When I saw the tester call for a new pattern from Sinclair Patterns, I immediately signed up. I am getting burned out on sewing masks and this was just the sewing diversion that I needed. This is the Rio Knit Tank Top & Dress.
The Rio is an easy sew, but the instructions are written for a beginner sewist with only a sewing machine in mind. So the steps in the pattern may seem a bit tedious to a sewist with advanced machines at her disposal like a serger and a cover stitch.
The Rio features a binding to finish the neckline and armholes. The method for the binding gives a very nice finish with no raw edges. The instructions are detailed to allow that sewist with only a sewing machine to get a fantastic result. It does have extra steps, like hand basting that most experienced sewists would skip.
Curved hems are the nemesis of most beginner sewists and the Rio hem is finished with a facing. If you look toward my booty in the photo below, you can see the purple facing peeking out. The pattern states to use a low recovery knit for the binding and facing. I used a rib knit with spandex and it worked out perfectly. The main fabric is athletic brushed poly from Zenith & Quasar.
I have done a lot of hem facings before, but this one was different. Most hem facings I have done are shaped. The Rio has a straight length of knit that you use for the facing. The Rio instructions also have you fold under the top edge of the facing and then topstitching to give a clean finish with no raw edge. Experienced sewists with a coverstitch are likely to just leave the hem facing raw and to coverstitch over it.
Of course in testing I made more than one Rio. The one above was my "final" and the one below was my "fit" garment". I'm wearing the Sunset Lounge Pants in the photos below.
This Rio was made with a poly spandex scrap from my stash that was silky on one side and brushed on the other. I used scraps of a flat euro ribbing from Bow Button Fabrics for the binding and hem facing.
I made this one by my measurements and Oxana, the designer, informed me that my booty needed more room and to add width to the back piece on my final. I did and my final fit so good!
With the Corona Virus Pandemic there have been many people buying sewing machines and learning to sew for the first time to make cloth masks. Maybe, just maybe a few of those people will decide to expand their hobby. The Rio is the perfect pattern to introduce them to knit and teach them a bunch of new skills. If they follow the instructions to a t, they will end up with a well made garment they can be proud of.
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.
The Rio is an easy sew, but the instructions are written for a beginner sewist with only a sewing machine in mind. So the steps in the pattern may seem a bit tedious to a sewist with advanced machines at her disposal like a serger and a cover stitch.
Curved hems are the nemesis of most beginner sewists and the Rio hem is finished with a facing. If you look toward my booty in the photo below, you can see the purple facing peeking out. The pattern states to use a low recovery knit for the binding and facing. I used a rib knit with spandex and it worked out perfectly. The main fabric is athletic brushed poly from Zenith & Quasar.
I have done a lot of hem facings before, but this one was different. Most hem facings I have done are shaped. The Rio has a straight length of knit that you use for the facing. The Rio instructions also have you fold under the top edge of the facing and then topstitching to give a clean finish with no raw edge. Experienced sewists with a coverstitch are likely to just leave the hem facing raw and to coverstitch over it.
I made this one by my measurements and Oxana, the designer, informed me that my booty needed more room and to add width to the back piece on my final. I did and my final fit so good!
Follow me on Instagram and Facebook!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. These links provide me with a small compensation if you make a purchase using my link. There is not cost to you when you do this. My thoughts and opinions given in this blog post are mine.
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