[Enbee]

I like to turn adult-sized fun graphic tees into new shirts for my little guy using upcycled shirts for the contrasting sleeves. I have a new tee in jersey fabric for the main body, and I happen to have an old shirt of mine in the perfect color for its sleeves. However, my shirt is a fairly stretchy interlock. Think that would cause any issues? Since my guy is a year old and these are fun, mostly-free projects I’m not terribly concerned about longevity of the finished garment, but I’d rather track down a different source of fabric for the sleeves if it will wear unevenly/stretch out badly from the very first wash.

• This topic was modified 9 years ago by Enbee.

[mkhs]

I’ve done that with pjs, and they’re still going strong after two summers. Just try not to stretch the seams too much when you’re stitching– try taking some pressure off the presser foot.

[Enbee]

Great, thanks!

I’m a raw beginner with my serger (although I CAN successfully thread it now – woohoo!). I was going to make this particular FT shirt as my first non-washcloth serger project. Think that’s a bad idea, given the mix of fabrics?

[Nicole]

If any of the seams give you grief try ironing a small scrap of interfacing to stabilise the seam before sewing.

Good luck, they sound very groovy.

[Masha Richart]

Shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve done it with non-stretchy interlock for boys clothes without a problem. Photo here – the stripes are interlock and the teal is jersey: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557464@N03/13439957983/in/album-72157651963159780/

Enjoy your serger!!

[Enbee]

Beh. Stretchy interlock is the worst. The sleeves attached to the body just fine, but trying to hem them with a double needle is not working out. The outer (relative to the sewing machine) needle keeps dropping stitches, and I can’t seem to keep the fabric from stretching as I sew directly perpendicular to the grain (and I’m using a walking foot). Any ideas, anyone?

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Enbee.

[Enbee]

Double beh – I’ve gotten some advice on this thread already about reducing the stretching! Will try the interfacing on the sleeve hems. Thanks!

[Liesl Gibson]

Interfacing usually works well for me when it comes to hemming. You might need to adjust the tension on your machine for the double needle, too. I usually have to crank up the upper tension by quite a bit to balance things out. Good luck!