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Member since 7/25/08
Posts: 11055
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Posted on: 3/11/09 10:31 AM ET
I want to try several patterns, both children and womens,
that call for knits only. I only have a JoAnns near me, which carries few now--only hard-to-sew slinky knits or heavier double knits, all too hot for summer. Years back, there used to be lots of commerical-type flat folds of light summer knits in cute prints. Where are they now?
Do knits-only patterns ever work for cottons, especially if it's a simple style w/o a lot of stretch needed?
  
Member since 12/28/04
Posts: 13915
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Posted on: 3/11/09 11:07 AM ET
In reply to gramma b
I am not a polyester knit person. They are just too hot for me so I sew rayon and cotton knits, mostly with some lycra added. I buy knits from Emmaonesock for the most part, but they are not cheap. Sign up for her email because that is where you will be notified of sales. She does put things on sale pretty often, so check her site.
Lots of people buy from fabric.com and Fashion fabrics club.
Fabric Mart is a great source for fabric bargains. Again, sign up for email and get notified of their sales.
You cannot usually use a knit pattern as is for wovens.
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www.nancyksews.blogspot.com
  
Member since 8/24/02
Posts: 5885
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Posted on: 3/11/09 11:09 AM ET
The flatfold knits we used to buy years ago were often manufacturers excess fabrics. Now that most apparel is produced offshore, the excess market
has almost dried up.
Joanns has some 100% cotton interlock with baby and juvenile prints. It's in stores and on their website.
Places like Fabric.com and Sewzannes, which advertise here have nice knits at reasonable prices. This site has some cute knits, they are excess from her fabric co-op.
http://hyenacart.com/TheJoyofSewing/
The rule of thumb regarding knit patterns is if the pattern requires a knit with 25% stretch you should go down 1 size. That's a general rule, but there's room for variation.
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My grandmother taught me to sew when I was 10, and I've been sewing ever since.
  
Member since 11/26/06
Posts: 2701
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Posted on: 3/11/09 1:01 PM ET
I think with a lot of knits - esp. cotton blends, cheap=yuck. Even Joann's cotton knits which (without a coupon) are NOT inexpensive are horrible quality, IMO.

I have used Sewzannes Fabrics, Lucy's, The Fabric Fairy, Fabric.com, and Fabric Mart and had great luck w/ all of them. I find Fabric.com and Fabric Mart the most hit-or-miss of the lot, but all of these sites sell knits for $5-8/yd and often run sales. Gorgeous Fabrics also has great "big girl" knits for reasonable prices, too, but no kids stuff. I've found decent poly/lycra blends at bargain basement prices...must be hard to screw up...but with the natural fibers, seems I ALWAYS run into poor stretch and recovery, bleeding, fading, pilling, etc.

Give one of our online vendors a try. There's some great stuff out there!

Eve
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People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it - Chinese proverb
  
Member since 1/12/04
Posts: 6312
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Posted on: 3/11/09 1:44 PM ET
I've gotten lots of knits from fashionfabricsclub.com. Generally they've been good, but there have been some failures. I get cheap ITY knits from my local swap meet, but they are left overs from the garment industry. But you can't beat $1/yard.
-- Edited on 3/11/09 1:44 PM --
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Marilyn

January 2009 to January 2010 81 yards out and 71yards in January 2010 to the present 106.7 yards out and 146.5 yards in. January 2011 to the present: 47 yards out and 69 yards in.
  
Member since 2/16/06
Posts: 3174
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Posted on: 3/11/09 2:17 PM ET
You can also try FashionistaFabrics.com. Melody has some very pretty knits and provides excellent service. Everyone has different color palettes, but I just finished a top last night using this fabric and I love it:



Em
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From what others have said, the nasty message came from Fitting Woes, NOT Misc Hot Topics or the Civility thread.

  
Member since 7/10/06
Posts: 2263
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Posted on: 3/11/09 2:19 PM ET
I've had the most success finding cotton knit prints from The Fabric Fairy, which Eve mentioned. It's slanted toward kids' stuff, but there's some adult-suitable prints too.
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I've moved! Visit my new sewing blog at http://chiralcraft.wordpress.com

Do you sew from KnipMode? Join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/knipmode_english/
  
Member since 4/20/08
Posts: 7015
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Posted on: 3/11/09 6:23 PM ET
In reply to gramma b
If you still have a Wal-mart that hasn't closed their fabric department, they might have some. I use to get some really great T-shirt knits off that $1.00 table(that's now $1.50). When I found out they were eliminating the fabric departments, I bought every piece of t-shirt knit I could get my hands on. Some was very thin, although I have gotten lucky and found a good solid weight, once in a while. Have you checked your Joann's red tag area? Sometimes they will put that stuff half price, that almost makes it bearable.
  
Member since 4/22/07
Posts: 460
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Posted on: 3/11/09 9:54 PM ET
I have found some good stuff (and some junk, totally hit or miss) on the bargain shelves at Joann's. Not everything in that section is stuff that was on the main floor and then reduced; a lot of it is still brought in specifically for that section. I always wait until those fabrics are half price, so I rarely pay more than $2.50/yard, that way if it turns out to wear or wash poorly, I don't feel so bad. Also good to use for muslins before cutting into more expensive knits.
Like I said, though, hit or miss. You kind of have to be willing to dig through!
  
Member since 7/6/04
Posts: 782
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Posted on: 3/11/09 11:19 PM ET
You might also try Sewbaby.com for kids' and some adult knits. They were at the Puyallup expo, so I had the opportunity to handle some of their fabrics and found it quite nice.
  
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