sewing with stretch fabric at home 1. Cut out the fabric from your pattern pieces
front
back
sleeve
2. Select a ‘Zig Zag’ stitch on your Sewing Machine & test on your fabric Experiment with different stitch lengths and widths until you are happy with the stitch 3. Tips for sewing with stretch fabrics • Choose a Ballpoint Needle - stretch fabrics require a ball-point needle, the standard needles that we use for woven fabrics will tear holes in the knit fibres • Knit fabric seams often look ‘stretched out’ after sewing. Press gently and apply steam from your iron to shrink the seam back to normal • When cutting out use pattern weights instead of pins to stop holes in your fabric. Also, when cutting, keep your fabric flat and ensure it is not stretched out. A common reason knits stretch while you are cutting is when they are hanging over the edge of the table. Cutting on a larger table or on the floor is an alternative
4. Join the Front & Back together at ‘one’ shoulder seam
Match the front and back together at the shoulder seam
Pin in place
Sew in place MKT1661/0221