One of the most common thoughts I hear about sewing with minky fabric is how difficult it is to sew with. Many people, especially beginners are too nervous to try sewing with it for fear of diaster! The good news is that with these few easy tips, anyone can be successful sewing with minky - even you!
Minky Tip #1:
Don't allow the fabric to stretch as you cut it. This is especially important if you'll be sewing it to another non-minky piece of fabric, which most likely won't have any stretch. Let the fabric lay flat, and adding a few pins here and there to keep the selvages together (if you're cutting with a folded edge) can help to reduce it slipping out of place while cutting.
Minky Tip #2:
Pin, Pin, Pin!!! Was that clear? Whether you're sewing minky to minky, or minky to another fabric, pinning every 1" along the edges of the fabric will make a
huge difference as you sew. Not enough pins means that the fabric will likely slide under the presser foot, and stretch as the feed dogs try to guide it, which can result in puckers. I'm not exaggerating when I recommend to pin it every 1". Even a 2" gap between pins can allow the minky to slip and stretch. It'll be more than worth the extra time it takes to pin every 1".
Minky Tip #3:
Use a
Walking Foot, also called an
Even Feed Foot. I know a lot of people who don't think a walking foot is necessary and get by without one, but they are
so worth the $20-$30 investment. I purchased a generic brand on
Amazon for around $20, and it works wonders. The brand I use is
Distinctive, and will fit most sewing machines. A walking foot has feed dogs on the presser foot, allowing both the top and bottom layers of fabric to be grabbed and pulled along at the same rate. Normally fabric is guided by the bottom feed dogs on your machine only. Having the fabric fed evenly under the presser foot is another huge help in preventing the fabric from slipping and stretching while being sewn.
If you are absolutely against using a walking foot, make sure to sew with the minky fabric on the bottom, so it will be guided by the feed dogs on your machine. But, like I said, use a walking foot :).
Minky Tip #4:
Prewash any fabrics being sewn with the minky. Minky will not shrink, so does not need to be prewashed, but always prewash all other fabrics being used in the project to prevent any shrinking problems with your finished project.
Minky Tip #5:
Do not iron minky. If you're sewing a blanket with minky and cotton, for example, keep the heat on low even if ironing on the cotton side to prevent any damage to the minky. Too much heat can ruin any dots or other embossing on the minky.
Minky Tip #6:
Pay attention to the nap of the minky. Make sure the nap is laying the direction you want before cutting it. Also keep in mind that topstitching in the direction that the nap lays flat will give you a nicer finished product.
Following these simple tips will make your life (at least when you're sewing with minky!) a whole lot easier and more enjoyable. Do you have any other tips to add that have made sewing with minky easier for you? Please share!
