Do you have a fear of sewing hems on knit fabrics? Don't fret, many of us do too! In this post, I'm excited to share with you a quick and easy tip to sewing a hemline on knits with no stress at all! The secret is the use of a coffee filter as a stabilizer - seriously, it works! After trying this, I'm pretty sure you'll never go back to your old method and you will have the confidence to sew knits without fear!
This exciting sewing tip is being shared with you as an excerpt from the full Sewing With Knits MasterClass course. This is one of our most popular courses, if you haven't already checked it out I encourage you to take a peek and pick up a copy of the course today, or join the Sewing With Cinnamon community for more sewing tips, tricks, and community interaction.
Now onto the tutorial... All you need is a plain coffee filter (white or natural) and a knit fabric project to test this out. It can be any sewing project, it doesn't have to be just for dolls. Although, if it's larger than the coffee filter, you'll probably need several to get the job done!
Wasn't that amazing? Are you ready to try this out yourself?
Applying this method can help you approach sewing patterns designed for knit fabrics with confidence! Be sure to check out our Summertime Styles With Knit Fabrics to see more patterns where you can apply your new skills! Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
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Thanks, everyone!
The Pixie Faire Team
508 Comments
I was forced into sewing on knits when my mother had a dress shop and I got pulled into doing alterations!! Well, FIRST always use a ballpoint needle!! I’ve heard various seamtresses on YouTube say that they use Universal needles on everything – well if you want the knit fabric pushed into the needle plate, holes in the fabric or “rat’s nests” on the underside – go ahead and use Universal needles. Also, hold onto both the bobbin and spool threads as you start to sew – a lot of the time the problem starts just as you start. Next, use a slight zig-zag stitch. I mean SLIGHT. Finished, it will look like a straight stitch but what it will allow you to do is hold your fabric a bit taut which will help keep your seams straight. Pinning: Knits tend to move quite a bit so I pin outside the seam allowance so that the fabric doesn’t move and the seam edge is free for my sewing machine and fingers to adjust things as I go. I remove the pins after the seam is finished. If the seam is in a tight place I will hand based the fabrics just to stop the sliding or movement of the rest of the fabric interfering with the seam. Lastly, I have no problem using an under lining layer; if I don’t want it to show – chiffon, if I want some body, I will use a soft tulle. For example: the bodice of a knit dress with a gathered skirt. I will under line the bodice to hold the gathered waist in place and so that it goes onto the bodice in a straight line without puckering. If I want a gathered sleeve to have some bounce I’ll add a light weight (very soft) netting under it. There’s more I could say but this box is full enough! ;-D
The coffee filter hack is awesome! Always been afraid of lightweight knits but I don’t think I will be in the future after seeing this video. Thanks bunches! My problem is with lightweight fabrics, such as chiffon’s or silks and what needle to use.
Can use a small zig zag stitch which helps prevent breakage on knit clothes which will get stretched taking on and off…like shorts or swim suits.
I don’t have a favorite tip, I have problems enough sewing with other blends like nylon and silk.
Wow! Great tip – thank you so much for this!! Very useful!