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
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.
Just finished my first sequined knit! Had to wait after cutting out for 4 days(KILLLING ME)to sew. I played the video over and over! I am so excited…just like a kid waiting for Christmas!!!!! Thank you, it looks so cute! Making a sequiune dress next out of gold! I almost gave this fabric away because I was so afraid I didn’t know how to sew it. This is the BEST PROGRAM for anyone !
Thank you for the tutorials. I have never used FOE but I think I can do it now.
This group and the tips are FABULOUS! This is exactly what I have been looking for for so long! Thank you for filling in the many gaps in my skills!!! Definitely worth so much more than the cost.
I too was sewing the FOE incorrectly and I loved the tutorial on neckbands…thanks.