Hi Everyone! We'll be rounding out the month with a few extra tutorials focusing on finishing knit fabric edges without hemming. These are frequently my go to methods when working with delicate fabrics like sweater knits and sequined knits.
The patterns mentioned in the videos can be found here:
LJ Rashguard (shown in the Secialty Knits video)
LJ Slip Dress (shown in the FOE video)
LJ T-shirt and Cropped Sweater (Shown in the Specialty Knits video)
In this video I'll show you a technique I use to hem any style knit tee. All you need is stretch lace 1/2" width or narrower if you can find it. The stretch lace adds stability while still allowing the hemline to stretch. Whenever I caome across narrow stretch lace, I load up on it!
You can also fold your hem so that a narrow edge of lace peeks out from the bottom along the base of the hemline (Shown in the Killara pattern, excerpt included here).
One other option is to use a narrow 1/4" lace and tuck it into the fold of the doube turned hem (shown in the WW Baseball T-Shirt pattern, excerpt included here - right click the image to save it)
How To Sew with Fold Over Elastic
In this video I'll show you how to sew fold over elastic (FOE) as a binding on a knit fabric. You can use this on a variety of fabric types as well. There are several examples of this used in patterns found on Pixie Faire - LJ SLip Dress, LJ Free Swimsuit, LUB Dainty Things and Days of the Week Panties/Cami. You can find FOE at a variety of places - in stores (like JoAnn Fabrics, or Hobby Lobby) as well as online (Search Etsy or look in the baby daiper making supplies, there's lots of cute FOE with that stuff!)
Sewing With Specialty Knit Fabrics
In this video I'll show you some examples of sewing on swim knit and sewing on a sequined fabric. I've found that sewing with these delicate types of fabrics just requires a bit of patience, and testing to get it right. Be sure to use a new sharp stretch needle (or a ball point needle), I find that this works best. I've used a regular twin needle on the FOE and it works great. If you can find a stretch twin needle, that works well too! For the swim knit, a stretch twin needle is a must, a regular twin needle tends to skip stitches.
Hi Cinnamon and the team. I am thoroughly enjoying the videos and chats and learning heaps and heaps! This week 10 May I cannot download the videos to save onto my laptop. Can you give me an idea of what to do please? I have not had any issues previously. Mary-Jane
Jennifer
May 02, 2017
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for putting this together!!! I’ve been slowly absorbing all the tips, trying them for myself and am now loving knits!!! Problem is I keep buying more knits to try! I have to say my 2 favorite tips are using coffee filters instead of tissue paper (genius!!!!) and the steam to help with stretched seams! I do also like using the stay stitch tapes and stuff too! Who knew that’s what that was for?! Thanks again for all your efforts to help me become better at sewing knits! My world of sewing has grown 10 fold since I can sew knits now! The dolls and I THANK YOU from the bottom of our happy hearts! :)
Jennifer
May 02, 2017
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for putting this together!!! I’ve been slowly absorbing all the tips, trying them for myself and am now loving knits!!! Problem is I keep buying more knits to try! I have to say my 2 favorite tips are using coffee filters instead of tissue paper (genius!!!!) and the steam to help with stretched seams! I do also like using the stay stitch tapes and stuff too! Who knew that’s what that was for?! Thanks again for all your efforts to help me become better at sewing knits! My world of sewing has grown 10 fold since I can sew knits now! The dolls and I THANK YOU from the bottom of our happy hearts! :)
Karen
April 30, 2017
Sewing with you, Cinnamon has been very useful. I’m slowly making use of your instructions. It’s been a great month. I’m going to take the summer off as sewing stops when the outdoors beckons. I hope to join in again in September. Hope everyone has a good summer!
Karen
April 30, 2017
Sewing with you, Cinnamon, was very useful. I’m slowly making use of your instructions. It’s been a great month. I’m going to take the summer off because I do very little sewing when the outdoors beckons. I hope to come inside and sew with you again in September. Hope you all have a good summer.
Karen
April 30, 2017
Sewing with you, Cinnamon, was very useful. I’m slowly making use of your instructions. It’s been a great month. I’m going to take the summer off because I do very little sewing when the outdoors beckons. I hope to come inside and sew with you again in September. Hope you all have a good summer.
Margaret(Peggy)
April 29, 2017
Just finished my first sequined knit! Had to wait after cutting out for 4 days(KILLLING ME)to sew. I played the video over and over! I am so excited…just like a kid waiting for Christmas!!!!! Thank you, it looks so cute! Making a sequiune dress next out of gold! I almost gave this fabric away because I was so afraid I didn’t know how to sew it. This is the BEST PROGRAM for anyone !
Karma
April 28, 2017
Thank you for the tutorials. I have never used FOE but I think I can do it now.
Katherine
April 28, 2017
This group and the tips are FABULOUS! This is exactly what I have been looking for for so long! Thank you for filling in the many gaps in my skills!!! Definitely worth so much more than the cost.
Sylvia
April 27, 2017
I too was sewing the FOE incorrectly and I loved the tutorial on neckbands…thanks.
kim
April 26, 2017
Thanks Cinnamon for posting these videos! I was doing it wrong with FOE, thanks for showing the right way.
Marcy Mahle
April 26, 2017
Thank you so much for all the many classes you have given. I know at the age of 70 that there is till so much for me to learn about sewing. Of all the classes you have given, I am sure that Sewing With Cinnamon will be my very favorite. I really like focusing on one aspect a month and I have learned a great deal about sewing knits this month. You are the best.
Mary Rister
April 25, 2017
Thank you so much for the month of knits and the different techniques for sewing them. Thank you for forming this group.
Jackie
April 25, 2017
Thank you, Cinnamon for the informative videos. I cannot wait to make some tops using specialty knits! I used to shy away from such fabric, but I am now ready to tackle Knit fabrics!
Jo
April 25, 2017
I was trying to download the videos for further viewing but I’m having trouble with the FOB Binding, I keep getting the Stretch Lace again am I doing something wrong? On a brighter note, I love Tuesdays, I look so forward to learning yet another of your tricks of the trade. Thanks so much for this opportunity and your gift of sharing.
Margaret(Peggy)
April 25, 2017
Wow I had no idea how to sew material with sequins with a light underlining sewn together with the fabric! Thank you cannot wait to do this! Lots of sequin fabric…….now I know! Woo Hoo!
Aime
April 25, 2017
Thank you for all the information and videos.They have solved many problems I have had with some fabrics.
Maurine
April 25, 2017
Thanks Cinnamon for a very informative month of blogs for sewing with knits. I learned a lot and it helped me to tackle something outside of my comfort zone. Can’t wait to see what the topic will be for May.
Mary-Jane Ursu
May 09, 2017
Hi Cinnamon and the team. I am thoroughly enjoying the videos and chats and learning heaps and heaps! This week 10 May I cannot download the videos to save onto my laptop. Can you give me an idea of what to do please? I have not had any issues previously. Mary-Jane