The Parker Peplum was designed for knit fabrics but can work with some wovens. When choosing your knit fabrics, I suggest going with a lightweight knit that has a 4-way stretch. Be careful not to get something too thin, because these really thin knits are more difficult to work with. I have found that hey also tend to shrink quite a bit when you wash them. My favorite knits are the Art Gallery knits because they have a fabulous hand, and they don’t shrink. They hold their shape and are perfect for new sewists looking to expand their skill set into knits! They have a combination of 5% spandex with 95% cotton. Plus they have the best patterns out there. My only complaint with these fabrics is most designs are printed, and not woven in with the yarn, so if you are making something that will also show the inside of the fabric, it may not match the outside. For example, I sewed up a the Laurel Hurst Cardigan by Straight Stitch Designs a while back, and it has a waterfall effect front. The fabric I chose was an Art Gallery knit that was cream and blue. The inside was white, and when the flounces showed, it bothered me that it was white and not cream. But most people don’t care as much about that, I am just weird when it comes to matching colors. LOL.
As I mentioned, I have sewn the pattern up in a woven. I used a cotton lawn fabric pictured below. I think that a cotton voile or rayon blend would also work nicely, because of the fabulous drape. If you are small chested like me, you can get away with cutting your regular size, but just to be safe, I would suggest going up a size. It never hurts for something to be too big, afterall, you can take it in, but if it is too small, you can’t exactly make it bigger without a lot of extra work.
Fabric Supplies
Fabric Yardage Needed: 2.25 yards- 56 inch wide knit fabric for Version A & B, 2 yards for Version C
Notions and Supplies Needed: Fabric, Matching Thread, one extra bobbin with same thread color, Stretch (Ballpoint) needle
Suggested: Knit stay tape or fusible elastic interfacing for Hemming. Twin Needle for stretch fabric (Also known as ballpoint.)
I’m having a hard time deciding if I’m going to jump in on the sew along and make the Parker in faux leather and lace or skip ahead to spring sewing with the Tracey Bee top in something colorful to help me out of the winter blahs.
I’m not sure if I’m going to jump in with the sew along and make the Parker in leather and lace or skip ahead to spring sewing with the Tracey Bee top in something colorful to get me out of the winter blahs.