Sewing Knit Fabrics

Is there a trick to this?  I have, so far, utterly failed at any attempt to sew anything which integrates a knit fabric as all or part of the design (like t-shirt dresses).  It stretches too much and ends up all misshapen. 

There is a great new book out that tells all about sewing knits.  Sew U Home Stretch: The Built by Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics by Wendy Mullin and Eviana Hartman

You can find it on Amazon.  I just got it and it is a really great resource.  It tells everything you need to know and has a bunch of patterns inside. 

A couple of questions...

Are you using a serger or a sewing machine?

If a sewing machine, are you using a knit stitch?

Are you using a pattern specifically designed for knits?

Did you put a ball point needle (special needle for knits) into your machine?

Charity

I am using a sewing machine with a knit stitch and a ball point needle.  I have tried making t-shirt dresses (no pattern) and maternity t-shirts (pattern made for knits, yes).

I was going to suggest Wendy Mullin's book also.  I don't have the one on knits yet, but I do have he first Sew U book and although I haven't actually tried anything from it yet, it was a fun read and seems like it will be very helpful.

You might try using a double knit if you're having the stretching with single knit fabrics. They are a little more stable and less likely to stretch on you. If your machine has a walking foot, even feed or dual feed you could try that. Those options feed the fabric evenly from both the top and the bottom so that there is less tension on the fabric. You might also try "bumping" the fabric underneath the presser foot a little to try to prevent it pushing the fabric ahead of the foot and stretching it out. Also be sure you are feeding the fabric into the machine without any stretching or tension. Also try to keep your fabric from hanging off the edge of the table and getting stretched out by its own weight. You could also try using a seam stabilizer, especially on shoulder seams. If all else fails, you could put tissue paper under the fabric, sew through it and then VERY gently tear it away from the seam.

Hope this helps

Charity

When I do knits on the sewing machine, I find it really helps if I starch the heck out of the edges of what I'm sewing. Also, using a paper stabilizer (Solvy) can be helpful with very thin knits. (But mostly I use the serger...)