How to Easily Sew Under Layers for Crochet and Knit Clothing

Summertime is here. We’ve been celebrating a lot of great knit and crochet summer clothing. However, we know that some of these great patterns have something missing: they’re too lacy to wear as they are. Of course, you can always just layer them over slips that you already own. However, if you want to level up, you can easily sew under layers for crochet and knit clothing. This gives you the coverage that you’re looking for with your handmade garments. So, I’m bringing your attention to an oldie-but-goodie video from the Yarn Thing Podcast.

Watch The Yarn Thing With Designer Joi

If You Can Knit Or Crochet, Then You Can Sew

For this collaboration, Joi talks about how there’s a lot of crossover between knitting and crochet and sewing. If you don’t usually sew, then you might feel like they’re very different. However, she notes that there are a lot of commonalities – understanding stretch, understanding fit, little techniques and plans. Because you already knit or crochet, you already have a really solid foundation for learning how to easily sew underlayers for those other handmade garments.

Easy Sew Garment Pattern

So, for this episode of Yarn Thing, Joi created an original pattern to teach you how to easily sew under layers for crochet and knit clothing. (You can read more about this video’s origins in the original show notes.) She created this pattern with summer knit and crochet clothing in mind. It’s light enough to wear under lacy, openwork designs, giving you coverage without weighing you down in hot weather.

This garment is designed in two pieces with a third optional piece. You’ll sew the front and the back. Then you’ll have the option to have a sleeve. This pattern shows you how to sew a layer to go under a top. In fact, it’s specifically designed as The Marly Knit Top pattern. However, once you understand how it’s done, you can adapt this pattern to wear with different tops, dresses, beach cover-ups, and so forth.

The Marly Knit Top Pattern

So, you get a lot of information about how to easily sew under layers for crochet and knit clothing from this one hour Yarn Thing Podcast video. However, if you want more detailed information, then you can purchase The Marly Knit Top Pattern from Joi.

You’ll see that the Yarn Thing Podcast video doesn’t have a step-by-step demonstration of how to easily sew under layers for crochet and knit clothing. However, that video does exist. It’s right here on Joi’s Facebook page.

Have Fun With This Sewing Pattern

As you see in the video and the photos, you can use all different types of fabric to create this easy sew garment. You can use printed or solid color fabrics. You can use various fabric types such as bamboo. And then you just pair that with your knit or crochet clothing.

If you want to let your crochet and knit garments be the star, then keep the under layers more neutral. If you want to play with color and pattern mixing, have a go at it! In the video, Designer Joi talks about a lot of the different options that you might want to try playing with, including combining stripes with patterns.

Knit and Crochet Patterns To Wear Over What You Easily Sew

Some of the crochet beach cover-ups we rounded up recently would make great tops and dresses with the right lining.

Obviously, though, this easy sew pattern is designed especially to work with crochet and knit tops, so check out:

If you want to learn more about sewing, Joi is a great resource. She has a YouTube playlist called Sewing With Joi that provides you a lot of fundamental information. She’ll have some zoom classes this summer; details over on her Facebook page.

Question: Do you know how to sew? How does it compare to knitting / crochet for you? Share your answers in the comments!