Sewing with knit fabric has always been an area that I find challenging. Initially, I believed I could simply steer clear of it, but as my sewing experience grew, I realised I would be missing out on many wonderful and comfortable additions to my handmade wardrobe. The Ayla Pants is the latest release from True Bias, and I’ve been lucky enough to be invited onto the testing team. It’s the perfect entry level knit garment to sew.
The Ayla Pants are wide leg, pull-on knit pants. There are two views, and I chose to sew View A which does not have the seam down the front and back leg pieces that View B has. It’s a very quick sew because there are only two pattern pieces and the waistband folds down from those pieces.
Knit fabric is still quite a mystery to me but I think the pattern really breaks down what sort of knit fabric to look for. There is a stretch ruler and a list of the types of knits that would suit the project. I found an olive-green Ponte which feels so soft to wear. It’s a thick double-knit fabric which is firmer, thicker and more stable than other knit fabrics. I think my choice of fabric is quite good for a more casual look so next time I would like to explore something for a dressier look, perhaps in black.
I chose to change my needle to a ball-point needle and sewed mine on my sewing machine and then used the overlocker to finish my seams, but it would be fine to use the overlocker throughout. I used the sewing machine with the instructed stitch lengths, and it really worked well! I also like to sew on the machine first in case I had to make any adjustments. Speaking of adjustments, I sewed the instructions as is and as this was a tester, I did not make any adjustments. I like to show the piece as drafted by the designer unless they have explicitly instructed us to change it. I think this gives clearer feedback. There has been a slight adjustment to the rise based on everyone’s feedback which is great because I’ve always found True Bias Patterns are very reliable on their sizing.
The size I tested was the size 12 which is my standard for True Bias. For my measurements of 33-inch waist and 40-inch hip, I found the pattern was true to size. I did give some feedback about where the waist landed for me. Again, True Bias always gets the pattern to a high standard before sending it out for testing which makes it so easy. The instructions were faultless. Illustrations were also included step by step which really helps a visual learner like me.
Although knit fabric sewing is still more challenging to me than sewing wovens, I’m glad I’m over my fear-avoidant phase when it comes to sewing knit. Knits are comfortable and easy to wear due to the stretch and flexibility of the material. It’s also durable and easy to wash and wear without needing to iron!
The Ayla Pants is such a stylish and comfortable pair of pants which can easily be dressed up or down. The wide leg design means that it can be worn with boots in winter or it can be easily paired with chunky sneakers and a tee for summer. I’m really looking forward to wearing this. Most importantly, I’m gaining valuable sewing experience because of fantastic resources that patterns like this provide for home sewists.
Thanks for reading and happy sewing!
X Em
Em Sew Happy Blog 