Sewing w/ Knits

What is a knit?

For the most part, fabrics fall into one of two categories: knit or woven. A woven fabric is, well, woven. It has a warp and weft that create a grid. Knits are made from a series of loops. Woven fabrics are considered to be easier to sew with because they are more stable and less prone to puckering. Knits can stretch and move easier making them a bit more tedious to work with. 

There are a lot of different types of knits (double knit, 2-Way Stretch, 4-Way Stretch, rib knit, etc) and some will be easier to work with than others. Thinner, super stretchy, and slinky knits tend to be a bit more difficult to work with. 

Tools of the Trade

Ballpoint / Stretch Needle: This is crucial. A stretch or ballpoint needle will be able to stitch the fabric without snagging and causing it to pucker.

Lightweight Interfacing: If you want perfection, fusing a lightweight interfacing on the edges of your pieces before sewing them will stabilize your knit fabric and make it easier to sew. 

Polyester Thread: This won't make a huge difference, but polyester thread is preferred when sewing with knits because it has more give than threads made from natural fibers. 

Stitches + Seams

You don't need a serger to sew with knits, but it certainly doesn't hurt ;). All of your stitches will need to be able to stretch with your fabric. But don't worry, there are a lot of different machine stitches that have stretch in them. The most common is the classic zig zag stitch. Check your sewing machine's manual for any other specialty stitches you might have. 

The good news with knits is that they don't fray. This means that you don't have to worry about seam finishes. Once you've got them stitched together you are more or less good to go!