I wanted to love this fabric, but love is a strong word even for the blue version which has a lot more going for it than this black variation. I’m not sure why. They’re supposedly the same type of fabric (jersey jegging knit [blue and black]), both from Fabric Snob, but the blue is infinitely more wearable for whatever reason. Even with that, I don’t love wearing the blue stuff either. I think I lamented on its flaws in a previous post (attracts a ridiculous amount of flotsam, not soft as you’d expect from jersey, rolling edges, to name a few.)
Everything Wrong With This Fabric
The black is even worse. It seems to have hardly any stretch to speak of. The listing says 50-75% four-way stretch. Holy not true. The blue was lucky to have 30% stretch, and the black was more like 15%. My first make with the black was a beautiful-looking pair of Peg Leg capris which used the same pattern/sizing as my blue ones, and I couldn’t even get them up past my knees.
A lesson for all
Always check your stretch, even if you’re using the “same” fabric in a different color.
You’ll notice the insert along the calf on this version, which was necessary to allow enough stretch around my calves—and I do not have calves to speak of.
I am constantly hiking these up. As soon as I so much as walk, they creep out of place. They are so uncomfortable.
The fabric is even less soft than the blue version. Between the texture and lack of stretch/movement, it almost feels like wearing canvas.
I almost never say this about my makes, but I don’t think I’ll ever wear these. This fabric is atrocious. Which is an incredible let-down considering I waited like a month for it to get to me, and it was like $14/yard.
The Attempt to Make It Wearable
- Sizing As I mentioned, my first attempt at getting a pair of capris out of this fabric was a complete failure even though I used the same sizes as my blue version (graded L > M > XL). The only success about that pair is that they look fabulous with all the color-blocking and topstitching (pictured below.) So sad to have to toss them into the scrap pile. For version 2 in black, I sized to XXL > M > XXL and somehow even that was too tight around my non-existent calves. Unreal.
- Side-Seam Insert So I cut two triangles of athletic nylon spandex from Made of Love, sliced the outer side seam of each leg, and sewed the triangles. It worked well and also adds an interesting detail. (Too bad I’ll never wear these.)
Not Worth Keeping
I need to just move on from these makes, toss them in my scrap pile (though I’m not sure how I’d even use them as scrap.) I don’t need to hang on to pants that are going to make me hate my whole day when I wear them.
Also, I’m not very likely to shop at Fabric Snob again. The whole experience was one giant disappointment, from the slow shipping to the price to this fabric quality.
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