These are really good tips! Thank you. Perfect timing, too, as I'm getting ready to make a couple of garments using these slinky knits which have been sitting in my bin waiting for just this information!
Wonderful information, you solved two problems, I've been having sewing slinky knits . Pressure foot tension and feed dogs eating my fabrics. And spray starch, very helpful
Thanks so much, I was struggling with a knit fabric last night and gave up about 1am. Now I am ready to go back with confidence that I can use your suggestions and successfully cut out my pattern.
Very useful info, esp on the needles -- different machines preferring different needles. Never thought of using spray starch! Going to try this w/twin needles as I love the finish but keep getting the tunnel between rows. Thank you for the great video done so well.
You are one of the best teachers in sewing videos and I’ve watched many. I appreciate your straightforward instructions and just everything about the way you produce your videos. I never get bored or want to fast forward as I do with so many other sewing instructors. Kudos to you!!!
Thank you for this video! I'm mostly self taught, & I've figured out a few of these, but not everything 😊 I put my machine in timeout because it kept sucking the fabric down, but in the middle of a seam. I can't wait to try the jersey needles, to see if that's what she wants!
Thank you, thank you!! I have avoided working with knits because I've encountered nearly all the problems you mentioned. I will pull out some knit fabrics I purchased a while ago and experiment. I already have Stitch Witchery - so that's a HUGE tip for knits. I always ran into problems with the hems stretching out and "ruffling." I'm going to get a pack of each of the needle types you suggested, as well. Thank you so much!
One other way to tell front from backside of knit fabric is just to tug a cut edge, the fabric will roll slightly to the back (I think). Easy enough to test. Love all the great information you share!
It depends on if you're parallel or perpendicular to the selvage, and it only works with fabrics created with a jersey stitch. More here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-582jqw0J1Vw.html
Thank you. I am an experienced sewist, but not with knits. You are an excellent teacher. After watching your video, I tried some of your tips and Success!!
fabulous tips - I've been trying to get along with a rayon knit for a top, and it's been testing my patience. I should have watched this before I started...
I love this video! Thanks! I would add that one should be sure you can stitch through the Stitch Witchery or fusible tape because there are some that explicitly say not to.
Wonderful tips!!!😍💖Love ALL of these useful sewing tips, and LO💝E the dress you made with a beautiful, candy- pink lightweight knit!! You are fabulous, Melly‼️🤗💓💞💕
Thanks for the teaching! I'm a new enthusiastic subscriber! Now I know what went wrong with my first knit sewing project and I keep a few tips in mind for the next ones!
Lots of great tips, thank you. I was hoping you'd discuss using Eloflex thread. I bought some after watching a video that highlighted it but I've been too chicken to try it yet, haha.
@@Mellysews I may actually get brave and try it with this summer's batch of Blank Tees for my grandkids. I broke the cover stitch function on my serger last summer when I was making a batch of them then and never got it fixed. (Bad girl!)
To keep the right and wrong sides straight I mark the right side - one pin on the right side of the bodice or leggings and two pins on the back bodice or legging pieces.
This video is great, so easy to understand for a newbie to sewing like me. I'd like to sew bamboo rayon to polar fleece but not sure how best to hem it, any tips?
Amazing tips!! May I ask where you bought that baby pink fabric? Where do you prefer to buy large pieces of fabric? I’m planning on starting a small business using that fabric. Thanks!!
Thanks for some great info. About those stabilized shoulders ... I do that, too, but don’t know how to handle that newly bulked-up seam! Do I press everything to the back? Do I trim any of the layers? I wish I knew. Fingers crossed you can explain!!🤞
You can trim, depending on the stay tape you use (don't trim twill tape edges) or press to one side. You can even stitch the other side of the stay tape down either by hand or with a stretch topstitch. But I generally just leave it and press the seam to one side when I sew over the seam with the neckband sleeve.
Very helpful tips! Could you also use the selvedge as a stabilizer in the shoulder seams? I usually don't like the look of the typical clear elastic or other stay tape and that would be nice and invisible, but maybe not stable enough?
Very helpful thank you. Immediately checked I can buy Stitch Witchery from Amazon in UK! In the video I noticed the seam marking guide, is this something you put there? Do you have a video covering this? I have poor eyesight and this could really help me.
Thank you. I learn so much from your videos. I tried sewing a slinky knit last night. I used a strip of interfacing to stabilize my shoulders but didn't realize the lower fabric had moved when I sewed. It's not straight and I can't unpick it without damaging the fabric. I'm thinking to just trim away what's bad but don't know how badly it will affect the arms and collar. Any suggestions?
Thank you so much, I didn't know most of these tricks and my bamboo jersey projrcts turned out terrible. I wonder though, if anyone found the walking foot helpful?
I have really enjoyed your video, I really learned some very useful tips. Thank You. However and unfortunately I get a page error when I follow the links.
Do you find that the starch helps enough to stabilize the fabric enough to cut on the fold? I can’t seem to keep the Grainline straight on knits enough to do that.
Starch helps, if I'm really having trouble with a fabric I might also pin along the fold line before placing my pattern to keep the fabric from rolling.
Just see your video. Having problem here with silky spandex fabric, keep try to sewing for the hem but the upper thread not even catch the lower thread 😥😥, I did use the strect needle, even thread for stretch fabric. I dont have the walking foot, not yet try to use the stabilizer 😢😢😢
I'm having the same problem on Polyester, with the upper thread not catching the lower thread. Or when it does, my thread is breaking & my stitches are skipping! I've tried, re-threading the upper, re-inserting the bobbin, changing both kinds of threads, changing to a ball point needle (made it worse). 🤔Don't believe there's any way to adjust the Pressure Foot Tension on my machine. But have reduced the overall tension. Changed to a small, short, zig zag.😫Ugh very frustrating... (btw would you ever put a little bit of tape over part of the hole so as not to have the fabric sucked into the bobbin hole? Yep, have that prob too & saw that suggested.) Will try stabilizer... before giving up & hand stitching or burning. 🤞Tks for the tips.
I have no idea which fabric you're referring to, but when the fabric is still available at the time of publication I add a link, so if there's no link it's safe to assume it's fabric I bought years ago and is no longer available.
Do you have any tips on how to fix an armhole that grows throughout the day. So how to repair it and then secondly how to sew it to avoid it. I’m struggling with this. When I put the finished garment on my bra is hidden but a few hours later my bra is really showing. Would love your help.