Hi – many thanks for your regular updates! I have been having problems sewing Lycra or any fabric that stretches. Do you have any advice on how to sew stretchy fabrics?
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When sewing with stretchy fabrics, one of the most important things to consider is your needle. Using the correct needled will make all the difference. For Lycra or any other stretchy fabric, you should sew using a “jersey” or “stretch” needle.
Check out these videos for some more tips on needle selection and sewing with stretchy fabrics:
Choosing the Right Sewing Machine Needles
How to Sew a Knit Pencil Skirt
Happy sewing!
Ashley
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Wat is a jersey needle ? Do you mean a ball point needle ?
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Thanks!
Hello, I am trying to make a cape/wrap out of a rayon fabric that I like a lot, however it is uncontrollably stretchy. Is there a way to tame it down long enough to add a lining to it. I have thought about a iron on interfacing but wondered about the rayon not holding up to the iron. Thank you for any advice.
Hello How do I sew a collar that is stretch tissu
Hello Diane!
Would you be able to elaborate your question? I will send it off to our experts once I receive your response!
Thank you!
Jessica
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
I purchased some beautiful very stretchy fabric which I want to make a dress for our granddaughter.
I is necessary for me to have someone to walk me through this project.
The last comment with the last sentence should read, It is necessary for me to have someone to
talk me through this project. The pattern I have chosen is very simple bodice front and back and the skirt front and back and short sleeves.
Learning to see stretch fabris
No
Is there such tool, sewing machine pressed foot to sew Barbie clothes?
Hi Dolores,
Unfortunately I don’t think there is such a presser foot, I wish there was. I have sewn many garments, including Barbie clothes, that could surely use a smaller width presser foot. The best I have come up with is what is called a “zipper” foot. The zipper foot has needle openings on both sides of the foot instead of the middle. They look like this: (Available from Amazon)
Zipper Sewing Machine Presser Foot for Low Shank Snap on Singer Brother Babylock Janome Kenmore White Juki New Home Simplicity Elna Husqvarna Janome Bernina
Once you see what it looks like, I am sure you can find one either in a store or online to use on your sewing machine. It’s not perfect, but it works with tiny spaces. Hope this helps, Marcia
If you can use an old Singer that does straight stitch only, the presser foot is very small. I am using one from the 50s.
I’m sewing a knit long pencil skirt. Do I need to sew the front and back tucks or just attach the elastic band to waist measurement.
Hello Erlinda,
Since you are using a knit fabric that has some stretch to it you can attach the elastic waistband without adding the darts at the front and the back, however adding the darts will make it look more like the pencil skirt style.
Cheers,
Ashley NSC Video Membership
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Hello Erlinda,
This depends on the look you want for your skirt. If you add the front and back tucks to the skirt before attaching it to the waistband (as long as your fabric has enough stretch ) it will look more like a pencil skirt. If you do not add the front and back tucks you may end up with a more gathered look at the waistband. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Ashley NSC Video Membership
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Hi Erlinda,
It depends on how stretchy your knit is:
If the knit is very stretchy, that is, if you can pull the waist measurement of the knit over your hips without stretching the knit beyond its tear point, you can cut the knit in a curve from your hips to your waist. Otherwise, you will probably need to use the darts for a smoother look.
In addition to using a stretch, jersey or ball point needle add a roller pressed foot. I find more often than not that the presser foot presser and friction is pushing and the feed dogs are pulling in opposite directions which causes these stretchy k it’s to waffle or curl. Not every machine allows the user to adjust the presser foot pressure to balance the push and pull. By switching the presser foot out and using a roller foot, the presser foot stops fighting with the feed dogs and it rolls over the fabric smoothly. Another useful foot is a walking foot.
My number one favorite machine to use for sewing knits of any kind is a serger. My Bernina allows me to adjust the feed dogs and the presser of the pressure foot. The seam a serger creates also allows for the stretch and give a knit garment needs, preventing popping or breaking the seams.
Hello, I made a t-shirt quilt for my daughter. I stabilized the squares before sewing but she said that she sometimes hears the thread breaking when she’s using it. Is there a specific kind of thread that should be used when sewing stretchy fabric?
Hello Betsy,
Yes, I would recommend using polyester thread when sewing stretchy fabrics as opposed to cotton thread. Polyester thread has just a bit of stretch to it so it will stand up better in a project like the t shirt quilt.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Ashley NSC Video Membership
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How do I sew plastic or rubber so it doesn’t stick to presser plate
Hi Carol. An easy way to do this is to lay the plastic or rubber on tissue paper. It will allow it to slide evenly under the presser foot over the plate and can easily be torn away after.
Hope this helps!
Ashley
I had some knit fabric that ran after I cut it out. Why does that happen and how do you prevent it from running. I used clear nail polish to stop the runs, but I would have preferred that it didn’t run.
Hi Enis. Here is a great article with large scale photos of how knit fabric is made that explains why runs can happen in the fabric:
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4160/know-your-knits/page/all
Also, here are several ways to fix runs and holes in knit fabric:
http://www.asg.org/scr/blog/2014/08/tip-making-repairs-in-knit-fabric/
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Ashley
Hi, I am wondering how to sew for someone with special needs. Like someone who has a dowers hump or someone who has scoliosis where a shoulder is higher on one side. How would I adjust a pattern? Does your website teach or have tips addressing this issue?
Hi Linda. We don’t have a tutorial that address those specific alterations, however have a video that entails tools that can be used to make various different alterations in different areas of garments that you might find helpful:
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/sewing-pattern-alterations-and-alteration-tools-003879/
When cutting fabric for home décor. how do I match the motifs (repeats)?
Hi!
Here is a great tutorial for how to match motif and pattern repeats in home decor and decorator fabric.
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/decorator-fabric-tips-and-tricks-008855/
Hope this helps!
Cut strips of plain white gift wrapping tissue into strips. Use a strip between the fabric and the feed dogs. I stumbled onto this while trying to find something to keep nylon tricky from creeping to the side while sewing it. Once done, gently tear the tissue away away from the stitching. You may have use a tweezer for a few small pieces, but the time and aggravation saved are well worth it. It works just as well on any stretch fabric and also prevents stretching of the fabric while sewing. I don’t even attempt to sew these types of fabric without the tissue any more. Just think of it as a stabilizer for sewing instead of for embroidery. Use a rotary cutter, cut a bunch of strips, and keep them handy. You will love them.
How can I sew on thermal shirts without causing them to waffle and stretch out of shape
Hi Dolores. Stretching can occur when stitching fabric if it is being pulled or pushed through the machine. Make sure you are allowing the feed dogs to pull the fabric through the machine. Also, make sure you are using the correct needle for the type of fabric being stitched. If these things do not work, consider using a stabilizer on the seams. You can either baste a stabilizer in place along the seams being stitched or you can use another kind of removable stabilizer.
Hope this helps!