Knit-ty Gritty

Cutting Tips

Lightweight knits (i.e., tricot, sheers, fluid lamé or synthetic interlocks) will slip around when pinning and cutting. Place newspaper or tissue paper on the cutting table followed by the fabric and pattern. Pin through all layers to stabilize the fabric and then cut.

Make sure your cutting tools are sharp; use barber shears or shears with serrated blades. A rotary cutter is another option; cut by pushing away from you, holding the pattern down with the free hand.

Don't allow the fabric to hang off the cutting surface, it will stretch and distort the knit. Accordion-fold any excess fabric and support it on the table or a chair. Unfold as needed to continue cutting.

When cutting heavy knits (such as sweatshirt and fleece), pretrim the pattern and pin it only to the upper layer of doubled fabric. Cut through both layers, holding the pattern and fabric down with your free hand.

If you cut off the pattern notches, mark their placement with a marking pen at the fabric edge. Snipping into the seam allowance will weaken the seams.

Use fabric marking pencils, tailor's chalk, tailor's tacks or disappearing ink marking pens to transfer the pattern markings. Don't use a tracing wheel with prongs, which can snag the fabric.

From the July 2004 issue of Sew News magazine.

Tip:
Use a
neutral shade
of six-strand
embroidery floss
for tailor's tacks.
Floss doesn't
slip out of
the fabric
as easily
when it's handled.