Hi Everyone! We'll be rounding out the month with a few extra tutorials focusing on finishing knit fabric edges without hemming. These are frequently my go to methods when working with delicate fabrics like sweater knits and sequined knits.
The patterns mentioned in the videos can be found here:
- LJ Rashguard (shown in the Secialty Knits video)
- LJ Slip Dress (shown in the FOE video)
- LJ T-shirt and Cropped Sweater (Shown in the Specialty Knits video)
In this video I'll show you a technique I use to hem any style knit tee. All you need is stretch lace 1/2" width or narrower if you can find it. The stretch lace adds stability while still allowing the hemline to stretch. Whenever I caome across narrow stretch lace, I load up on it!
You can also fold your hem so that a narrow edge of lace peeks out from the bottom along the base of the hemline (Shown in the Killara pattern, excerpt included here).
One other option is to use a narrow 1/4" lace and tuck it into the fold of the doube turned hem (shown in the WW Baseball T-Shirt pattern, excerpt included here - right click the image to save it)
How To Sew with Fold Over Elastic
In this video I'll show you how to sew fold over elastic (FOE) as a binding on a knit fabric. You can use this on a variety of fabric types as well. There are several examples of this used in patterns found on Pixie Faire - LJ SLip Dress, LJ Free Swimsuit, LUB Dainty Things and Days of the Week Panties/Cami. You can find FOE at a variety of places - in stores (like JoAnn Fabrics, or Hobby Lobby) as well as online (Search Etsy or look in the baby daiper making supplies, there's lots of cute FOE with that stuff!)
Sewing With Specialty Knit Fabrics
In this video I'll show you some examples of sewing on swim knit and sewing on a sequined fabric. I've found that sewing with these delicate types of fabrics just requires a bit of patience, and testing to get it right. Be sure to use a new sharp stretch needle (or a ball point needle), I find that this works best. I've used a regular twin needle on the FOE and it works great. If you can find a stretch twin needle, that works well too! For the swim knit, a stretch twin needle is a must, a regular twin needle tends to skip stitches.
I hope these tips and techniques have given you confidence to sew with knits! I'd love to see what you've made :) Share your projects wit the group under this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithCinnamon/permalink/652252744967767/
Happy Sewing!
Cinnamon
18 Comments
Hi Cinnamon and the team. I am thoroughly enjoying the videos and chats and learning heaps and heaps! This week 10 May I cannot download the videos to save onto my laptop. Can you give me an idea of what to do please? I have not had any issues previously. Mary-Jane
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for putting this together!!! I’ve been slowly absorbing all the tips, trying them for myself and am now loving knits!!! Problem is I keep buying more knits to try! I have to say my 2 favorite tips are using coffee filters instead of tissue paper (genius!!!!) and the steam to help with stretched seams! I do also like using the stay stitch tapes and stuff too! Who knew that’s what that was for?! Thanks again for all your efforts to help me become better at sewing knits! My world of sewing has grown 10 fold since I can sew knits now! The dolls and I THANK YOU from the bottom of our happy hearts! :)
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for putting this together!!! I’ve been slowly absorbing all the tips, trying them for myself and am now loving knits!!! Problem is I keep buying more knits to try! I have to say my 2 favorite tips are using coffee filters instead of tissue paper (genius!!!!) and the steam to help with stretched seams! I do also like using the stay stitch tapes and stuff too! Who knew that’s what that was for?! Thanks again for all your efforts to help me become better at sewing knits! My world of sewing has grown 10 fold since I can sew knits now! The dolls and I THANK YOU from the bottom of our happy hearts! :)
Sewing with you, Cinnamon has been very useful. I’m slowly making use of your instructions. It’s been a great month. I’m going to take the summer off as sewing stops when the outdoors beckons. I hope to join in again in September. Hope everyone has a good summer!
Sewing with you, Cinnamon, was very useful. I’m slowly making use of your instructions. It’s been a great month. I’m going to take the summer off because I do very little sewing when the outdoors beckons. I hope to come inside and sew with you again in September. Hope you all have a good summer.