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!
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!
41 comments:
You are a star!!!! I ordered some minky yesterday and it should arrive tomorrow. I have never sewn it before and was a tad nervous. However I feel a little more confident about it after reading these tips!
PINS At the ready!
Dazie
x
Thank you!
I've never sewn with minky before. I do have a walking foot that I haven't used so I guess it's time to purchase some minky! Great tips.
thank you for posting this, I have the hardest time with minky!
Ooh, great tips, thanks! Trying minky is on my 'to do' list, and you'll be pleased the know my walking foot is barely off my machine ;o)
i sewed with minky for the the first time a few months ago and the best advice you gave was to use LOTS of pins!!!! i sewed a chenille blanket using minky as my backside! tons of work, but so beautiful of a result!
i don't have a walking foot, just used a regular foot, so it can be done! but plan on working with the fabric more so i will look into getting one!
this post could not have come at a better time because i'm making a quilt right now and minky makes the bottom of it. so helpful! Thank you!
Thanks for all the tips! I might be ready to tackle mine now, too!
Thanks for the great info! I've sewn chenille into several quilts before and have many of these same problems. Do you think the same tips would work for chenille too? If not, I would love to see you post tips on incorporating chenille into a quilt with mostly "regular" cotton. Thanks
This could not come in a better time!!! I am just planning to sew Minky as the back of my quilt and I was wondering it can work for a back of a quilt with the seams and all - would love to know what you think!
thanks!!!
Thanks for these tips. I have some Minky laying about (that will eventually become a baby blanket back), and I've never used it before, so these tips will help a lot.
Hi! thanks for the tips. i have been avoiding minky.....maybe I will try it now. Where is that bunny fabric from? who makes it! I love it!
Thanks for the tip.. I am using alot of minky.. 5 new gbabies... But I love the Bunny fabric, Did you add the bunnies to the flannel? will you email me at funnymesjc@gmail.com
thanks for the pin advice! hehe
have you used basting spray?? I use the spray all the time (not on minky yet) wondering if you have??
Are you using a batting with the minkee as the backing?
lej619 - I've never used basting spray, but I'd love to hear how it works if you try it!
anonymous - I wouldn't normally use batting with a minky blanket, but you could if you wanted to.
I agree that sewing with minky fabric can be a pain, but it is so nice when it is done. I just sewed a rag quilt for a full sized bed and I used minky fabric on the back. It makes the edges rag so much better! Just beware of all of the lint flying all around from it. It has taken me weeks to get all of it off of the furniture!
When I sew with minky I use either a fabric or Elmers glue stick in stead or along with the pins. It keeps it from slipping and washes out very easily!
I have backed a couple toddler quilts with Minky. I used spray basting to stick it all together before sewing. It worked AMAZING!!!!
thanks for the advice.
I get minky at 75% off a lot and use for baby gifts. Thanks so much for the tips. Blankets, loveys, toys and skirts with tuille added are some of the things I make with minky.
I've NEVER been successful at sewing with minky! I love it's feel, but get nauseous when I think of using it. I'm so glad I stumbled upon your blog! I'm going to order a walking foot, and try again! Thank you!
To keep minky from stretching I use strips of muslin or other scraps to use as a twill tape. I bet seams great would probably be good to use if you are making clothing. Good luck!
I purchased some wondet clips from Joanns (with a 50%of coupon). made sewing minky a breeze!!
I am having problems with my thread breaking!! I have rethreaded my machine several times, put a new needle on and I am using a walking foot...any idea why my thread would be breaking.Oh, I do have my tension set to automatic. I'm just trying to hem the minky (making pants for my 15 month old) and can't get the hem done from all the breakage. Thanks for any advice!
Holly
Holly - I'm sorry, I know that's frustrating! You've checked all the most important things it sounds like. Are you using a bobbin that you've used before with your machine? Sometimes a machine can be finicky if it doesn't like the brand of bobbin. The other thing that I'd try is a different brand of thread. Some machines don't like certain brands (I always use Coats brand and haven't had any issues, but I know others who's machines don't like it). Lastly, I'd check your walking foot and make sure that all the mechanisms are moving like they should, in case it's catching the thread somewhere. Let me know how it goes!
I am trying to make a baby blanket with minky and cotton. Someone mentioned adding "something" between the layers so the minky doesn't stretch. It sounded like "witch stiching," any thoughts on what she might have meant?
Rebecca - I'm guessing they meant "stitch witchery" that melts when ironed, and acts like glue to hold two pieces of fabric together. I can't say I'd recommend using it with minky, as it will stiffen it up quite a bit - do you know what they suggested to do with it exactly?
Hi! Thanks for getting back to me. The lady cutting my fabric said that minky stretched a lot and may cause the the blanket to sag on the minky side. I was hoping to avoid this problem. Thoughts from your experiences with minky?
Rebecca - Minky does stretch, but I haven't had any bad experiences with it stretching bigger after it's sewn to the cotton. I think using a good quality minky would help, and you could also do some quilting through both layers (even an "x" from each corner to corner) to hold it in place if your worried about it. Hope that helps!
Just in time to work with Minky, thanks for the advice :)
I've sewed with minky a couple of times. I need to get a walking foot, but in the meantime I placed tissue paper over the minky, and that helped a lot. The tissue paper breaks away easily after sewing.
Would tear away stabilizer work under the Minky to keep it from stretching?
I have used basting spray, and it worked really well. I'm sure Holly has found a solution to her thread breakage issue by now, but I'm suspicious of her needles. I always use a Schmetz brand Microtex fine needle when working with Minky or other microfiber fabrics. I also change my needle after every project, or after 10 hours of sewing machine use. The issues I have with my machine have been virtually eliminated by this habit, and regular cleaning, especially after using a shedding fabric like Minky.
I just finished up my first (possibly last) minky blanket. I had a heck of a time with it but now that all is "said and done" - I love it!
I've been sewing for years but have never experienced minky until I decided to make a quilt using it, chenille and flannel. So far the sewing is a pain but the blocks look OK. Yes, do PIN! Yes, sew with the minky on the bottom. Will let you know how the project comes out. Already knew how badly it sheds since I work in a quilt shop. Grin!
Thank you so much for these wonderful tips. I've only sewn with minky a couple of times and struggled with it. I love the fabric and can't wait to make a blanket for my unborn baby girl now!!
I have my minky pinned and ready to sew....I keep putting it off! I fear I will mess it up!
Thanks for the tips. I also adjust the pressure of my presser foot when sewing with minky. this helps reduce the slipping as well.
I bought two pieces of minky the same size 1 1/2 yards each. The color & patters I wanted. I tried to put them together but it was like one of them was not cut on the grain. Very frustrating. No matter what I did they would not line up. So the blanket sags. Gr... Two other pieces the same size are fine?? Any ideas? what did I do wrong? I did pin the heck out of it. Help!
Pick a beautiful day with a breeze. Set up your cutting mat on the patio table, cut and shake out your pieces. No clean up, and soft fuzzies for the birds! I also set up a shirt box and sprayed and pieced 95 blocks.all in an afternoon enjoying the beautiful day!
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