Everything I know About Ponte!

Hi everyone this week I'm talking all about Ponte fabrics, what they are, what they are good for and what they aren't good for. As always links are below and thank you so much for watching.
my measurements for reference:
Height 5'3"
weight 138 LB
bust 38"
waist 34"
hips 39"
Patterns mentioned:
Style Arc patterns:
Parker pants
www.stylearc.com/shop/pdf-sew...
Ethel designer pants
www.stylearc.com/shop/sewing-...
Camile dress
www.stylearc.com/shop/pdf-sew...
Alissa knit dress
www.stylearc.com/shop/pdf-sew...
Hope dress
www.stylearc.com/shop/sewing-...
Tessuti patterns
Nina pants
www.tessuti-shop.com/collecti...
Avalon pants
www.tessuti-shop.com/products...
Yuki dress
www.tessuti-shop.com/products...
Mattea dress
www.tessuti-shop.com/products...
Naia pants
www.tessuti-shop.com/products...
Sewing workshop patterns
Chesney pants
sewingworkshop.com/shop/Chesn...
West end pants
sewingworkshop.com/shop/West-...
Edgewater Dress/skirt
sewingworkshop.com/shop/Edgew...
Vogue patterns
9193
simplicity.com/vogue-patterns...
1731
simplicity.com/vogue-patterns...
1860
simplicity.com/vogue-patterns...
Butterick patterns
6863
simplicity.com/butterick/b6863
6492
simplicity.com/butterick/b6492
6735
simplicity.com/butterick/b6735
simplicity patterns
9636
simplicity.com/simplicity/s9636
9275
simplicity.com/simplicity/s9275
Tammy handmade Cara cardigan
www.tammyhandmade.com/product...
Itch to stitch Gothenburg top
itch-to-stitch.com/product/go...
Sew me Something Paulina top
sewmesomething.co.uk/products...
Dhurata Davies Mazine dress
dhuratadavies.com/collections...
Sew Tina Givens Rebel tank
sewtinagivens.com/reble-tank-...
Sew Different Fisherman's smock
sewdifferent.co.uk/quick-make...
Cris wood Sews patterns
Daydream dress
criswoodsews.com/products/day...
throw jacket
criswoodsews.com/products/thr...
Matchy Matchy sewing. club champagne fields dress
matchymatchysewingclub.com/pr...

[@celinamcginnis1787]

Thank you SO much, this was massively helpful. I kept seeing these fabrics in online stores, wasn't exactly sure what they were. My last dealing with a double knit was polyester in the 70s, and I've avoided them ever since. I really appreciated your discussion of structure.

[@thebigsewalong]

Yeah, that 1970's poly double-knit would turn anyone off! 🤣

[@SewMyTime]

Excellent info. Thank you so much. Enjoyable as always. 😊 Lynne

[@thebigsewalong]

🤗

[@robyn3349]

Thank you, Gini! Everything I know about double knits, I learned in the 60's and 70's. You have brought me up to date! ❤ Ponte, from the French, means bridge. :)

[@thebigsewalong]

I think I heard the "bridge" thing before but wasn't sure if it was French or Italian 😂

[@NancySchober]

Thank you! ❤❤❤ That clarifies SO MUCH for me.

[@thebigsewalong]

😃

[@catinthehat1486]

Great informative video. Thank you Gini.

[@thebigsewalong]

🤗

[@feelingsimplyquilty]

Thank you for the information. You brought up a lot of great information. I look forward to other fabric information videos.

[@thebigsewalong]

I'm glad you found this useful I plan on covering more fabrics this year 😃

[@sewmuchsewing]

Hey Gini, awesome video thanks so much for putting that together. I was especially interested in the difference polyester makes to the blend as opposed to nylon. I hadn't realised poly is a lot more rigid than nylon. In recent times I'm a lot more relaxed about some man made content in my fabrics, especially in wintery fabrics. Sometimes a dash of man made fiber just makes a fabric more durable and of course we all love stretch for comfort 🥰.

[@thebigsewalong]

Thanks Catherine! 🤗

[@aslyn39]

Thank you, I learnt soon much

[@thebigsewalong]

😃😃😃

[@gailh3048]

Thanks for a super helpful video

[@thebigsewalong]

😀

[@LeonieLang-lr4pt]

Thank you, awesome video

[@thebigsewalong]

😃

[@kathecameron7984]

Thank you for another really informative and interesting video! I've been thinking about using ponte but didn't feel confident about it.😊

[@thebigsewalong]

🤗🤗🤗

[@BethS-LA]

Thank you Gini---that was good info. It really helped clarify the boundaries of ponte--i haven't made anything with it because I wasn't thinking about the advantages (like using a "fold over" waistband and very close fit at hip & waist. DUH.) :)

[@thebigsewalong]

😂sometimes those things don't occur to you until you actually try it.

[@judithritner9696]

Hi Gini😊, this was an amazing video. I have always thought Ponte was thick and a bit stiff, so haven’t purchased any. I am really drawn to fabrics with a good drape to them. I learned so much, and am very impressed with all the research you did for this presentation! I have some slightly tapered ponte pants that I want to make more like a skinny leg. This will be so helpful for me. I might have made a mess if I wasn’t aware of the properties of ponte knits. I only watch one other tutorial sewing site. She is helpful with deciding how to alter sweaters, dresses and pants. She mostly starts with thrifted items and alters, combines, and creates new styles from her thrifted items. I have learned so many basic sewing techniques, and gotten ideas for simple alterations and clever ways that are really pretty simple. I use your site for style inspiration and making clever pieces that I would never figure out on my own. I love that your creations are my style and with your help I have made some great pieces. Your help and advice are invaluable to me for making fun, interesting, stylish clothing from patterns. Thank you so very much for helping me with inspiration and great tutorials. 🤗😘🩷

[@thebigsewalong]

Wow Judith that is so nice to hear! Thank YOU for all of your lovely comments and your continued support. Can you tell me what the other channel you mentioned is? I'd love to check it out.

[@judithritner9696]

@@thebigsewalong yes, it’s called Catherine Sews. She also puts out videos once a week. Her style is not so much my style, but has taught me so much about using sergers, how to sew on knits and sweaters, how to alter clothing to be larger or smaller, and how to thrift two pieces of clothing and turn them into two new pieces or one new one. She shows how to use an article of my own to alter a thrifted item, making them larger or smaller, and changing necklines using existing neck binding. She is very creative in her alterations, and makes them using simple techniques. I hope you enjoy some of her videos.🤗

[@gracevaughn8132]

Wonderful information, as always! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@thebigsewalong]

thanks Grace!🤗

[@katesander93]

Thanks for doing this. I have never been a person who liked draping knits but I started getting Lands End starfish pants at the thrift store and have fallen in love with those things. I haven't found a Ponte locally that's as heavy as that but I am on the hunt. I wash them in cold and I do put them in the dryer for about 10 minutes on a medium heat and then I hang them up to dry. I think a little bit of heat will take most of the baggie out of the knees.

[@thebigsewalong]

YES a little dryer time makes that Ponte snap right back into shape. Those starfish pants are my moms favorites!

[@Craftytutu]

Great video! Thank you for sharing. I have a couple of pontes in my stash that I wasn’t sure about. I feel confident enough to choose the correct project for them now 😃❤️

[@thebigsewalong]

YAY!!! I'm so glad you found this helpful

[@redkbikerider]

Thanks Gini for taking the time to research and present all this for us. It was a very informative video and some of the patterns shown have caught my eye too! I've had some Ponte in my stash for years but have avoided using it because I wasn't entirely sure which pattern it would best suit.

[@thebigsewalong]

I hope this helps you get that Ponte out and give it a try!🤗

[@charlottemccaig578]

TSW Hudson, Pencil, and new Saltwell pants patterns are also good for ponte. I dont find West Ends all that roomy in the hip/waist but I wear a larger size than you. It could be used for a light weight ponte and you can always change it to no pockets or piece the pocket bag in a thinner fabric. I believe Linda has 4-5 pair of Picasso pants in ponte. Of course she uses her own fabrics so youd be pretty sure that ponte will work for pants. Now that Im thinking about it, the only TSW pants pattern that has too much ease for ponte is the Panel pants...and the sweatpants Marceau. I wouldnt do Hollywood because of the pleats. It all boils down to the weight and quality of the ponte. Oh, I learned from Dennis Basso many years ago that ponte means bridge. So the jersey upper layer is bridged to the interior layer. As far as washing.....every fabric I buy goes directly to the laundry room and is machine washed and dried aside from wool and silk, nether of which I buy often. If I buy wool I usually want to felt it anyway. I have a couple reasons for this. First, I thrift fabric so you never know how or where it was stored. I want little creatures, cigarettes smoke, pet hair, etc out before its stashed. Second, and this is so important, new & old fabric on bolts/rolls that is imported has almost always been treated for mold/creatures so it survives storage and traveling in cargo ships. The usual treatment is formaldehyde. If you jjust stick these fabrics in a stack then you have the chemical stored in layers. Even worse is storing it in plastic bins. When you open the lid you are hit with the chemical outgassing. You need to wash this off before you store fabrics! Plus, even tho I may hang things later, if its been put in the dryer once youd be pretty safe that the garment wont shrink if accidentally put in the dryer later. Many fabric store employees suffer with unexplained headaches, even subtle neuro changes never realizing its the chemical exposure thats affecting them. Especially in a smaller shop thats not as well ventilated. Yes, I even pre wash quilting cotton yardage and fat quarters. Not charm packs or jelly rolls but dont buy them unless thrifted so, lol, rarely (I usually sell those).Any bolted fabric I buy to sell gets stored on our enclosed porch away from the living areas of the house.

[@thebigsewalong]

I too always pre wash fabrics, Every piece goes straight to the laundry bin BUT I had no idea they used formaldehyde !! Having worked in a fabric store for a long time I'm familiar with the funky smells that accompany some fabrics but I was always told they just use "sizing" of course it makes sense they'd use something to protect fabrics during shipping just didn't realize what it was!!

[@janfranklin2114]

Thank you, choosing the right fabric for the project is key. Vi was reminded of that this weekend. I made two TNT patterns out of a waffle knit…😖. The finished garments grew about two sizes. I intend to make lounge wear/pajamas and the material was gifted (I think somebody’s granny died, yikes I get a lot of material that way)so no big deal. Thanks for the examples that would be good 👍🏼 and especially thank you for the ones to avoid. Question, double knits from the 70’s are different from Ponte?

[@charlottemccaig578]

Dbl knits from the 70's are not the same. They are all poly, ponte is always a blend. The 70's fabrics are not always a jersey knit on top, ponte is. Ponte by nature of the way it's knit is nice and smooth on the surface.

[@thebigsewalong]

😂I get a lot of fabric that way too and sometimes it's a win sometimes it's not 😂😂😂As Charlotte says in her comment 1970's double knits weren't rayon or blends. Polyester was the most common but well before that and into current times you could find some really stunning 100% wool double knits but they've always been pretty expensive either as fabric or as ready to wear so not that easy to find. Thanks for watching Jan!

[@karolmolpus9536]

Is there a good denim look straight skirt you suggest?

[@thebigsewalong]

HI Karol. I haven't made a denim skirt in ages so I don't have a pattern that I've actually made I do however really like the looks of this one from Merchant and Mills : merchantandmills.com/us/the-clementine-pdf and this one from Style arc: www.stylearc.com/shop/sewing-patterns/tommie-jeans-skirt/ Hope that helps 🤗