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Tip: Keeping the edges of knit fabric from curling

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One of the challenges of sewing on knit fabrics is that the edges tend to curl.  This is particularly true with jersey fabric.  One little tug and the fabric curls in, making it difficult to gauge a correct seam allowance. 

Debbie from Squiggly Twigs Designs shares a tip for keeping the edges of knit fabrics from curling up while you sew them.  I won’t spoil the surpise here; go to Squiggly Twigs Designs to see what to do.

As a sewer, I know firsthand how frustrating it can be when the edges of your knit fabric start curling while you’re trying to sew. But don’t worry, there are a few tips and tricks that I’ve found helpful in keeping the edges of my knit fabric from curling while I sew.

  1. Stabilize your fabric: One of the easiest ways to keep your knit fabric from curling is to stabilize it with a fusible interfacing or a lightweight knit fusible. Simply fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of your fabric before you start sewing.
  2. Use a walking foot: Another helpful tool is a walking foot for your sewing machine. This type of foot has feed dogs that move the fabric along, helping to keep it from stretching and curling.
  3. Pin, pin, pin: Pins can be your best friend when it comes to keeping knit fabric from curling. Place pins along the edge of the fabric to hold it in place as you sew. This will help prevent the fabric from stretching and curling as you work.
  4. Sew with a stretch stitch: Make sure to use a stretch stitch when sewing knit fabric, as this will allow the fabric to move and stretch without distorting the seam.

 

 

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Have you read?

Sew a Pincushion for Pins, Needles, and Fabric Clips

It doesn’t matter whether you sew by hand or by machine, you need a pincushion.  You need a spot to parks pins and needles and keep them within easy reach for when you need them again.  There are a lot of styles of pincushion to choose from.  Some magnetic, some fabric.  Some cute, some purely functional.  This “little bit extra” pincushion has a spot to store all the different types of pins and needles you might need while sewing.  Polka Dot Chair has a free sewing pattern you can use to make one for yourself.

This handy little pincushion has a circular shape and is divided into sections to store different types of pins.  The bottom section is for your regular straight pins.  Just poke them in and they’re ready for when you need them.  The top has one section with a felt flap perfect for holding your sewing needles.  I don’t know about you but I don’t like mixing my hand sewing needles in with my pins on a pincushion.  It makes it hard to find the needle when I want it.  So having a separate section for the needles is a great idea.

This “little bit extra” pincushion also has a spot to hold a few fabric clips.  Fabric clips have become popular alternatives to a traditional straight pin.  They hold fabric pieces together without piercing the fabric, which is important when sewing leather, vinyl, or other materials that will show permanent holes from pins.

You can sew the “little bit extra” pincushion from large fabric scraps or small fabric cuts (fat eighth).  You probably already have all the supplies you need to sew one in your sewing supplies already.

Get the free pattern for this “little bit extra” pincushion over at Polka Dot Chair.

[photo credit: Polka Dot Chair]

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