How to sew knit fabric: our tips for beginners
Knitwear has caught your eye, but you’re not sure how to sew it? In this new tutorial, we’ll guide you through sewing with knit fabric, focusing in particular on our new ribbed knit from the Les Mots Bleus collection.
Discover Maison Fauve ribbed knit
Soft, stretchy and comfortable, and available in a beautiful range of colours, it is perfect for creating close-fitting garments such as the Ludmilla dress or the Pirate Breton top. And with a few good techniques and the right equipment, sewing with knit fabric becomes much easier!
What you need to sew knit fabric
To get started, here is my ideal wishlist:
- An overlocker (serger): ideal for assembling pieces and creating soft, stretchy seams, but above all, strong and durable finishes that will help your handmade garments last.
- Jersey or stretch needles, specifically designed for knit fabrics. This is one area where you shouldn’t compromise, as the wrong needles can cause skipped stitches and damage your fabric.
- Pattern weights, to stabilise the fabric when cutting your pattern. They prevent the knit from stretching, helping to avoid inaccuracies when transferring your pattern pieces.
- Prym Love clips, practical for holding pieces together while sewing without distorting the fabric.
Discover our Sweat & Knit haberdashery selection
No overlocker? Don’t worry: your sewing machine can also be used to create beautiful garments in knit fabric!
Techniques for sewing knit fabric
In the video, we show you the right techniques for working with this fabric with confidence:
- Use the zigzag stitch on your conventional sewing machine to preserve the stretch of your seams. We recommend lengthening the stitch slightly to make feeding the fabric easier while maintaining the properties of the knit.
- Slightly reduce the presser foot pressure to prevent the fabric from stretching or becoming distorted.
- Discover the benefits of using an overlocker to assemble your pieces and create higher-quality, durable finishes that are perfectly suited to knit fabrics.
- Sew hems with a twin needle to preserve the stretch and beautiful drape of the knit.
- Discover our complete list of haberdashery essentials for sewing knit fabric.
The goal? To learn how to sew knit fabric without distorting it, and create comfortable, beautifully finished garments.
Which patterns can you sew with Maison Fauve ribbed knit?
This new fabric has been designed with close-fitting garments in mind. Knitwear patterns are developed with specific ease, adapted to this type of fabric. Our patterns for stretchy knit fabrics follow these principles: they are specifically designed and tested for knit fabrics, including our ribbed knit.
We particularly recommend:
The Ludmilla dress
A feminine, fitted dress, perfect for showcasing the beautiful texture of ribbed knit. The pattern offers several fabulous versions:
- a long dress with a side slit and a long tie belt,
- a long-sleeved top, ultra-comfortable and easy to wear every day,
- a round neckline inspired by a dancer’s leotard, feminine and incredibly quick to sew,
- a faux wrap version, original and easy to wear (the wrap front is fixed).
You can wear the front and back interchangeably.
The pattern was developed for highly stretchy knit fabrics, so we recommend following the size indicated in the measurement charts provided with the pattern.
The Pirate breton top
A wardrobe essential, perfect for discovering the joys of sewing knit fabric and creating an easy-to-wear everyday piece. The pattern has a straight cut, which gives a very comfortable, slightly loose fit in ribbed knit. If you prefer a more fitted look, you can choose one size smaller.
We also recommend avoiding oversized buttons on the shoulder, as seen on the classic Breton version, because ribbed knit is a lighter, more fluid fabric.
Discover the video tutorial
In this video, you’ll find all our tips and tricks for learning how to sew knit fabric, from preparing the fabric to creating the finishing touches.
Ready to get started? Watch the tutorial and discover everything you need to sew Maison Fauve ribbed knit with confidence and enjoy every step of the process!
Enjoy your sewing! 🤍