Sewing with Knits--Frustration Free!

After sewing with knits for quite a while now, I've learned a few of tips of what makes sewing with knits, a frustration free experience. Today, I'm going to share those tips with you.

Let's start with the technical stuff. To sew knits, you will at least need:

-a sewing machine that can do different stitches (zig-zag or straight stitch)

-double needles (ball point work best, but regular ones work too!)

-a walking foot

Optional:

-a serger (which cuts the sewing time in half, when working with knits!)

The double needles make two rows of parallel stitches on the front of the fabric and a zig-zag pattern on the reverse, which is good because the stitching stretch with the fabric. This stitching prevents the seam from looking wavy.

The walking foot, provides an even feed of the fabric when sewing stretchy fabric (such as the knits). This is important because if the fabric stretches as you sew, it will look wavy when you finish and we don't want that. Right?

When sewing knits, you can either use the straight stitch or a zig-zag stitch. Some sewing machines have specific stitches for knit fabrics and sewing elastics, so be sure to check your manual.

A serger is not necessary, but it does help when sewing knits because it sews and overlocks the seams in one pass and it takes a lot less time, than if you sew it with a regular machine. It makes my life a lot easier!

Here are some pictures of how I  hemmed the knit raglan shirt I made for my son.

Before

After! See how professional the hem looks with the double needle (by the way, I used regular double needles, not ball point). 

Hemming the sleeves

Here is the finished shirt!!!

And I made one for my daughter too (the pink one), but I made it a little too big for her, so I'll save it until she can wear it. 

And here is the final product! Doesn't it look good on my son. I just love the teal color on him :)

Want to see what I make with the rest of my knit fabric?

Stay tuned!!!

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