When you hear the word "Jersey" what comes to mind? If you are a millennial, you might think of The Jersey Shore, or you might just think of the state New Jersey.
If you're a sewist you will probably think of the fabric base that is kind of a catch all for a light to medium weight knit fabric. Jersey indicates the type of knitting used to create the fabric. It can be made using natural or synthetic fibers.
I'm sure you've heard of Bamboo Jersey, Modal Jersey, Cotton Jersey, Polyester Jersey etc. but what you might not know is that Jersey was originally made to knit wool.
Polyester Jersey
At WayMaker Fabrics, we have a Polyester Jersey and are going to focus on that for the remainder of the blog.
Jersey Content
Our Jersey is 350gsm which is considered a medium weight knit fabric. It is 90% spun polyester and 10% spandex. While this base is considered a medium weight knit, it would work for a number of patterns that call for light weight knit fabrics. Read your pattern first or join the pattern Facebook group and ask if the pattern would work for a medium weight jersey. All patterns are different, so make sure you understand what you are working with before jumping in.
What to Make with Jersey
This is my favorite part of the blog. Getting to share what you can create with the fabric. Polyester is not as breathable as cotton and other natural fibers, but that doesn't mean you can't use it for workout gear. We commonly see workout clothing made with polyester. This is because polyester is moister wicking, meaning it draws moisture away from the skin.
Making a perfect exercise shirt out of your polyester Jersey should be on the top of your "To Make" list.
If you aren't into exercising, you can still make a beautiful summer top using our poly jersey. Look at how that top flows!
Second on your list should be a dress. Yes, I said a dress.
This long dress, while made with the Polyester Jersey was perfect for an evening by the sea. I wore this dress in the Bahamas and did not struggle with it being too hot. But I wasn't wearing it during the heat of the day. Things to keep in mind. If your dress is full coverage, don't wear it during the hottest part of the day.
If you're looking to wear your Jersey dress in the heat of the day, consider something that's not full coverage like this:
Both of these dresses are Polyester Jersey, and both were great to wear on a Bahamas vacation.
In addition to tops and dresses, flowing pants would work well for our Jersey. Check out the Mila Beach Pants pattern by Made for Mermaids for an example of a pant that would go well with jersey. Lounge pants would also be an option for this medium weight knit. You could even create some soft and stretchy professional looking pants if you have the right print.
You can also use it to line a jacket or use it for accents like elbow or knee patches and pockets.
Now, Let's Discuss What Doesn't Suit Polyester Jersey
Handbags. Jersey does not go well with a handbag. You need structure and no stretch for a handbag, so better give jersey a miss.
Don't use jersey for anything that requires a lot of structure in the fabric. For example, pants with buttons and zippers. You would not get the desired result from Jersey. Jackets or sweaters aren't the main market for our polyester jersey. That isn't to mean it's impossible, but you'd use it for a lining, or cuff not for the main fabric.
Polyester Jersey Vibrancy
How important is the vibrancy on the fabric you are buying? Let's have a look at our vibrancy scale document. As you can see our Jersey is our most vibrant base!
**Please note, prices might be different from what is listed in this photo, so for accurate pricing visit waymakerfabrics.com and click on any product to see a full list of current pricing for each product.
If the color vibrancy is the most important thing to you, the Jersey is probably the right product for you. If you prefer a natural fiber, and understand natural fibers are more muted that the polyester fibers, check out our Cotton Lycra or our Modal Jersey.
If you'd like some more information on why we have different vibrancies on different fabric bases, I encourage you to have a look at our blog: Let's Talk Fabric Vibrancy! – WayMaker Fabrics
Want to See the Jersey in Action?
Watch our short 2-minute YouTube video: Let’s look at WayMaker Fabrics Jersey.
0 comments