At a recent Fit Retreat, we got into a discussion about sewing with Slinky. Or should I say 'fitting with Slinky'?
Here's my black Slinky shell.
I rarely wear sleeveless tops/dresses, so I stitched up this diagonal hemmed cardigan to go over top of it. If you're interested, directions for this lacy cardigan can be found in the bodice designing book - Beyond Bodice Basics.
And
if you've ever sewn with Slinky, you know it can present some
stretching, fitting and sewing problems...or should I call them
'issues'?
Slinky is an elastic acetate knit. It's available in different weights and stretch and is sometimes combined with spandex to help eliminate the bagging that can occur. It is really soft and comfortable to wear, has a supple hand and really drapes well.
For the pattern design, keep it simple with few design lines, minimal seaming, elastic casings, loose sleeves or sleeveless. Avoid real close fitted styles.
Let me pass on some tips on working with Slinky.
1. Pre-treat Slinky in cold/warm water (no bleach) and throw it in the dryer - cool/warm temp. When washing after wearing, wash in cold water and line dry.
2. You can definitely sized down your pattern at least 1- 2 dots in all circumference areas. Everything is going to stretch - both horizontally and vertically - so you're likely safe to 'dot-down' at all points on the SFD master pattern.
3. Add 5/8" seam allowances. This width will make it easier to handle. Then after you've basted and adjusted the fit, serge/trim to 1/4" allowance.
4. When cutting, make sure that none of the fabric hangs off the cutting table. It will definitely stretch out of shape.
5. Treat Slinky as a napped or one-way fabric with all pieces headed in the same direction.
6. Cut with extremely sharp fabric shears or rotary cutter.
7. Decide which side you want as the 'right' side and mark with a visible marking pencil or place a piece of plastic tape on the 'wrong' side and write 'wrong' on the tape.
8. Use a 'walking foot'.
9. Test sewing on remnants. Stitch horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Use long embroidery pins. Since the fabric does not feed evenly, stop periodically, raise the presser foot, smooth the fabric then continue stitching.
10. Baste - baste - baste with the longest stitch possible! Test the fit. There is no way to gauge how much your Slinky is going to stretch vertically or horizontally until you put it on. Adjust the fit to your comfort level. If the Slinky is a very dark color, baste with a bright contrasting color thread. It will make it much easier to pick out.
11. Always stitch directionally i.e. from the hem up.
12. Then when you are satisfied, to complete the seams use a long straight stitch but not necessarily a stretch stitch, trim or serge/overlock the seams.
13. If you're sewing pants, the length of the crotch seam WILL stretch vertically. Stabilize with a narrow flat, clear elastic as you stitch the seam. This allows the seam to have a little give, but not stretch excessively. Shoulders, necklines and long side seams can also be stabilized with clear, flat elastic.
14. To bind the neck and armhole edges, as I have done on this tank top, cut the ribbing and binding strips on the crossgrain approximately 25-30% shorter than the edge to be finished.
15. Hemming. They say you can use fusible webbing, but I couldn't get mine to 'melt' and adhere the 2 layers together, so I simply top-stitched the hem in place. But since Slinky isn't going to ravel, you could just cut and leave the hem as a raw edge.
These tips should help you out on your next Slinky project.
Kindly,
Glenda...the Good Stitch!
Here's my black Slinky shell.
Slinky is an elastic acetate knit. It's available in different weights and stretch and is sometimes combined with spandex to help eliminate the bagging that can occur. It is really soft and comfortable to wear, has a supple hand and really drapes well.
For the pattern design, keep it simple with few design lines, minimal seaming, elastic casings, loose sleeves or sleeveless. Avoid real close fitted styles.
Let me pass on some tips on working with Slinky.
1. Pre-treat Slinky in cold/warm water (no bleach) and throw it in the dryer - cool/warm temp. When washing after wearing, wash in cold water and line dry.
2. You can definitely sized down your pattern at least 1- 2 dots in all circumference areas. Everything is going to stretch - both horizontally and vertically - so you're likely safe to 'dot-down' at all points on the SFD master pattern.
3. Add 5/8" seam allowances. This width will make it easier to handle. Then after you've basted and adjusted the fit, serge/trim to 1/4" allowance.
4. When cutting, make sure that none of the fabric hangs off the cutting table. It will definitely stretch out of shape.
5. Treat Slinky as a napped or one-way fabric with all pieces headed in the same direction.
6. Cut with extremely sharp fabric shears or rotary cutter.
7. Decide which side you want as the 'right' side and mark with a visible marking pencil or place a piece of plastic tape on the 'wrong' side and write 'wrong' on the tape.
8. Use a 'walking foot'.
9. Test sewing on remnants. Stitch horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Use long embroidery pins. Since the fabric does not feed evenly, stop periodically, raise the presser foot, smooth the fabric then continue stitching.
10. Baste - baste - baste with the longest stitch possible! Test the fit. There is no way to gauge how much your Slinky is going to stretch vertically or horizontally until you put it on. Adjust the fit to your comfort level. If the Slinky is a very dark color, baste with a bright contrasting color thread. It will make it much easier to pick out.
11. Always stitch directionally i.e. from the hem up.
12. Then when you are satisfied, to complete the seams use a long straight stitch but not necessarily a stretch stitch, trim or serge/overlock the seams.
13. If you're sewing pants, the length of the crotch seam WILL stretch vertically. Stabilize with a narrow flat, clear elastic as you stitch the seam. This allows the seam to have a little give, but not stretch excessively. Shoulders, necklines and long side seams can also be stabilized with clear, flat elastic.
14. To bind the neck and armhole edges, as I have done on this tank top, cut the ribbing and binding strips on the crossgrain approximately 25-30% shorter than the edge to be finished.
15. Hemming. They say you can use fusible webbing, but I couldn't get mine to 'melt' and adhere the 2 layers together, so I simply top-stitched the hem in place. But since Slinky isn't going to ravel, you could just cut and leave the hem as a raw edge.
These tips should help you out on your next Slinky project.
Kindly,
Glenda...the Good Stitch!
Thank you Glenda - I should think these tips would apply to many very stretchy knits which I have never been sure about handling.
ReplyDeleteSarah, You're absolutely right. Any fabric that is really stretchy would need some of these special handling techniques.
DeleteI tried to look up "Slinky" fabric as I gather that's a brand name or a specific type of fabric. Based on what I read, I think it's a fabric that is permanently creased is little tiny pleats (not stitched down), is that right? If so, thank you ever so much for this post. I bought something like this, got it home, and realized I wasn't sure how to proceed.
ReplyDeleteSlinky is a brand I believe - see this link - https://www.hsn.com/shop/slinky-brand/107?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=slinky%20fabrics&utm_campaign=B_BRA_Fashion_S&utm_content=mF953MCl_pcrid_3257689548_pkw_slinky%20fabrics_pmt_be_pdv_c_slid_
DeleteThough this isn't sewing fabric, it's used a lot in ready to wear. And no, what you have likely isn't Slinky because Slinky doesn't have tiny pleats in it.
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ReplyDelete