The gorgeous knits at Girl Charlee Fabrics make the cutest clothes and pajamas. The best part of sewing on them is using Therm O Web’s HeatnBond® Soft n Stretch to easily finish the hems and neckline. Knits tend to curl when you’re sewing, but applying Therm O Web’s HeatnBond® Soft n Stretch helps keep them flat so your hems and top stitching look perfect and straight. The fabric stays soft and stretchy, too!
A Knit Girl Charlee fabric outfit by Carol Swift, Just Let Me Quilt
Products used in making this outfit:
Therm O Web’s HeatnBond® Soft n Stretch Hem Tape
Desert Sky Feathers Cotton Spandex Knit Fabric
Desert Sky Mint Gingham Cotton Spandex Knit Fabric
50wt Aurifil White Mako Thread, MK50-2024
50wt Aurifil Light Turquoise Thread, MK50-2805
Love Notions Miss Mary Mack Tunic Sewing Pattern
Emma Collection Baby Leggings Sewing Pattern
Oliso Purple Precision Smart Iron
Patterns for the top, Love Notions Miss Mary Mack Tunic Sewing Pattern, and the leggings, Emma Collection Baby Leggings Sewing Pattern, were both downloadable patterns that required being taped together. There were several sizes included with both patterns, but this outfit was made using size 2 from each of them. The directions were pretty easy to understand.
The directions for the neckline on the Love Notions Miss Mary Mack Tunic Sewing Pattern call for it to be folded over and then sewn over the seam. By using Soft n Stretch, the process is a breeze. Following the manufacturer’s directions, press the Soft n Stretch tape (adhesive side down) to the wrong side of the neckline fabric’s edge for five seconds (no steam) making sure to press each section for full coverage. Let cool.
Remove the protective paper from adhesive tape and fold neckline fabric over to cover seam. Press using steam for 20 seconds on each section moving the iron for full coverage. Stitch in place along edge. You’re going to love how easy it is to sew without having the fabric curl up. Plus, the Soft n Stretch does not gum up your sewing machine needles.
The Soft n Stretch is great for hems on sleeves, skirts, dresses, and leggings, too. The fabric doesn’t need to be stretched when the Soft n Stretch is being ironed on it. Once the protective paper is removed from the adhesive, the fabric stretches and stays soft…it’s amazing!
Soft n Stretch can be applied to hemlines before sewing the seams closed. Press the tape in place and remove the protective tape. Sew up the sides of the sleeve, dress, etc., then fold the hem up, press, and sew the hem in place. Or another method would be to press the tape in place, remove the protective tape, fold up hems, sew the hem in place, and then sew up the sides. Either way works!
Sewing seams and hems on knits requires the use of a stretch stitch like a zig-zag or lightning bolt stitch to keep the fabric stretchy. Using a straight stitch might cause the thread to break when fabric is stretched.
Adding a flower using knits is so easy because the edges of the fabric don’t fray. Cut three 3” circles out of the knit. Cut the circles in half and discard one. Run a basting stitch through the curved side of the folded circles with one length of thread. Pull the thread to gather the halves. Tack the first and last half circles together with a small stitch. Stitch flower to the knit top and add a button to finish the flower.
You’ll love using Therm O Web’s Soft n Stretch when you’re sewing on knits! You can find it in the Thermoweb shop HERE.
Sherry
July 14, 2017 at 11:38 am (7 years ago)Adorable knit outfit with such cute fabrics. ThermOWeb looks like they have made hemming very easy with this soft tape. Happy Sewing Carol…<3
mary
July 16, 2017 at 3:51 pm (7 years ago)Nice tutorial. I used to sew knits all the time when my children were young, but they did not have such nice products to make it so easy.