How To Sew With Silk And Silklike Fabrics

[@keeptheminstitches4808]

I always iron out wrinkles before cutting out the pattern. Rule of thumb is to PRESS your pieces, but you can iron uncut fabric, finished garments, and stay-stitched pieces. The difference between pressing and ironing is whether you move the iron on the fabric or press it down and lift it up in a manner that does not distort the weave. When fabric is not supported by selvages, you must PRESS only--no sliding or gliding, not even under a pressing cloth. Happy stitching!

[@ReResAllsorts]

Great tip. Thank you

[@allieg6401]

That's really handy to know- 👍 do you have to let it cool before moving the fabric, you know, before letting it hang over the side of the ironing board and doing the next section?

[@DanceswithDobermans]

Thank you so much for this lesson. I really appreciate it. I have lots of silk and satin from wedding gown and prom dresses that I purchased from Salvation Army at 75% off. I bought them all. Now I need to learn how to quilt with them.

[@bernadineschacht8175]

Thank you so much! I've been sewing for over 60 years and taking classes in sewing and fashion for over three years, and I've already learned four new useful tips from your video today. These tips will make sewing prom dresses so much easier to deal with.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I'm so glad you found our tutorial helpful :)

[@elainebau6354]

Me too.

[@SuperModerngranny]

In practice, holding tight doesn't work most of the time because the seams are not always on straight grain. I usually back with paper and tear away after stitching.

[@sassyk.5173]

How? ;(

[@SuperModerngranny]

@@sassyk.5173 Same as sandwiching except omitting the top layer of paper. If you have an even-feed foot attachment, even better.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

With knits, I definitely use a rotary cutter to cut out my pieces, to prevent any unwanted stretching. If your pattern has a lot of curves to it, I would invest in a smaller rotary blade. The big blades work great though if you're just doing straight lines. Be sure to do it on a self-healing mat so you don't damage any surfaces. And if you don't want to invest in fabric weights, you can just use canned goods to hold everything in place. good luck!

[@Pureimagination200]

I have the worst luck with rotary cutters

[@AAACEntertainment]

Thank you! I'm relatively new to sewing, but need to make three pieces out of silk-like fabric. You just saved my life!

[@irishagold]

Thank you for fast replay! I do have small rotary cutter. Just didn't think of using it! Thank you. For the weights I use a few simple round rocks. I crocheted over them and they look pretty cool.

[@yangelthomas]

This is right on time!!😁😊........ where were you when I started two years ago😯😌

[@lindadechow2212]

Thanks so much. I am making a really great dress out of slinky fabric and honestly have not worked with this type of fabric before. This will be fun and I'm sure I'll have fewer issues. Great video, well done.

[@betsylydon3891]

this is exactly what I needed to know for a project a friend of mine has me doing--brilliant and thank you.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I use these techniques with all fabric that's slippery and hard to work with. If you're making something for the first time, make a muslin. This means use a cheap fabric like muslin so you can work through the process and test the fit before using your nicer fabric.

[@mostlywildlife]

Using the tape is a new one for me. Very helpful.

[@jennyamessler3805]

Brilliant 🌟 trick with the taping of the needle hole 🕳️ !!!!

[@MichelletheMerry]

Oh these are great tips. I'm making an 1870's formal ball gown for a musical I'm in, and the bustled part in the back is black silk. This should make it much easier to work with. Thanks so much.

[@patriciajrs46]

Great tips. Most people don't mention these things. Thank you.

[@karenjackson3876]

Thanks for sharing this. I'm going to be making a dress for my daughter out of crepe backed satin and will be adding some tissue paper to my list of supplies!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

It really does make a difference :)

[@lorenzie]

This is a life saving video! I was in desperate need for these tips. Thanks so much!

[@nancyhall7713]

Thank you! That was really helpful! I was also wondering about any tension adjustment needed but will set it to mid-range (around 3).

[@cameodove]

Your video contains great tips and valuable information. I really like how you demonstrate attaching tissue paper to silk fabric! What a fantastic idea!

[@susanelotmani]

Your videos are always so good - very detailed and with perfect camera angles where we can see everything going on. So helpful for beginners! If you're not already, you should be an instructor at a design school.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Susan El Otmani thanks so much for the kind words :)

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Thanks! Glad you found our tips handy. Have a nice day.

[@nsearch7397]

Thanks for the helpful tips as I can't stop myself from sewing a silk duvet!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I would definitely use the tissue paper trick when sewing the seams. It'll keep it from stretching as you sew and should help with the puckering. Just rip it off when your seam is done. If your fabric can handle the heat, it might be better to use steam to iron it out.

[@rachel14rod]

What tension you used?

[@anngranger7369]

Your tutorials are just brilliant thank you

[@NL-rj9uk]

Thank You! I really like that you made short and simple. I've been forgetting the easy steps and reminders. ;)

[@ProfessorPincushion]

of course. :) Our tip is just to help out in those cases where you still a little.

[@tamarah.4908]

Thank you! I'm sewing an "Elsa" costume for my daughter, and will try the tissue trick when sewing the areas with Chiffon.

[@iamtheglass3744]

Much Love, Appreciation AND&AND Admiration!! 💃🏼💨

[@RoseFante]

this is an awesome vid with great tips! Thank you. It covers everything I was looking for

[@bagga2010]

Thanks alot.....your video is very detailed and very good tips to stitch with silk fabrics, as i am already working with the silk fabric......was very helpfull for me.Great...

[@SewingReport]

Great tips! Slippery and flimsy fabrics can be a nightmare!

[@meriemzerarti4215]

Thank you Mme , i'm impressed by the amount of information and detailing I had from this video , thank you

[@ProfessorPincushion]

You're very welcome!

[@hovawart16]

Thank you for taking the time to teach me!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I'm glad you enjoyed our tutorial :)

[@roxxiet32]

This video was so helpful. Thanks for all of the great tips.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

@Virgina bliss i wouldn't because newspaper is pretty dirty and the ink could stain your fabric. I can usually pick up a pack of tissue paper from the 99cent store.

[@ccpperrett7522]

Thank you for these great tips.❤

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Thank you for your kind words. :)

[@GardensLadyBug]

Thank you. This is just the information I've been looking for.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Someone Somewhere I'm so glad you found our tutorial helpful :)

[@rachelclo6305]

Really great videos! So clear & precise. I have no trouble understanding this & I am a very new beginner to sewing!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Rachel Clo I'm so glad you found our tutorials helpful! You can do it :)

[@bleumustang6362]

Very helpful thank you soo much i should have watched it because i sewed my satin jacket!

[@SStroud2024]

This is a GREAT channel - I love how you are able to magnify the image of the needle/machine. It even looks high definition. Thank you so much for offering this help! I will check in often! Suzy

[@ProfessorPincushion]

We try our best to make our tutorials in high quality. Thanks for your kind words. :)

[@vm980]

Help! My seams pucker like you show at the end of the video - holding it tight is a great tip, but what if the fabric was cut on the bias? I have so much trouble making my seams look neat when I sew slippery fabrics on the bias, and I can't find any resources online that help with this!

[@Kamereone]

Shorten stitch length, reduce the thread tension (top and bottom), and use a sacrificial tissue layer. Or a walking foot.

[@Pureimagination200]

Tension also makes the stitches lay flat. Sew samples with different tension and stitch length

[@louiehans577]

thank you for sharing your tips and techniques, i've learned a lot

[@chaconda2002]

Once again thank you for your videos! I get so fraustrated when my fabrics get jammed in the machine.

[@rosas6230]

I’m always wondering how come store clothing has no pucker at all ?:(( how do they do that ??

[@busyfish6353]

so helpful. thank you.

[@janholman6192]

You can totally prevent your fabric from being "sucked down into that hole" by simply using a throat plate made for just the single needle (most manufacturers make one). And using a foot that is also made to accommodate a needle width only. No need to mess with tape. 😊

[@PuffKitty]

I can only find them for newer, high end machines unfortunately. 🤷‍♂️

[@nimvaughen9895]

Thank You so much!!!

[@truthseekerfemale7805]

I like the tissue paper the best, ty

[@SandraRomero-hg3rk]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😎👍

[@10gale]

Great advice! Just what I needed! Thank you!

[@0ChildStar]

Thank you, the tape idea over the hole helped a lot!!! 8D

[@jezusova]

Thanks for the video! before I start working with silk what material do you recommend me to start with. to practice and which exercises with a stitch sewing machine? Thank you

[@tanyagt]

Excellent guidance, thank you!

[@MissTaken333]

Very helpful video.. Thanks a million for this..

[@viviewalsh66]

Very helpful !!! Thank you soooo much !

[@Tamerahoney]

What is the thinnest silk with a dull side along with a silk side? 100% silk preferably stretchy maybe even a mixture of silk and elastic

[@allieg6401]

When uding the paper lsyers what Scissors would you use?? 😮

[@gretijuhasz9406]

Hi! I would like to ask that how do I know how "heavy" my fabric is? I'm going to work with a 100% polyester silk like fabric. Thank you so much for the anwer!

[@unixnes]

Thanks! Very good tips

[@cherylharris2895]

Thanks this helps alot

[@JAGUARBURST]

Thank you

[@eclecticdancer1]

I'm trying to sew a chiffon onto a silk charmeuse at the hemline. I washed the chiffon and now i'm wondering if I should iron the material before i cut out the pattern. The finished chiffon will be ironed but it stretches a lot when I do that. I don't want the seems to pucker when the customer washes the dress.

[@abbyovitsky]

Thank you for: 1. talking slowly and focusing the camera :) 2. breaking everything down to step-by-step slowly 3. the scotch tape trick 4. showing me how to thread the machine. I had actually figured out the holding the cloth part but the tension was off (your other video shows how to adjust that, i put it on 3.5). The fabrics I am using are all very thin and all very shiny, like silk, they are all from lessemf. can you help me figure out how to design & sew a cloth cpap mask?

[@kazzya1281]

Clear , succinct and informative. I love it when you show the differences. Great tip. Subscribe!!!!!.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

+Karen Yau thanks so much for subscribing! :)

[@hanadaabdelfattah4086]

What about the best tension degree, and the bottom teeth, is better they are high or going down?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

yay! glad we were able to help :)

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Thanks for the kind words :)

[@rshabir6196]

Thanks for really useful tips.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Rukhsana Shabir You're welcome. So glad you found it helpful :)

[@JLew-ch8yu]

Beautiful, thank you so much!

[@MyFungal]

what presser foot do u use? great tips for silk

[@jpowersgirl7271]

Thank you for this. I just bought some material for a costume and it's a silk-like material. I'm terrified I'm going to mess up. This video makes me a little less nervous about tackling this project. :D

[@ProfessorPincushion]

+Jennifer Powers practice on some scraps to gain some confidence. :) I think the sewing isn't so bad, it's the cutting that can be the trickiest with slippy fabric. You can do it!

[@emoooooly7350]

Jennifer Powers yea, I just bought LOADS of poly satin for a costume and I've only ever sewn cotton and canvas. I'm freaking terrified, but I figured I've gotta start sometimes so better sooner than later.

[@olgatorra4328]

Excellent video, thanks!

[@ursulamai]

Thank you very much, this was helpful.

[@chinnyxo]

amazing video, thanks!!

[@hellosweetheart3350]

Thank you 💖

[@RoseDaVinci]

Thank you for this video, it is so informative and helpful :) ! I do have a question, with regards to fabric puckering. Could adjusting tension also help fix that?

[@sofiyahayes]

Thank you ma

[@ProfessorPincushion]

It was just my regular presser foot, nothing fancy.

[@minikaur4993]

Hi! I have seen people tearing satin before stitching why do they do this? Can you explain it?

[@ciabern8383]

How do I do this with double sided silky fabrics? And this is a huge fabric piece, and I am almost hesitant to cut it up in case I need the extra space

[@ProfessorPincushion]

I would say size 11 sharp should be ok

[@Gweynn5]

Thnx

[@Dibdib35]

Brilliant!

[@ownSystem]

Like the tissue paper idea 💡 good job🥸

[@ade7741]

Thanks for sharing, very useful tips here. Hope you will share more on sewing jersey knits :)

[@ProfessorPincushion]

***** Thanks for the suggestion. I'll add it to the list

[@iaira21]

thank you. please make a video How to make traditional chains dress

[@patriciaray2669]

great video - love the tape tip!

[@ProfessorPincushion]

patricia ray I'm glad you found it helpful :)

[@CaressLorthaya]

VERY HELPFUL!!!!!!

[@goddessgreen]

I have a question: If your are sewing by hand what needles would you use?

[@Judithgerwarth1]

Thank you. That will surly help :)

[@Leilasnewavon]

Thank you .

[@lisafeldmann9863]

Thanks for the wonderful tips and instruction! Should I use tissue paper alterations? I want to make some tucks in a Off the Rack blouse that is made of a poly crepe.

[@ProfessorPincushion]

yup, I use tissue paper a lot when I sew.

[@eilishlancaster5272]

Thanks!

[@lindatoews6462]

Thank you so much for your information!!! It will be very helpful. Also, one thing I wondered, do you adjust you tension at all?

[@ProfessorPincushion]

Linda Johnson it varies according the fabric so you just want to practice on scraps. Usually I loosen the thread tension a bit and put my foot pressure at a higher number.

[@ab5382]

Thank you!!!

[@ilseamerica]

excellent video

[@thefabricexchange]

cool, nice video

[@ieunice100]

Thanks a lot