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OT Boca Jan sewing knits

. . . or for anyone sewing knits. Sorry to bore the rest of you but I finally found my sm knit fabric stitching notes and thought Jan might have need of them. Ann Person of the Stretch & Sew Guide to Sewing on Knits has some suggestions that wouldn't have occurred to me but you might give a try. She recommends a straight or zigzag foot that has a wide bottom but a small opening where the needle stitches through. I would be inclined to use a narrower foot but she says the wider foot holds the fabric down better and prevents skipped stitches. Makes sense. The foot she prefers looks like a #1 or the #3 on a Bernina. She recommends a ballpoint or stretch needle. And, furthermore, she suggests setting your stitch length at 9 stitches per inch. We don't want to struggle with 'high' math here but that's just about 2 stitches to a ¼". She says as your SM is feeding the fabric to gently pull away from the foot to slightly stretch the seam as the stitches are formed. When the knit seam is finished, it pulls back into place and forms a straight, unpuckered but 'stretchy' seam. I'm glad you needed help with sewing tank tops. Wanting to help you caused me to dig out my notes and I needed a review to make some preemie gowns. New mamas seem to prefer knits and the technique for stitching is quite different from our easy-going woven cotton. Polly (I recommend the book and it's still available. No pattern for a 7-piece bikini.)

Reply to
Polly Esther
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Polly,

Thanks for posting this, I have been sewing some clothes lately and just finished up a knit beach jacket with matching pants for my 2 year old DGD. I was using stretch terry and skipping stitches and probably could have used a stretch needle (I just changed machines instead). I actually have this book on the shelf but didn't even think to get it out and look at the directions for knits.

Judie

Reply to
Judie in Penfield NY

Be careful about which foot you're using too, Judie. I really like using a skinny foot or the open-toed one because they make it easier to see. Seeing is good but the wide foot with narrow opening does a better stitch on knits. Are you going to make a hat for the little lady? Sometimes, a two year-old will wear a hat. It's worth a try. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

I haven't done much with knits recently & when I do, I tend to use the serger. But before I had the serger, I found that a roller presser foot was handy when sewing knits. They don't seem to stretch as much. There is a picture of one at

Julia > . . . or for anyone sewing knits. Sorry to bore the rest of you but I

Reply to
Julia in MN

This little one loves hats! I made her a hat from some Tutti Frutti they had at TSWLTH. It's like a seersucker and in nice bright prints. Hers is reversible with a print on one side and solid on the other.

I'll be using a wide foot made from a clear plastic, I've been having good luck with this foot on knits.

Judie

Reply to
Judie in Penfield NY

Thanks Polly, that is exactly the foot I used and it worked like a charm! Thank you for all your help.

Reply to
Boca Jan

Welcome. It's a little puzzling that Person says to stretch the seam as you stitch it, and Julia says to use the roller foot so the seam won't stretch. I have done some seams that rippled when I didn't have a lettuce effect in mind. I reckon it's much like the quilting reminder we all need to use - test, test, test - and see what works for you. Polly

"Boca Jan" Thanks Polly, that is exactly the foot I used and it worked like a charm!

Reply to
Polly Esther

With the foot I used and the stitch I chose the piece laid flat, but had stretch to it. Perfect! I don't generally sew with knits...cotton, cotton, cotton, lol. But this worked out.

Reply to
Boca Jan

Polly, I remember when the "Stretch and Sew" stuff started. I was in college, majoring in Home Ec (Clothing and Textiles) I still cringe when I hear/read "stretch the fabric as you sew...". Best thing for a knit fabric is to use a narrow zig zag stitch if you don't have a serger. If you stretch as you sew the seam the thread length will be as long as the stretched seam, and frequently will not allow the fabric to return to it's unstretched length. (Think about what stay stitching is......) You do need to stabilize places like shoulders or your shirt may "grow". Knits are fun to sew with,and fairly easy if you are careful with them. I used to teach kids in a beginning class to sew a knit t-shirt. On a regular machine. Depending on the machine they may have zig zagged the seam, or used a different stretch stitch.

But as you say, different people have to do things differently. Experiment and see what works for you.

Pati, > Welcome. It's a little puzzling that Person says to stretch the seam as you

Reply to
Pati C.

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