Cut knit fabric (Simplicity 9011)

[@sandimcp]

Oh my goodness. Wow. Nearly everything in this video was a total lightbulb moment for me. Thanks so much, Toni. I'm going to go watch it again a few more times to make sure that I didn't miss anything. A priceless demo of the process that was also fun to watch. One of the biggest takeaways for me, besides getting the fabric in line, is cutting out the notches *after* cutting out the piece. 💡👚🪡👗

[@SewSewLounge]

I’m glad you found so much gold in this video! I’m happy to help. There will be a new knit fabric video coming out in a few weeks, so stay tuned 😉

[@momzilla9491]

I only tried to use Knit once. Everything was wonky. Now I know I can expect that. That makes a big difference in my confidence. Big thanks!

[@SewSewLounge]

Sewing knits is a challenge. Glad that my video helped 😊

[@lorikale6796]

I'm resuming sewing after 46 years and wasn't much of a sewer then! Bought some inexpensive knit fabric to try making a dress after my huge success (ha!) with a short skirt. I thought it would be fairly easy and the material was a remnant, So happy when I searched that your video came up! You are excellent with your explanation and your visuals...thank you so much! I subscribed I was so impressed. Excited to be able to reference you with ALL my needs...and I'll have plenty!

[@SewSewLounge]

So glad my video helped!! Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

[@Upcycledbaglady]

Knits are a challenge, but so worth it in the end.

[@SewSewLounge]

I’m realizing that! Plus they are soo comfortable.

[@lena-lp5dn]

Such a good tutorial. Thank you for teaching these basic skills. I've never seen a tutorial quite like this. Thank you also for the great close ups.

[@SewSewLounge]

You're very welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it ❤️

[@SheEsq]

So, the advice is to pin a fold in line with one rib of the knit - under a magnifying glass if you have to - the length of the fabric. I then use that as my fold line, laying out and cutting from there. This reminds me of when I first learned to sew (in the 70's) back when knits were thicker - and crappier. We learned we should put a basting line along the rib to see the "grain". I was hoping there would be easier methods to get it cut out reliably by now. I'm willing to do this since I know what happens when the straight of grain is not respected!

[@SewSewLounge]

I’ve found that some knits behave a little better after being washed, making the task easier. But there’s no really fast way to do it.

[@HappyCamperWV]

Thanks. You’ve given me some new tips that I didn’t know about!

[@SewSewLounge]

Yay! Glad to help 😉

[@lynetterene]

Wow!! Very informative information....thank you so much for sharing 😊

[@SewSewLounge]

You are very welcome!

[@notesfromleisa-land]

Tip for rotary cutter: using a clear ruler (meant for rotary cutter) will hold the fabric/pattern steady and provides a guide for rotary cutting that you can lean against and pivot through curves. Make sure slick side is down (in case you have grippy rulers) which allows the ruler to move smoothly over pattern and fabric. Thanks for sharing your efforts on straightening the fabric. I recently struggled with this, got it right, and I was glad to see that you had similar effort and challenges. (Which made me feel like less than a dolt).

[@ashleyborchert9620]

You hooked me by using the word wonky, lol, but I stayed drawn in because you give such an amazing breakdown of how to match up the "grain line" for knit fabrics and I love seeing you mention to cut slow. I've had to take some basic sewing classes as part of my degree (working with wovens, of course), and I always felt like there was this pressure to cut everything fast, and cutting has quickly become one of my bigger issues when it comes to sewing. Idk why I've been stuck with feeling like I need to do everything fast, but now that I can learn to sew at my leisure, seeing you emphasize that just really made something click for me. Liked and subscribed!

[@ashleyborchert9620]

Oh! Also, do you use a different kind of pin for pinning knit fabrics? An old Simplicity video said to use ball-point pins (I know you want a ball-point needle for your machine for most knits), and it was the first I'd really ever heard of such a thing with pins.

[@SewSewLounge]

@@ashleyborchert9620 I use long quilting pins. The dritz ones with the yellow ball tops. I pretty much use them for everything. I sew knit with a ballpoint/jersey needle.

[@SewSewLounge]

Thanks so much for watching and subscribing! I learned to sew in college and was always under a deadline to get my projects finished. It’s only been in the last couple of years that I’ve slowed things down. It makes such a difference and totally reduces the number of mistakes I makes!!

[@ashleyborchert9620]

@@SewSewLounge Thank you so much for your reply! Yes, those deadlines absolutely gave me so much sewing anxiety. I look forward to reminding myself I can slow down now and take the time to make things look nice.

[@janellvincent8046]

Great information about preparing the knit fabric. Appreciate you!

[@SewSewLounge]

Thanks Janell! Glad to know you found it helpful ❤️

[@Canadiana71]

What stretched for me were the armholes. Like Saturn's ring large. I struggled so much with my first knit project.

[@SewSewLounge]

Sewing with knits it quite the challenge!! This dress ended up too big because I didn’t factor in the pattern ease. I should have cut it out smaller 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@Canadiana71]

@@SewSewLounge Oh me too! I even cut it down a size but I made a mess with the accuracy of how much to trim that when I do wear it, I'm constantly shifting it around. It's a pretty maxi dress but I've sewn worse.

[@janisdomzal5402]

Thank you so much for a thorough review of straight of grain with knits. I struggle with this and I know it is crucial to getting your garment to hang straight. Am I correct in assuming that you use the SOG in lining up a tubular knit to cut it into a flat piece? Do you need to check the vertical grain if you have straightened the horizontal grain? Very clear video that is a great reference!

[@SewSewLounge]

Hi Janis, glad you found my video helpful. I haven’t sewn with tubular knit fabric but yes I would cut it the same way as explained in the video.

[@sugat2sweet]

🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@SewSewLounge]

@@sugat2sweet glad you enjoyed it 😉

[@susanwilliams6448]

Really great tutorial on this topic, I'll be using as a reference. Thanks for posting! P.S. Cotton jersey knit is so hard to find now -- any suggestions?

[@SewSewLounge]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the tutorial Susan! I bought my fabric (the solid green and printed green) at a shop in Smithville, Texas called Leo9 Textiles. Check out their website. There wasn’t a huge color selection of knits but you may find some you like.

[@nylirama]

I just watched a couple of your videos and really enjoy them. Quick question, how long does it take you to line up the rib for 2 yards of fabric? I am inexperienced but totally appreciate your explanation. Just want to have an idea since I believe in trying to do my best, which is keeping me from doing much out of fear of totally failing. Such is life.

[@SewSewLounge]

I don’t remember the exact time but at least 30 min because the fabric had been on the bolt for a while. That was the first time I had to get a knit “on grain” because most of the time they just lie flat and act right! Nothing is ever perfect in sewing, so don’t let fear of failure keep you from trying!!! Every time I sit down to sew is a learning experience, ie I have to rip out a seam. I’m glad you are enjoying my videos. Please feel free to email with any specific questions ❤️[e-mail]

[@Jin04115]

New subbie. Do you need to pre wash knit fabric?

[@SewSewLounge]

You don’t have to prewash knit fabric before you sew. But I wash all of my fabric before I sew. Even though knit fabric doesn’t usually shrink, it possible some of the color to fade and I’d like to know before I sew.

[@brendastevens8325]

i noticed that you cut the pattern with the fabric on the right side .........i have always cut with right sides together but laying the pattern pieces on the wrong side of the fabric.............which is the best way to cut.......i hope that you understand what i am saying ........

[@SewSewLounge]

Hi Brenda! I think the way you cut comes down to personal preference. I use a lot of printed fabrics and I like to see how the pattern looks with the print to the right side. Cutting right side up aso makes it easier to transfer pattern marks to the fabric. I slide my tracing paper between the two layers and mark both wrong sides at the same time. I think it comes down to personal preference.

[@sandrarose7129]

Doesn’t need yo be tight sides together?

[@SewSewLounge]

I cut right side up so I can place the pattern pieces where I want to go with the fabric pattern. It’s personal preference 😉