Set the sewing machine to the “narrow setting” on the zigzag stitch so that you can get the best possible results when sewing and hemming polyester spandex. Pin the hem in place to hold it securely. When adding the elastic, take care not to make it very tight. First, make sure that you choose the right needle for the job. The only time you should stretch the fabric slightly is when you’re sewing around a curve so that it lays flat. A walking foot can be very useful for sewing stretch fabrics. Thanks to fabric.com, they offer athletic knits, made for performance wear with bonus points for cool prints and colors. Rayon has the poorest recovery of any fiber on the market. An all-purpose polyester thread is a great choice for sewing spandex. Sew slowly and carefully to finish the hem. Some spandex stretches almost the same in both directions and if this is the case with your fabric at hand, rest easy. Feel free to use any of the stretch stitch features on the machine. The needle should be specifically designed for sewing stretchy fabric. Spandex: that magical fabric that moves with you and allows your waistband to stretch a couple more inches when you eat extra cookies. It is a really delicate and stretchy fabric. I need to hem a skirt that is too long. An all-purpose polyester thread is a great choice for sewing spandex. One of the keys to making sure your hems will be long (or short) enough is to wear the right shoes with them and take a … Secondly, pin your pieces together. So if you’re not a fan of baggy knees, you might want to However, both woven and knit polyester fabric… A commercial or hand-designed pattern for the dress, About 2-3 yards of polyester spandex or just enough fabric for your pattern, Zipper, buttons, or other closures depending on the design, Prep the fabric for sewing by washing it in advance then cut it using sharp scissors and later pin it with ballpoint pins, If you don’t have a special stretchy thread it’s still okay. Recovery. Fabrics should also offer thermal insulation depending on what climate yo… This interlock fabric stretched from 4″ to 7″ which means it has 85% stretch. If you have a blind hem foot for your sewing machine, you can sew a blind hem after finishing the raw edge of the spandex. A hem refers to a fold made over the edge of a fabric that is then stitched down; you may fold it once or twice. Thread your machine with an all-purpose thread and use a stitch setting that allows the fabric to stretch. No problem! A skirt hem on a low stretch fabric, for example, won’t need as much “give” as say, the neckline on a very stretchy fabric. 3. Set your machine to sew between 12 and 14 stitches per inch for optimal stretching on the spandex. Step 5 Sew a zigzag stitch or an overlock stitch along the raw edge of the knit fabric to finish the fabric edge and prevent it from stretching and fraying. If you have a blind hem foot for your sewing machine, go ahead and sew a blind hem once you have finished the raw edge of the polyester. Position your needle to sew along the fabric approximately 1/4 inch from the fabric's edge. When left to hang, the weight of the fabric causes it to stretch making it harder to sew neatly. You add binding to the edges which are then sewn into a seam. Alternatively, if you have a serger use it to stitch the raw edge of the spandex instead of sewing a zigzag stitch. BUY HEAT 'n BOND on Amazon (affiliate link): http://bit.ly/Buy-Heat-n-Bond - No sewing machine? Avoid pulling the fabric as you sew or hem it. Lay the strip of fabric along the edge that needs to be hemmed. The double needle should create two lines of stitching on top of the fabric, and a zigzag between them on the bottom which allows the stitch to stretch. Another tricky thing is making sure that the openings remain stretchy enough to pull on and off the body. Using your hand, tug the spandex to find out which way it stretches (a 2-way stretch fabric will stretch horizontally, while a 4-way stretch fabric will stretch both horizontally and vertically). If your machine doesn’t have a stretch stitch function, you can still hem using a straight stitch either with a twin needle or by gently stretching the fabric. If you want to make clean and neat hems on a polyester spandex dress, try using a double-needle that forms double parallel lines on the fabric and a zigzag pattern at the center of the two rows of stitches. Adjust them if necessary. I show you very fine techniques for working with sheer and lightweight fabrics that help you to make perfect hem wedding dress or flower girls dress made of an organza fabric. Position your needle to sew along the fabric approximately 1/4 inch from the fabric's edge. Test on a fabric scrap to make sure that the seam won’t pop when stretched out. Welcome back to the Spandex 101 series! Sewing on stretchy, slippery fabric such as Lycra or spandex fabric is NOT a beginner project. Remove the fabric from your sewing machine and clip the threads. Photo by Aperture Ashley. To fix that, you do what’s called a “tricky hem”, where you put the original fancy hem back on your jeans. How to Stop Fabric from Fraying. This special stretching quality makes spandex hard to sew and hem as it’s very easy to stretch it out of shape and damage it. Sew it which results in puckering don’t stretch and recovery you can expect it stitch. The stretchy fabric can be very useful for sewing stretchy fabrics sew.... Is going around the body and 4 way stretch pulls the fabric to stretch with body! And frustration in the end into which you will add the elastic just little... Specifically designed for sewing spandex they offer athletic knits, made for performance wear with bonus points cool. 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