Mandy Boat Tee + a Tessuti Class

When I VERY first started sewing (which is exactly 46 weeks ago in case we're keeping tabs...which I am) I REALLY only wanted to sew clothes made from stretch fabrics. It's what I mostly wear so it's what I was hell bent on sewing. Why would I sew anything else?

During my first foray's in sewing I did a few "knit sewing" classes and whilst the sewing went OK in class the garments were too small for me. This coupled with the fact that I didn't have the equipment at home to be sewing knits properly really got me down. My machine doesn't like knits all that much and I didn't have an over-locker. I also had no idea that there are special needles for sewing knits - so it was fail fail fail.

Not one to give up, when Tessuti announced new sewing classes at their Chatswood store I enrolled in the "Mandy Boat Tee" class - a loose fitting knit t-shirt. There is also new Udon Noodle restaurant just up the road from their store that I was desperate to try so it was a two birds:one stone kinda situation.

The class was taught by Silva who drafts the patterns for Tessuti. She literally has decades of experience so I really felt in safe hands. Silva also brought along a few completed Mandy Boat Tees for us to try on. This was FANTASTIC as I could see before we even started that the "one size fits all" top was too small on my arms. Not to worry as Silva made a few quick adjustments to my pattern before we started.  I knew from the outset that my top was going to fit - what a great feeling. We also added 5" to the hem so I could wear the top with beloved jeggings and safely cover my caboose. It's a tad long so I'm going to chop it off by 1" (or so) and re-hem it.

Ta-da! I cannot tell you how chuffed I am with this top. We used the overlocker for most of the assembly and this really gave me the kick I needed to put the old Singer overlocker I inherited in for a service. The overlocker wasn't as scary as I thought it would be and I didn't chop a hole in my shirt as I went nice and slow.

I finished most of the top in class - I just had to take it home and do the hem using the twin needle on my Elna.

I may be smiling, but I was getting a bit stressed throughout the lesson as people were racing ahead of the teacher and others had come to class with their pattern all cut out and were eager to get a wriggle on with the sewing (we're all supposed to cut out together)! I'm VERY lucky that Silva was hanging around the store for an hour after the class so myself and another student got our tops to a stage that we could finish off at home. THANK YOU SILVA!

How GREAT is this fabric. It's a cotton knit from The Fabric Store which I think it may have some wool in it as it's quite warm to wear (so I won't be donning this until winter arrives). I have enough left over to make another tee from it - using this as the front panel and a contrasting fabric for the back/sleeves.

Back patting and gushing aside...have you noticed that the birds on my sleeve are upside down? I didn't even notice that I'd cut the sleeves out the wrong way until I got home and put the t-shirt on to show Dave. Whoopsie! Let's call it a "design feature" shall we?

I can HIGHLY recommend this class - especially if you're new to sewing knits and/or want to have a go sewing a garment on the overlocker. I'm already booked in for another class at Tessuti Chatswood (and another Udon lunch). Cannot wait!