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Sewing Tips: Pattern Weights
National Sewing Circle EditorsThere are many benefits to using pattern weights when making clothes. This demonstration shows several different pattern weights you can use as well as tips on how to best use them. Learn which pattern weights work best with specific fabrics and use these tips to assist your sewing at home.
When you're working with a knit fabric, there are a couple of things to think about when you're planning your pattern pieces. So the first thing is when you lay out your fabric yardage, make sure that it's not falling off of the table. And you can see how I've bunched it up here. If it's falling off of the table, then it will have a tendency to pull and shift your fabric pieces. So they'll just end up being a little bit off.
Another thing to consider is when you're working with a directional print, like this one, you want to keep that in mind for all of the pieces that you're laying out. So you will probably most likely need extra fabric to account for that. And you can also strategically place your pieces to feature one of the motifs in a pleasing way and also avoid some certain areas, if that is needed, as well. So you may not want an elephant directly on your bum, or you may, depending on the type of pants that you're making. So you can keep that in mind and strategically place each piece that you need.
Another thing to think about is when I'm working with knit, I don't like using pins to position my fabric, because it's just a little unwieldy, I guess. Now, you certainly can, if that is what you like to do. I also like using a rotary cutter instead of scissors. It just makes it a lot easier to get through the knit without it stretching and moving and rolling and all of that. But what I like to use instead of pins are pattern weights, and there are a variety of pattern weights available that you can find.
These are really cool because you can just easily position them around corners and curves. And as you can see on this piece, I've already used it with some pattern weights that have some pins in them, and that just really keeps it from shifting. So you just strategically place these and get enough, so that you don't have to move them and you can place them all at once. This is just a big washer, and a lot of people have different sizes of these that they like to keep in their sewing room, as well. And these are some specialty pattern weights that follow curves really nicely.
And there's some straight varieties, as well. So just find some that work for you, and you'll be on your way to sewing knit with success.
Where does one find the weights with the pins in them??
I would like to know where to buy the weights with pins. I have looked on Amazon, Etsy, Pinterest and in stores and cannot find them. I have messaged your company and haven't been answered. Could you please let me know where to buy them? Thank you
where can i buy the weight with pins. thank you
<strong> Ticket 23264 This didn’t show half of what was promised. Nothing about which to use for which fabric, or the pros and cons. It didn’t even say what the more unusual types are called to google for them.
Haven't seen the weights that were long and curved around the corner before. May just have to go shopping.