{"id":2420,"date":"2011-09-08T11:21:47","date_gmt":"2011-09-08T15:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/?p=2420"},"modified":"2014-10-09T10:18:48","modified_gmt":"2014-10-09T14:18:48","slug":"sewing-with-knit-fabrics-a-primer-part-2-of-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\/blog\/2011\/09\/08\/sewing-with-knit-fabrics-a-primer-part-2-of-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewing With Knit Fabrics, A Primer – Part 2 of 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here we are with Part Two of our three part series, A Primer on Sewing with Knit Fabrics. If you missed Part One, you can find it here<\/a>. Part Three is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cutting out knit fabrics <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My favorite tool for cutting out garments is a large cutting mat and a rotary cutter. My reasons are a) it\u2019s quick, b) it\u2019s easy and c) I\u2019m lazy. For cutting out knits, though, there\u2019s another reason, d) it\u2019s more accurate.<\/p>\n

As you use scissors to lift up the edge of a knit to cut it, it gets slightly distorted. The more drapey the fabric, the more potential it has for getting distorted. A better method is the following:<\/p>\n

1. Cut out all your tissue pattern pieces on the cutting line<\/span> for your size.<\/p>\n

2. Lay your fabric (usually folded with selvedges together) on the cutting mat. The grain lines go along the length of the fabric, the stretch always goes around<\/em> the body.<\/p>\n

3. Do NOT have excess fabric draping off the table, this will stretch and distort your pieces.\"sewing-with-knits-fabric-hanging-off-table\"<\/p>\n

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4. Rather, lay out as many pattern pieces as will fit on the mat, then gently accordion fold or puddle the excess fabric at the end of the mat.\"sewing-with-knits-fabric-supported-on-table\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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5. Use pattern weights to hold down the corners of the pattern pieces. (If you don\u2019t have pattern weights, you can just use small cans like tuna fish cans or go here<\/a>\u00a0to make your own.)<\/p>\n

\"sewing-with-knits-pattern-weights\"<\/p>\n

6. Use a straight edge and a rotary cutter to cut the straight lines. Use the rotary cutter to carefully cut any curves. (If you have very tight curves, use a smaller rotary cutter, like a 28 mm.)\"sewing-with-knits-22mm-rotary-cutter\"<\/p>\n

Did you ignore my advice and get that slinky knit anyways?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you absolutely had to have that slinky knit I warned you about above, here\u2019s how to deal with it for the most success. Follow step one. Before following step two, lay out lightweight paper such as unprinted newsprint, tracing paper or tissue paper on the mat.\u00a0Lay\u00a0out your fabric on top of this paper, making the selvedges and fold as even and parallel as humanly possible. (Now you know why it\u2019s called slinky<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

Continue with steps three and four. Instead of using pattern weights for step five, carefully pin through all layers (tissue pattern, both layers of fabric and paper underneath) along all the edges of the patterns.\u00a0 Having your fabric pinned between two layers of paper keeps it from shifting out of shape.\u00a0 The more pins you use here, the easier the next step will be.<\/p>\n

\"sewing-with-knits-cutting-slinky-knit\"<\/p>\n

Now you can use either scissors or a rotary cutter to cut out your pattern pieces. (I don\u2019t own any, but I\u2019ve been told that using micro-serrated scissors helps here as well.) Use your favorite method to mark notches, etc.\u00a0 (You might notice from the photo that I like the quick method of clipping into the notches.\u00a0 I usually use a water soluble fabric marker to mark the dots.)<\/p>\n

Now, go ahead and cut out your pattern. I’ll wait. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Next time,\u00a0Part Three, Needles & Stitches<\/em><\/a> (choosing the right ones can make all the difference.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here we are with Part Two of our three part series, A Primer on Sewing with Knit Fabrics. If you missed Part One, you can find it here. Part Three is here. Cutting out knit fabrics My favorite tool for cutting out…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,186],"tags":[416,415,414,380],"class_list":["post-2420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sewing","category-tutorials","tag-knit-clothing","tag-knit-garments","tag-sewing-with-knit-fabric","tag-sewing-with-knits"],"yoast_head":"\nSewing With Knit Fabrics, A Primer - Part 2 of 3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Part Two of our Sewing With Knit Fabrics, A Primer, Some tips for accurately cutting out your knit fabrics. 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Crafting, sewing and making things with my hands have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I\u2019ve often been asked to teach my crafts, and have found I love doing so. My online tutorials, in PDF and video, as far as I\u2019m concerned, are the ultimate teaching tools. Be sure to subscribe so you don\u2019t miss a thing. It\u2019s my hope that with every post you will come away enriched and inspired to take what you\u2019ve learned and make it your own. If I do that, I consider myself successful.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/keepsakecrafts.net\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/KeepsakeCraftsCreate\/\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/sandysewin\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/sandysewin\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/keepsakecraftssandyhuntress\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Sewing With Knit Fabrics, A Primer - Part 2 of 3","description":"Part Two of our Sewing With Knit Fabrics, A Primer, Some tips for accurately cutting out your knit fabrics. 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