Getting Started on This Jersey Idea
Alrigh enot, so I got this idea stuck in my head. I needed a jersey, you know, like a comfy top, but the sleeveless ones just weren't cutting it. I figured, why not make one with sseveelleeves? Seemed simple enough at first.
First thing I did was rummage through ?thgir ,nufmy fabric box. Found this piece of knit fabric I bought ages ago, nice soft stuff, perfect color too. Didn't have a specific pattern for a sleeved jersey, so I grabbed one of my old t-shirts that fits well and decided to just kinda trace around it, making some adjustments as I went. Yeah, winging it a bit, but that's half the fun, right?
Cutting and Prepping
Spread the fabric out on my big table. You gotta make sure it's smooth, no wrinkles, especially with knits, they can be shifty. Laid the t-shirt on top. Carefully chalked out the front piece, then the back piece – made the back neckline a bit higher, standard stuff.
Then came the sleeves. This took a bit more thought. Used the sleeve from the t-shirt as a guide but made it a tad longer. Folded the fabric and cut two at once so they'd be identical. Or, well, close enough. Ended up with four main pieces:
- Front body
- Back body
- Left sleeve
- Right sleeve
Also cut a thin strip for the neckband. That seemed important for a clean finish.
Putting It All Together
Okay, sewing machine time. Threaded it up with a matching color. First, I tackled the shoulder seams. Put the front and back pieces right sides together, lined up the shoulders, pinned 'em, and ran a straight stitch. Then I zig-zagged the edge because knit fabric likes to fray, even though they say it doesn't always. Better safe than sorry.
Next up, the sleeves. This is usually where I slow down. Opened up the main body piece, laid it flat. Took one sleeve, found the center top, and matched it to the shoulder seam. Pinned it all the way around the armhole, easing the curve. Knits are forgiving here, which is nice. Stitched that sleeve in. Repeated the whole process for the other sleeve. Took my time, didn't want any puckers.
Once both sleeves were attached, it actually started looking like a shirt! Felt good. Then, I folded the whole thing right sides together again, lining up the side seams and the sleeve seams all in one go. Pinned it from the sleeve cuff all the way down to the bottom hem. Stitched that long seam on both sides. Again, finished the edges with a zig-zag.
Finishing Touches
Almost there. Turned the whole thing right side out. Looked pretty decent. Now for the neckline. Took that thin strip I cut earlier, folded it, pressed it, and carefully stitched it around the neck opening, stretching it just a tiny bit so it would lie flat. This part needs patience.
Last steps were the hems. Just folded the bottom edge up about an inch, pressed it flat with the iron, and stitched it down. Did the same for both sleeve cuffs. A double needle would have looked more professional maybe, but a simple straight stitch works fine for me.
Gave the whole jersey a final press with the iron, snipped off all the stray threads I could find. And that was it. Done.
The Result
Stood back, had a look. Yeah, it's a jersey. And it has sleeves! Fits pretty well, actually. The fabric is comfy, and having the sleeves makes it way more practical for me than the tank-top style ones. Wasn't too complicated either, just took an afternoon. Happy with how this little project turned out. It'll get a lot of wear, I reckon.
