Absolutely possible. Even better, you can sew knits with a traditional sewing machine. In fact, sewing stretch fabrics with my BERNINA 350 PE is my favorite method of construction, above and beyond a serger or overlocker. … There are just a few tips to keep in mind, when sewing knits with your favorite sewing machine.
What stitch to use if you don’t have a serger?
Seam Finishes #1 – Zig-Zag
If you don’t have a serger, zig-zag stitch is a commonly used seam finish, particularly for thick or bulky fabrics. It is best for medium to heavy fabrics. If my serger is not threaded with the correct color thread I need, I often quickly sew seam finishes with a zig-zag.
Can I sew knits with a regular sewing machine?
For sewing knits on a regular machine, you have a few choices. When you’re sewing knit fabrics on your sewing machine, look for jersey or ballpoint needles. These work with the majority of knit fabrics because they have a dull tip that slides between the fibers of the fabric, not through the fibers.
Do you need a serger for knits?
With knits, you can use it to sew your seams without having to sew the seam first. Knits don’t fray like wovens, but the stretchy nature of a serger stitch makes it a great pair for knits. For wovens, sergers make a nice clean edge that won’t fray.
Can you sew with a serger?
A serger allows you to sew a seam, trim the seam allowance, and overcast the edge all in one step. This stitch is called a 4-thread safety stitch and it can be created on all sergers.
Do I need a walking foot to sew knits?
a seam sewn without. An even feed foot or walking foot can also be helpful to gently and uniformly feed your fabric. An even feed foot has feed dogs that help to pull your fabric through your machine at a more even rate. This can be a helpful tool when working with finer, more delicate knits.
Do you need a serger to sew clothes?
You don’t need a serger in order to sew beautiful things. Finishing seams without a serger can make any garment or home decor project have a finished look and last a lifetime.
How do you keep knit fabric from curling?
To prevent knits from curling you add purl stitches to the right side. And, if you add purl stitches to the right side, they will, of course, be knit stitches at the wrong side. As mentioned earlier, the purl stitches as a lower tension than the knit stitches.
Are Sergers worth it?
Usually I just use the zig zag stitch on my sewing machine over the raw edges. For fabrics like linen or double gauze, a serger is nicer because it finishes the raw edges very securely with the four-thread overlock stitch. Finishing edges of delicate or loose-weave fabrics after cutting/before sewing.
Should I buy a serger or sewing machine?
In short, you do not need a sewing machine and a serger. … If you work with a lot of knits then a serger will make your projects a lot faster and easier. If you will be sellling clothing or other projects, then a serger will be important to have for finished edges and a more professional look.
Is getting a serger worth it?
There are even stitches that mimic an overlock stitch on many home sewing machines. However, the serged seam is the industry standard for knit garments for a reason and a serger offers one of the quickest ways to tidily finish raw edges for most fabrics. I would recommend buying a serger from a dealer if you can.
What is the best stitch for hemming?
Twin needle hems are especially effective on knit fabrics as it will flex with the fabric. 1. Use a serger or an overcast stitch to sew a finished edge on the raw edge to be hemmed.
What tension should I use for stretch fabric?
You have to use an appropriate tension setting to stitch your stretchy fabric. For materials such as elastane, lycra, and many others, a higher tension level of 2-3 should do the trick for you.