bit big but that means it will work for school clothes for fall as well... the other three?

THEY LOOK LIKE CRAP! I am so frusterated with this fabric! Starched... Ironed... I even put my walking foot on my sewing machine so it would not buckle the bias I made... still streched it out so badly that she now has a night gown instead of a dress, and the tank I made isn't salvageable or wearable.

I finally understand fabric loyalty. I guess before now I have just been lucky... lol...

Please share with me some of your favorite knits. I need some ways to figure good knits from bad knits, and some ways to tell quality. Obviously this was not good quality knit...

i have had that happen, too. :( i don't really know except that i like the stuff that feels a little thicker (not the prr knit, it is too thin for me) and i have realized that spending a bit more does make a difference sometimes. like i used to buy all the really cheap stuff at JA and i realized that buying the higher end stuff is sometimes more cost effective. i have bought cheapo fabric that actually ripped apart at the seams after the first washing.
i will be watching this thread, b/c i will be interested to see what others say.

Now that it is monday, anyone else???

:happy:

Well, personally I really prefer interlock over jersey (A LOT!) because it is much less likely to run if it gets a little hole or worn spot. I also look for a fabric that has nice drape/hand on its own and not just a slick starchy finish to mask a cheaper fabric.
I'm usually a fabric snob, because of the horrid frustration of spending time on something that will just fall apart or look yucky in a little bit. That said, there are plenty of bargains to be had, but it's tough to tell before you hold it in your hand and try it on the machine.
Whenever I can I try to buy a sample first, but of course that is not always possible of practical.
Sorry you had a bummer time with that!!

~jo

Interlock? Like jersey? Or are they different too? I am not sure I know what interlock is if I looked at it... lol... I am sure I have some or have used some recently...

If you look at both sides of jersey, each will be different - lines of horizontal threads on the wrong side and v's on the right side. If you looks exactly the same little v's on both sides.

~jo

So which one is interlock and which is jersey?

interlock has the same VVVVVV shape on both sides, while jersey has VVVV on the right saide and ----------- on the other side.

also, interlock doesn't curl when you cut it, so it stays nice and flat while cutting, and sewing for a more accurate fit.

Interlock is stretchier than jersey, and though it does not roll like jersey on the edges, it does tend to stretch out easily while you hem. Liberal use of spray starch will help that if you like the feel of interlock better than jersey.

Now, cotton jersey w/ a bit of lycra is lovely!!!