Craftsy Sewing with Knits review, DISCOUNT and GIVEAWAY

Today a very special offer for So Sew Easy readers as part of my Craftsy Sewing with Knits review and wrap up.

Before we get to the good stuff, I'd love to talk you through why I decided to take the course and what I made.  This is the cowl neck dress that started it all and nearly had me throwing my sewing machine out of the window.  I don't like to look up close at this dress – the stitching is bad, very bad.  And the hem, well it kept getting shorter and shorter as the machine ate the fabric over and over and I had to cut more and more off. In the end, I gave up and left the hemline unfinished!  I decided I needed help with knit fabrics…

So I signed up for the Craftsy Sewing with Knits course.  And I've been absolutely delighted with it. The course is taught by Meg from Sew Liberated.  Meg certainly knows her stuff, has a beautiful site and has even had a couple of books published!  And she is such a charming teacher – I love the way she is just a little nervous about being on camera and her smile is captivating.

Craftsy Sewing with Knits review

The class is split over 9 lessons with a bonus 10th lesson about how to dye fabric.  The first 3 lessons give you so much information about the types and characteristics of knit fabrics, and all of the recommended supplies, equipment and materials for making your knit projects successful.  I learned SO much just from these lessons alone.

But then we get onto the fun stuff and start to sew.  Our first project uses fleece, so that we can get used to a non-woven fabric without anything too tricky to start with.  So even though I live in the Caribbean and almost never need a fleece, I made the Fleece hoodie.

 

 

And I LOVED it.  Although the fabric wouldn't have been my first choice if we had a better sewing shop here, this hoodie came out with me nearly every weekend since.  It's a great warm cover up for on the boat after diving and I love that I can snuggle up and pull up the hood to keep out the wind when I am wet.  This one is a winner!  And despite being pulled on and off for ages now, not a single stitch has come away – great teaching Meg.

Once we have mastered the basics including what stitches to use, how to stabilize shoulders and seams, then on to the first of the t-shirt patterns.  The first one is a Scoop Neck t-shirt and I really gave myself a challenge with this project using a very slinky and slippery knit fabric remnant for my first attempt.

I learned how to add an easy neck binding that lays nice and flat, and how to use a double needle and tape to seam along the bottom flawlessly (no more leaving it unfinished).  All of the patterns come free with the course, and you can make this with the short sleeves or 3/4 length or full length sleeves too.  Later in the course, Meg also tells us how to make a sleeveless tank from the same pattern.

Once I knew the pattern was a good fit and I knew what I was doing, it was very quick to run up a couple More perfect fit t-shirts.  These have become my wardrobe basics and I've got a range of them now in solids and stripes.  It's so nice to have a tried and trusted pattern which I can turn to when I want a new t-shirt that I know is going to fit me.

  

From there we do the slightly more complicated V-neck t-shirt.  Meg shows us how to use binding on the arms and hemline too, which gives a very nice finish and the wide band is comfortable and take the t-shirt up a notch.  We learn how to apply a binding to a V-neckline and although this is a little bit more fiddly, with Meg's instruction mine came out right first time.

In this t-shirt I've added the sleeve binding, and I'm also starting to feel very confident with knit fabrics and I added some embellishment of my own.  This pattern is very adaptable, and you can add the long sleeves if you like.  The v-neck looks great in a stripe fabric.  Or how about a ruffle neckline or down the front – once you have the basic pattern the possibilities to customise are endless.

By now I'm starting to wish I had some nice fabrics to make these projects with.  But I know I'm still ‘in training' and my next trip to the USA will involve bringing back an extra case for all those lovely fabrics I'm going to buy!

In our next lesson we come to another very adaptable pattern.  Meg shows us how to make an easy knit skirt with a turn over waistband, and I use this idea to quickly run up a skirt of my own from another remnant, without even using the pattern – my Easy knit skirt.  You can use the pattern and the techniques you learn to make a short skirt for exercise or running, a knee length skirt for the office, or even a flowing floor length maxi skirt.  Again, another wardrobe builder pattern.

And next up – another free pattern that you can make your own with so many options.

The Shorts / capri trousers / yoga pants pattern is a winner – especially when I combined it with the bubblegum pink stretch velour!  I made the shorts due to the continuing hot weather, and left out the pockets, but you could make some great lounging trousers or PJs with this pattern too, as well as yoga pants or comfy capri length pants. If you had a nice black or shimmery slinky knit, this pattern would also make some great glamorous evening pants.

 

By now our class is nearly over  🙁  There is one last project and we take all of the techniques were have learned over the course to make a Wrap front dress or tunic.  Meg and most of the class participants make a surplice dress with a crossover front and it looks so comfy and flattering – but I always like to change things up a little and this pattern is no exception.  Like all of the free patterns in the class – it's just so easily adaptable.  So here is my cross-over tunic.

So to round up my review – 5 Stars for sure.  And don't just take my word for it – look at all the wonderful projects made by the other class members on the Class Projects Page.

So now the moment you've all been waiting for (I bet you scrolled through all the stuff above without looking!) – the very special offers from Craftsy.

 

Exclusive discount

Thank you so much to Craftsy for offering So Sew Easy readers an exclusive discount on the Sewing with Knits class.  Click the button below to go to our own special page with 25% off the cost of the class!  Yippee – thank you so much Craftsy team.

Disclosure – I bought the course myself and am not being compensated in any way from Craftsy for this course review. I really love the Craftsy classes and negotiated this special rate and giveaway for your benefit.  I am an affiliate so will receive a commission if you buy this course using my special discount link.