These are really good tips! Thank you. Perfect timing, too, as I'm getting ready to make a couple of garments using these slinky knits which have been sitting in my bin waiting for just this information!
Wonderful information, you solved two problems, I've been having sewing slinky knits . Pressure foot tension and feed dogs eating my fabrics. And spray starch, very helpful
Thanks so much, I was struggling with a knit fabric last night and gave up about 1am. Now I am ready to go back with confidence that I can use your suggestions and successfully cut out my pattern.
Very useful info, esp on the needles -- different machines preferring different needles. Never thought of using spray starch! Going to try this w/twin needles as I love the finish but keep getting the tunnel between rows. Thank you for the great video done so well.
You are one of the best teachers in sewing videos and I’ve watched many. I appreciate your straightforward instructions and just everything about the way you produce your videos. I never get bored or want to fast forward as I do with so many other sewing instructors. Kudos to you!!!
Thank you for this video! I'm mostly self taught, & I've figured out a few of these, but not everything 😊 I put my machine in timeout because it kept sucking the fabric down, but in the middle of a seam. I can't wait to try the jersey needles, to see if that's what she wants!
Thank you, thank you!! I have avoided working with knits because I've encountered nearly all the problems you mentioned. I will pull out some knit fabrics I purchased a while ago and experiment. I already have Stitch Witchery - so that's a HUGE tip for knits. I always ran into problems with the hems stretching out and "ruffling." I'm going to get a pack of each of the needle types you suggested, as well. Thank you so much!
One other way to tell front from backside of knit fabric is just to tug a cut edge, the fabric will roll slightly to the back (I think). Easy enough to test. Love all the great information you share!
It depends on if you're parallel or perpendicular to the selvage, and it only works with fabrics created with a jersey stitch. More here: ua-cam.com/video/582jqw0J1Vw/v-deo.html
Thank you. I am an experienced sewist, but not with knits. You are an excellent teacher. After watching your video, I tried some of your tips and Success!!
fabulous tips - I've been trying to get along with a rayon knit for a top, and it's been testing my patience. I should have watched this before I started...
I love this video! Thanks! I would add that one should be sure you can stitch through the Stitch Witchery or fusible tape because there are some that explicitly say not to.
Wonderful tips!!!😍💖Love ALL of these useful sewing tips, and LO💝E the dress you made with a beautiful, candy- pink lightweight knit!! You are fabulous, Melly‼️🤗💓💞💕
Thanks for the teaching! I'm a new enthusiastic subscriber! Now I know what went wrong with my first knit sewing project and I keep a few tips in mind for the next ones!
Lots of great tips, thank you. I was hoping you'd discuss using Eloflex thread. I bought some after watching a video that highlighted it but I've been too chicken to try it yet, haha.
@@Mellysews I may actually get brave and try it with this summer's batch of Blank Tees for my grandkids. I broke the cover stitch function on my serger last summer when I was making a batch of them then and never got it fixed. (Bad girl!)
To keep the right and wrong sides straight I mark the right side - one pin on the right side of the bodice or leggings and two pins on the back bodice or legging pieces.
This video is great, so easy to understand for a newbie to sewing like me. I'd like to sew bamboo rayon to polar fleece but not sure how best to hem it, any tips?
Amazing tips!! May I ask where you bought that baby pink fabric? Where do you prefer to buy large pieces of fabric? I’m planning on starting a small business using that fabric. Thanks!!
Thanks for some great info. About those stabilized shoulders ... I do that, too, but don’t know how to handle that newly bulked-up seam! Do I press everything to the back? Do I trim any of the layers? I wish I knew. Fingers crossed you can explain!!🤞
You can trim, depending on the stay tape you use (don't trim twill tape edges) or press to one side. You can even stitch the other side of the stay tape down either by hand or with a stretch topstitch. But I generally just leave it and press the seam to one side when I sew over the seam with the neckband sleeve.
Very helpful tips! Could you also use the selvedge as a stabilizer in the shoulder seams? I usually don't like the look of the typical clear elastic or other stay tape and that would be nice and invisible, but maybe not stable enough?
Very helpful thank you. Immediately checked I can buy Stitch Witchery from Amazon in UK! In the video I noticed the seam marking guide, is this something you put there? Do you have a video covering this? I have poor eyesight and this could really help me.
Thank you. I learn so much from your videos. I tried sewing a slinky knit last night. I used a strip of interfacing to stabilize my shoulders but didn't realize the lower fabric had moved when I sewed. It's not straight and I can't unpick it without damaging the fabric. I'm thinking to just trim away what's bad but don't know how badly it will affect the arms and collar. Any suggestions?
Thank you so much, I didn't know most of these tricks and my bamboo jersey projrcts turned out terrible. I wonder though, if anyone found the walking foot helpful?
I have really enjoyed your video, I really learned some very useful tips. Thank You. However and unfortunately I get a page error when I follow the links.
Do you find that the starch helps enough to stabilize the fabric enough to cut on the fold? I can’t seem to keep the Grainline straight on knits enough to do that.
Starch helps, if I'm really having trouble with a fabric I might also pin along the fold line before placing my pattern to keep the fabric from rolling.
Just see your video. Having problem here with silky spandex fabric, keep try to sewing for the hem but the upper thread not even catch the lower thread 😥😥, I did use the strect needle, even thread for stretch fabric. I dont have the walking foot, not yet try to use the stabilizer 😢😢😢
I'm having the same problem on Polyester, with the upper thread not catching the lower thread. Or when it does, my thread is breaking & my stitches are skipping! I've tried, re-threading the upper, re-inserting the bobbin, changing both kinds of threads, changing to a ball point needle (made it worse). 🤔Don't believe there's any way to adjust the Pressure Foot Tension on my machine. But have reduced the overall tension. Changed to a small, short, zig zag.😫Ugh very frustrating... (btw would you ever put a little bit of tape over part of the hole so as not to have the fabric sucked into the bobbin hole? Yep, have that prob too & saw that suggested.) Will try stabilizer... before giving up & hand stitching or burning. 🤞Tks for the tips.
I have no idea which fabric you're referring to, but when the fabric is still available at the time of publication I add a link, so if there's no link it's safe to assume it's fabric I bought years ago and is no longer available.
Do you have any tips on how to fix an armhole that grows throughout the day. So how to repair it and then secondly how to sew it to avoid it. I’m struggling with this. When I put the finished garment on my bra is hidden but a few hours later my bra is really showing. Would love your help.
You are a born teacher. You communicate so well. Clarity, simplicity, practicality. Thank you.
Wow, thank you!
I really like how you teach...it's very simple, Thanks.
Thanks! I taught high school for 12 years, so that helped develop my style.
thank you for the starch tip, it worked like a charm. Its my first time sewing with knits!
You are so welcome!
These are really good tips! Thank you. Perfect timing, too, as I'm getting ready to make a couple of garments using these slinky knits which have been sitting in my bin waiting for just this information!
Glad it's helpful!
I've been sewing for years but I learned some new things tonight. Ty for offering such a wonderful video.
We can always learn new tricks!
Wonderful information, you solved two problems, I've been having sewing slinky knits . Pressure foot tension and feed dogs eating my fabrics. And spray starch, very helpful
Hope your next time is stress free!
Thanks so much, I was struggling with a knit fabric last night and gave up about 1am. Now I am ready to go back with confidence that I can use your suggestions and successfully cut out my pattern.
Glad it's helpful!
Thank you, Melly! These tips will really help with my next project which will be on a slinky knit fabric. Perfect timing!
Have fun sewing!
Thank you, Melly. That was very helpful!
Thank you so much. I did a lot of sewing in my younger years, now am trying to get used to sewing with knits. So much to learn, so little time.
So good to never stop learning though!
Marvelous tips, especially about the needles and each machine being different, your dress is beautiful, pink is a good color for you.
Thanks - I love pink :)
Very useful info, esp on the needles -- different machines preferring different needles. Never thought of using spray starch! Going to try this w/twin needles as I love the finish but keep getting the tunnel between rows. Thank you for the great video done so well.
Hope it helps! Tunneling can also be mitigated by playing with the tension.
You are one of the best teachers in sewing videos and I’ve watched many. I appreciate your straightforward instructions and just everything about the way you produce your videos. I never get bored or want to fast forward as I do with so many other sewing instructors. Kudos to you!!!
I'm easily bored with video too, so I try to make sure I cut out all the extra in mine 🙂
Thank you so much for those tips. They'll come in very handy when I'm doing my sewing. Much love.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this video! I'm mostly self taught, & I've figured out a few of these, but not everything 😊 I put my machine in timeout because it kept sucking the fabric down, but in the middle of a seam. I can't wait to try the jersey needles, to see if that's what she wants!
Hope they help! Tissue paper under the seam can also help if you're getting fabric sucked in in the middle of a seam.
Thank you, thank you!! I have avoided working with knits because I've encountered nearly all the problems you mentioned. I will pull out some knit fabrics I purchased a while ago and experiment. I already have Stitch Witchery - so that's a HUGE tip for knits. I always ran into problems with the hems stretching out and "ruffling." I'm going to get a pack of each of the needle types you suggested, as well. Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
The BEST tip: using my camera to find the right side if my solid fabric. What a timesaver...thank you so much!!
I just discovered that one myself recently :)
Thank you for the tips - didn’t know about releasing the pressure foot and the needles - most helpful 👍🧵
Happy to help!
Glad I found you, I needed all those tips &tricks. Now I can be a happy sewer..🤗🤩💐
Thanks for watching!
One other way to tell front from backside of knit fabric is just to tug a cut edge, the fabric will roll slightly to the back (I think). Easy enough to test. Love all the great information you share!
It depends on if you're parallel or perpendicular to the selvage, and it only works with fabrics created with a jersey stitch. More here: ua-cam.com/video/582jqw0J1Vw/v-deo.html
Thank you. I am an experienced sewist, but not with knits. You are an excellent teacher. After watching your video, I tried some of your tips and Success!!
Wonderful!
fabulous tips - I've been trying to get along with a rayon knit for a top, and it's been testing my patience. I should have watched this before I started...
Hope this helps for the next one! I love wearing rayon knits.
I love this video! Thanks!
I would add that one should be sure you can stitch through the Stitch Witchery or fusible tape because there are some that explicitly say not to.
Great tip!
Thank you for the tips. Really helpful!!
Glad it was helpful!
Well, THAT was a great video, you covered everything with examples. Seriously, impressive teaching skills.
Glad you liked it!
Wonderful tips!!!😍💖Love ALL of these useful sewing tips, and LO💝E the dress you made with a beautiful, candy- pink lightweight knit!! You are fabulous, Melly‼️🤗💓💞💕
Thank you - I do love pink!
So very helpful THANX specially the Camera trick 🙏🏻
I just discovered that one myself recently and have used it a lot!
Brilliant camera use!!
Thanks!
Fantastic tips. Thank
you.
Thanks for watching!
Love all your videos!
Glad you like them!
I wish I could have watched your video before sewing my top last week! 😂 Thank you very much. Cheers and greetings from Be’er Sheva, Israel
Well, hope it helps on the next project.
Thanks for the teaching! I'm a new enthusiastic subscriber! Now I know what went wrong with my first knit sewing project and I keep a few tips in mind for the next ones!
Wonderful!
This video is perfect! Super clear, concise, and practical! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you. Great tips
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips and a wonderful teacher. Thanks! My machine kept eating the fabric. Melly had some useful tips.
Glad it was helpful!
WOW.... that was great!!! thank you so much for sharing your tips! Have a blessed day!
Have a great day too!
Great tips! Haven’t sewn with that kind of fabric in a while and needed a ‚refresher‘!
Glad to help!
You are a fantastic teacher. Thank you so much!
Thanks! All those years I taught high school helped :)
Thankyou very much, very helpful
Glad it helped
Love your FYIs W/ diff.ways of stabilizing. Stitch Witchery is great to
use along with the home staple, spray starch. Have to try Stay Tape! :-)
Glad they're helpful!
Great tips ! Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Zig zag , 3 tension and longer stitch length works well for knits on my old singer.
It's a good idea to play with actual fabric/machine combo to get the best settings for your project
Thank you for this video. I will be attempting to sew a dress from 2 tshirts and I need all the help I can get.
Glad you liked it!
Fantastic instructions and great tips thanks so much!!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips useful on other applications as well. Thank you.
Glad it's helpful!
Such a helpful video. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Lots of great tips, thank you. I was hoping you'd discuss using Eloflex thread. I bought some after watching a video that highlighted it but I've been too chicken to try it yet, haha.
I have never used it or felt the need to.
@@Mellysews I may actually get brave and try it with this summer's batch of Blank Tees for my grandkids. I broke the cover stitch function on my serger last summer when I was making a batch of them then and never got it fixed. (Bad girl!)
Thank you so much ! Exactly what I needed 👍
Perfect timing!
Very useful tips! Thank you!
Glad they're helpful!
This was really helpful! Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
To keep the right and wrong sides straight I mark the right side - one pin on the right side of the bodice or leggings and two pins on the back bodice or legging pieces.
That can work, once you figure out which is which to begin with.
This video is great, so easy to understand for a newbie to sewing like me. I'd like to sew bamboo rayon to polar fleece but not sure how best to hem it, any tips?
mellysews.com/hem-knits-knit-hems/
Very helpful! Thank you so much!!
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for your great video. Learned a lot.
Thanks for watching!
Wow your tips are great! Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Amazing tips!! May I ask where you bought that baby pink fabric? Where do you prefer to buy large pieces of fabric? I’m planning on starting a small business using that fabric. Thanks!!
I got it at a warehouse. I don't have recommendations for fabric for business purposes.
Excellent points!
Glad they're helpful!
All great tips.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for some great info. About those stabilized shoulders ... I do that, too, but don’t know how to handle that newly bulked-up seam! Do I press everything to the back? Do I trim any of the layers? I wish I knew. Fingers crossed you can explain!!🤞
You can trim, depending on the stay tape you use (don't trim twill tape edges) or press to one side. You can even stitch the other side of the stay tape down either by hand or with a stretch topstitch. But I generally just leave it and press the seam to one side when I sew over the seam with the neckband sleeve.
This is SO helpful! Thank you!!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the great tips. 😉
Glad it's helpful!
like always, THANK YOU !!
Glad it's helpful!
Great video!! Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Very helpful tips! Could you also use the selvedge as a stabilizer in the shoulder seams? I usually don't like the look of the typical clear elastic or other stay tape and that would be nice and invisible, but maybe not stable enough?
Selvage from a woven fabric maybe, but a knit selvage would still stretch. Non stretch interfacing in a thin strip is pretty hard to see.
Very helpful thank you. Immediately checked I can buy Stitch Witchery from Amazon in UK! In the video I noticed the seam marking guide, is this something you put there? Do you have a video covering this? I have poor eyesight and this could really help me.
I'm not sure what seam marking guide you're referring to? Where in the video did I use it?
@@Mellysews towards the end at 13.29. looks like you've got a sticker with lines near where the bobbin goes in. Sorry not explaining very well
Ah, I thought you meant a ruler seam guide. Yes, that is a sticker, you can get them here: amzn.to/2MkzliO
@@Mellysews thanks, I'll need to research this as postage to UK is off the scale!
Thank you. I learn so much from your videos. I tried sewing a slinky knit last night. I used a strip of interfacing to stabilize my shoulders but didn't realize the lower fabric had moved when I sewed. It's not straight and I can't unpick it without damaging the fabric. I'm thinking to just trim away what's bad but don't know how badly it will affect the arms and collar. Any suggestions?
Trimming a curve like a neckline or armscye will make it bigger, which could greatly affect fit.
Thank u
Thank you so much, I didn't know most of these tricks and my bamboo jersey projrcts turned out terrible. I wonder though, if anyone found the walking foot helpful?
It can be; it depends on your machine/fabric combo so trying with a sample scrap is always recommended.
I have really enjoyed your video, I really learned some very useful tips. Thank You. However and unfortunately I get a page error when I follow the links.
Try this mellysews.com/tips-to-sew-rayon-knits/
Do you find that the starch helps enough to stabilize the fabric enough to cut on the fold? I can’t seem to keep the Grainline straight on knits enough to do that.
Starch helps, if I'm really having trouble with a fabric I might also pin along the fold line before placing my pattern to keep the fabric from rolling.
i like the style of your dress do you have a pattern how to make like that ;-) 😊thnaks
Yes, the pattern is linked in the video description.
Thank you Mam for sharing your tips. Where we parches these taps.
They're commonly available in many fabric stores in the U.S.
Great tips, Melly! Would you happen to have a non-sewing tip for keeping cloth moths away? Thank you!
We don't really get moths in my climate, so I don't.
Cedar Wood (like a Cedar Closet) helps keeps moths away.
Not sure why it is not letting me share in sewing group. Good tips.
You should be able to copy the link in your web address bar and then paste that to share.
Thanks for the tips. I bought a beautiful rayon sweater knit that has a mind of its own. Can't fold double and get a workable edge. Any suggestions?
For cutting patterns, try single layer cutting. For sewing anything that needs to be folded, lots of starch.
that very last one was probably the most helpful. I've never thought of doing that XD how many seams could I have saved?
I know that one but still sometimes forget to do it, ha!
Just see your video. Having problem here with silky spandex fabric, keep try to sewing for the hem but the upper thread not even catch the lower thread 😥😥, I did use the strect needle, even thread for stretch fabric. I dont have the walking foot, not yet try to use the stabilizer 😢😢😢
Try the stabilizer
I'm having the same problem on Polyester, with the upper thread not catching the lower thread. Or when it does, my thread is breaking & my stitches are skipping! I've tried, re-threading the upper, re-inserting the bobbin, changing both kinds of threads, changing to a ball point needle (made it worse). 🤔Don't believe there's any way to adjust the Pressure Foot Tension on my machine. But have reduced the overall tension. Changed to a small, short, zig zag.😫Ugh very frustrating... (btw would you ever put a little bit of tape over part of the hole so as not to have the fabric sucked into the bobbin hole? Yep, have that prob too & saw that suggested.) Will try stabilizer... before giving up & hand stitching or burning. 🤞Tks for the tips.
Were can I get the navy blue with flowers fabric😮🌟😮😮😮
I have no idea which fabric you're referring to, but when the fabric is still available at the time of publication I add a link, so if there's no link it's safe to assume it's fabric I bought years ago and is no longer available.
Do you have any tips on how to fix an armhole that grows throughout the day. So how to repair it and then secondly how to sew it to avoid it. I’m struggling with this. When I put the finished garment on my bra is hidden but a few hours later my bra is really showing. Would love your help.
I'd probably repair by adding some sort of stay tape to armhole. To avoid I'd do the fabric growth check before using it for a similar dress.
What sewing machine do you use for knits?
My sewing machine has been discontinued, but I've always just used a regular sewing machine with a zig-zag stitch for knits and it's worked fine.
I thought stretch needles are for spandex fabric. I know spandex is stretchy. What is the difference between a jersey or stretch needle?
I discuss the difference in the video in this post mellysews.com/how-to-choose-sewing-machine-needles/
Thank you. Do you recommend stretch thread for knits?
No. More here: ua-cam.com/video/ZnVnFbOC_tk/v-deo.html
Do you think ballpoint sewing needle will go well with this type of knit fabric?
Depends on the fabric and the machine, you'd have to experiment.
What about a walking foot?
Some people find them helpful but I've never even put mine on my machine, never felt the need to.
What kind of iron do you use?...mine just broke..in the market for a new one
I use this one: amzn.to/2JQ57SN
Some stitch Witchery you can’t sew through per the package instructions
It's always a good idea to read package instructions
📷 iPhone 📱 camera zooming-in trick !
G E N I U S
🙂
I prefer to call them the “ fabrics from hell “ 😂😩
I love wearing rayon knits.
Thank you...very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!