{"id":117,"date":"2019-04-17T15:00:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T15:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/?p=117"},"modified":"2020-08-20T14:21:30","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T14:21:30","slug":"how-to-sew-stretchy-fabric","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/au.contrado.com\/blog\/how-to-sew-stretchy-fabric\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Sew Stretchy Fabric (Without Overstretching Your Patience)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you are an accomplished sewer or a novice,\nknowing how to sew stretchy fabric is a key skill that will help with a wealth\nof sewing projects.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no secret that sewing with stretchy fabric can be\nsomewhat of a challenge (some people find it downright scary!) Stretch fabrics\ntend to make up a huge majority of people\u2019s wardrobes. They are comfortable,\neasy to wear and require minimal care. Knowing how to sew stretchy fabric will\ngive you the confidence to push your sewing skills, and, trust us. It isn\u2019t as\nhard as you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is stretch fabric?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Stretch fabric is a generic term for any textile; knitted or\nwoven, that has a greater amount of recovery and stretch than is normally\nexpected. These textiles can be stretch-woven fabrics, single knits, some\ndouble knits, and even bias-cut fabrics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most stretch fabrics are knits. Jersey fabrics make up a large percentage of this group. The most prominent feature of these stretch fabrics is their 4-way stretch. This means they stretch both crosswise and lengthwise. There are some stretch fabrics \u2013 usually heavier ones \u2013 that only have a 2-way stretch. Therefore, it is vital to make sure you check you are using the right kind of stretchy fabric for your project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What can stretchy fabric be used for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People love wearing stretchy fabrics thanks to their innate\nability to move and grow with us. They are soft and comfortable and are perfect\nfor keeping up with an active lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can I learn how to sew with stretchy fabrics with my home sewing machine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A common misunderstanding about how to sew with stretchy\nfabrics is that you need to serger. Overlockers or sergers are wonderful at\nhandling stretch fabrics and creating a polished finish, but are they always\nnecessary? Although a serger can make it quicker to sew with stretchy knits, it\nis a costly addition to your sewing machine. It is also not imperative for\nsewing with stretchy textiles. A zigzag stitch on a standard sewing machine can\nbe used as an alternative to a serger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difficulty some people might find with sewing stretchy fabrics comes from the amount of stretch that certain fabric might have. It is important to factor in the percentage of stretch in your chosen fabric, and that it matches the pattern you are working with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"adjusting<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tips for working with stretch fabric<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By following a few simple tricks and tips, your knowledge of\nhow to sew stretchy fabric will sky rocket. Ensuring the finished seams lie\nneatly and flat and at the same time don\u2019t break when the garment is used is\nyour endgame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main tricks to knowing how to sew stretchy fabric is to:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  • Always pre-wash your stretchy fabric<\/strong> \u2013 leave it to dry flat for at least a day so that it keeps its shape<\/em><\/li>
  • Ensure you have the right fabric for your project or pattern<\/li>
  • Choose the right needle<\/strong> \u2013 all stretchy knit fabrics should be sewn with a special needle; either a ballpoint or a stretch needle. A ballpoint needle consists of a rounded tip, which pushes the yarns away when sewing. It avoids damaging knit fabric while cutting and sewing. This contrasts with the usual piercing through and ripping them. Ensure you opt for the right size of needle for your fabric.<\/em><\/li>
  • Select the right thread<\/strong> \u2013 special threads are not usually required and a regular polyester thread works well as it has a slight amount of stretch.<\/em> Stay away from cotton thread as it can break when pulled<\/em><\/li>
  • Use stitches that will hold the stretch of the fabric<\/strong> \u2013 the stitches need to stretch with the fabric, so they don\u2019t pucker and break. If you must sew with a straight stitch, then hold the material taut, but don\u2019t pull it.<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    TOP TIP: Knowing how to sew stretchy fabric involves\nknowing how to cut and handle your fabric. The most important thing to remember\nwhen cutting your fabric is not to stretch it. We recommend laying it flat on a\ntable or other flat work surface. Don\u2019t let the fabric hang over the edges, as\nthis could stretch it out of place. Some other top tips for knowing how to sew\nstretchy fabric and how to handle it during the sewing process include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Take your pattern and place it on the fabric<\/strong> \u2013 to keep your fabric in place, pin it and cut out the patterns with scissors OR use paper weights and a rotary cutter.<\/em><\/li>
    • Try to keep pins inside the seam allowance<\/strong> \u2013 this avoids opening unwanted holes in the garment<\/em><\/li>
    • Take away the curl \u2013<\/strong> some kinds of stretchy fabrics \u2013 such as knitted jersey \u2013 have edges that tend to curl. This can make it even harder to sew. To reverse the curl, use a starchy spray and press the edges<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      TOP TIP: Part of understanding how to sew stretchy fabrics is to have patience. It is super important to take your time when sewing these fabrics. Pause occasionally with the needle down, so you can readjust the alignment of the raw edges of the material. Don\u2019t rush it!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"sorting<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      The best stitches and sewing machine settings for sewing\nstretch fabric<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      There is a wide variety of stretch stitches available,\ndepending on your sewing machine model. The best stitches to use for sewing\nstretch fabrics are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      • Narrow zigzag: <\/strong>opt for a very narrow setting with the zigzag, with the stitch length equal to the stitch width<\/em><\/li>
      • Overedge stitch: <\/strong>a specialty stitch that locks over the edge of the fabric so it stitches and finishes a seam in one pass<\/em><\/li>
      • Straight stretch stitch:<\/strong> this stitch looks like 3 parallel rows of straight stitches<\/em><\/li>
      • Twin-needle stitch: <\/strong>this stitch requires a twin needle. The right side of the fabric has 2 parallel rows of stitching. On the wrong side of the fabric, the bobbin thread follows a zigzag pattern<\/em><\/li>
      • Try a different presser foot:<\/strong> a dual feed foot or walking foot attachment for your sewing machine are great for helping to stop one layer of material stretching out when sewing. Check the manual of your machine to see which one is compatible<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        TOP TIP: If you are planning on stitching buttonholes in\na stretch fabric, we recommend sewing in the direction of least stretch. This\ncan be difficult with a 4-way stretch fabric, but test all sides to see if one\nhas slightly less give. Stabilise the wrong side of the fabric first with\nfusible interfacing. This should give you beautiful and stable buttonholes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        We hope these top tips for how to sew stretchy fabrics will give you the confidence you need to get stitching with knits! Now that you have mastered the skills, why not discovering all different kinds of stretchy fabric? Click on the button below to start discovering.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Whether you are an accomplished sewer or a novice, knowing how to sew stretchy fabric is a key skill that will help with a wealth of sewing projects. It\u2019s no secret that sewing with stretchy fabric can be somewhat of a challenge (some people find it downright scary!) Stretch fabrics tend to make up a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"%%title%% %%page%%","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Successfully sewing stretchy fabric involves knowing how to cut & handle it. The most important thing to remember when cutting fabric is NOT to stretch it."},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Sew Stretchy Fabric (Without Overstretching Your Patience)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Successfully sewing stretchy fabric involves knowing how to cut & handle it. 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