tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post4989454020249697617..comments2024-03-14T16:03:32.434-04:00Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: Guest Post: Cutting Knits and Other Tricky Fabrics with Alyson ClairGertiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314542159287533507noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-14233575567687381182013-10-19T20:05:40.946-04:002013-10-19T20:05:40.946-04:00Genius!
Genius!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-11099476577777208822013-07-25T15:12:25.572-04:002013-07-25T15:12:25.572-04:00Heavy coasters make great pattern weights when lay...Heavy coasters make great pattern weights when laying out your pattern.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-26294888909986047272012-10-20T06:11:35.005-04:002012-10-20T06:11:35.005-04:00I was given the best hint about marking on knits a...I was given the best hint about marking on knits a while ago. I too have used the sharpie but instead of trying to draw the pattern pieces I only put dots around the template. That keeps the fabric from shifting and moving and if you put the dots close together, it is very easy to follow and cut out perfectly!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12819231916128932579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-4529838384473898042010-08-18T12:34:36.460-04:002010-08-18T12:34:36.460-04:00Thanks for the clothes pin tip; I never thought of...Thanks for the clothes pin tip; I never thought of that. <br />Like you, cutting out the fabric is my least favorite part of sewing. That electric rotary cutter looks interesting.Elizabeth of Online Fabric Storehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00514362766500496429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-54235365753406773702010-08-17T10:54:41.497-04:002010-08-17T10:54:41.497-04:00Another Awesome Post... keep them coming. Like oth...Another Awesome Post... keep them coming. Like others I use large washer weights and pins to anchor my fabric.<br /><br />After reading this post, I immediately surfed the web for a electric rotary fabric cutter and came across an Allstar cutter and now anxiously awaiting its arrival. I also stopped at the .99 store and purchased a pack of clothes pins. I had an old rtw dress that I took apart to use as a template and made 3 dresses. Now I want to make more and your post on bulk cutting is timely... love it.Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03688900287732221253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-19520897484075565362010-08-17T08:57:49.103-04:002010-08-17T08:57:49.103-04:00Thanks so much for this thorough post. I love knit...Thanks so much for this thorough post. I love knits and most of the time, I love sewing with them. These tips will help me LOTS!Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08345674465845908156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-44287438920439962252010-08-16T20:26:59.284-04:002010-08-16T20:26:59.284-04:00this is great!! thanks for sharing this info...I w...this is great!! thanks for sharing this info...I will keep this tips in mind when cutting those slippery fabric!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-44644890348554378552010-08-16T12:24:37.399-04:002010-08-16T12:24:37.399-04:00I love the bulletin board tip. Too bad we got rid...I love the bulletin board tip. Too bad we got rid of the school sized one that was hanging in my son's room when he was a kid! <br />I use a large cutting mat and a new blade. I pin some things if I can, at least to keep it from moving and use assorted weights including rocks from a trip to Maine.<br />I have used the clip method with knits that roll, a royal pita. I have only used the paper layers with chiffon. I'll have to remember that for finicky knits.Nancy Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235347323004026695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-63909404141175380362010-08-16T00:06:36.845-04:002010-08-16T00:06:36.845-04:00I love the bulletin board-turned-cutting board ide...I love the bulletin board-turned-cutting board idea! I had never thought of it. What I use now? A huge cutting mat and a rotary cutter. Couldn't live without it. But on those occasions when the fabric is slippery, pinning to a giant bulletin board- genius!picknstitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12407155799667345691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-75075484564249444712010-08-15T23:27:59.121-04:002010-08-15T23:27:59.121-04:00How I cut out fabrics. When I lived in a little a...How I cut out fabrics. When I lived in a little apartment, I would go to my mom's to cut, because of room. I saw a fold up cutting board (you know the cardboard ones with a grid ) and voila, the queen size bed and a rolling computer chair made for the best cutting ever. Pins went directly into the board and bed. Nothing moved or wiggled. I moved the board on the bed and rolled the chair to reach what I needed to cut. So now I have mom's large cutting counter, and remember that my "make do" cutting board on the bed was easier and more accurate.<br />As for cutting tools. I buy a new pair of scissors at the dollar store for every project. I then donate them to the elementary school art class. It's only 5 pair or so a year, but the teacher wishes a few more parents did this.MeesPattinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-62406804857444887622010-08-15T00:27:25.599-04:002010-08-15T00:27:25.599-04:00Great tips, thanks so much. I haven't thought ...Great tips, thanks so much. I haven't thought about cutting much, but dread it too, and am hapy to be armed with better ideas for making it go smoothly. Wish I'd seen this a few days ago before sewing my minky and satin blankets--that satin was such a nightmare! I love especially the advice about laying out the whole cut of fabric. I rarely do that (space is so difficult, isn't it?) and can see it would make a difference. -Anneliese www.AestheticNest.comAnneliesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03670002900625092259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-81144453262924869712010-08-14T16:03:09.549-04:002010-08-14T16:03:09.549-04:00Sheila- Cat food cans, I LOVE IT! They are perfect...Sheila- Cat food cans, I LOVE IT! They are perfect, I am going to share that with my friends.<br /><br />sewiknittoo - The Chickadee cutter is good with larger curves, and can get a little harder to handle around the tighter angles. For tight curves and 90 degree right angles an upright blade works the best. I have one, but it isn't working and rather scary! (I had to take the cutter from my factory job to the ER twice from accidents, he was ok but one time needed stitches). It's really good for cutting out samples and you just have to practice "driving" it to get the hang of things. For neck and armholes it's totally fine.Alyson Clairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12165924077927247799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-18008047252819503672010-08-14T16:02:03.918-04:002010-08-14T16:02:03.918-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Alyson Clairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12165924077927247799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-36939425497670050692010-08-14T04:27:57.745-04:002010-08-14T04:27:57.745-04:00I use crayola washable markers rather than a sharp...I use crayola washable markers rather than a sharpie for tracing round patterns. I've never had a time when it didn't wash out. I also use it to label all the pieces, and the front and back of all the pieces.Saffihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13617094051490274280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-60291154045871086612010-08-14T00:09:19.760-04:002010-08-14T00:09:19.760-04:00Wow! That's a serious serger. I love the Chak...Wow! That's a serious serger. I love the Chakoner too!Patchwork Architecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09357351295714335638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-39917463032659558532010-08-13T23:08:30.222-04:002010-08-13T23:08:30.222-04:00Very cool... I love the cutter!Very cool... I love the cutter!CBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09349174109900942292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-35086088337904050742010-08-13T19:12:06.613-04:002010-08-13T19:12:06.613-04:00That blouse is just gorgeous!!! Thanks for the cl...That blouse is just gorgeous!!! Thanks for the clothespins tip..Karen in VAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116552037695197434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-79920410250537836992010-08-13T19:07:41.173-04:002010-08-13T19:07:41.173-04:00Alyson, how does you're cutter work with cutti...Alyson, how does you're cutter work with cutting curves?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-75993211492787292072010-08-13T18:30:20.009-04:002010-08-13T18:30:20.009-04:00Thanks very much for the cutting tips. My greates...Thanks very much for the cutting tips. My greatest challenge is sewing slinky knits with the serger. The cut edge always rolls by the time it reaches the needles. Tips on this subject would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />P.S. Cat food tins make great sewing weights.sheilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-75418640349478842582010-08-13T17:57:07.937-04:002010-08-13T17:57:07.937-04:00Thank you so much for a great tutorial, Alyson.Thank you so much for a great tutorial, Alyson.kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08183686721305419157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-5165805237018188072010-08-13T17:55:26.943-04:002010-08-13T17:55:26.943-04:00Great post! I really enjoyed reading about industr...Great post! I really enjoyed reading about industrial pattern cutting and all the behind the scenes.<br />I normally put weights (they are large pebble stones) and then pin my pattern to the fabric.Sewing Princesshttp://bombardone.com/sewingprincessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-38239281006359028902010-08-13T17:53:40.647-04:002010-08-13T17:53:40.647-04:00My favorite way to pin fabrics out is to use one o...My favorite way to pin fabrics out is to use one of the cheap cardboard cutting mats from the fabric store (or two, one on top of the other). They can be unfolded and used anywhere, store easily, and I can push the pins directly into the cutting mat like it is a tack board. This really helps with slippery, stretchy and curly fabrics. <br /><br />To help stabilize curly knits, I apply scotch tape to the edges after cutting to help keep them from curling. I avoid sewing through the tape as it gums the needle, usually peeling it off just ahead of my stitching. This is obviously not such an efficient idea for mass production, but for the occasional curly knit in home sewing, it's handy.Amynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-87941188975126482122010-08-13T16:39:48.790-04:002010-08-13T16:39:48.790-04:00I love the tip with the Silver Sharpie! That's...I love the tip with the Silver Sharpie! That's one I've never heard before and it's something that would come in very handy with certain items.NancyDaQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00609215745927535353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-90837125240307084192010-08-13T16:38:25.417-04:002010-08-13T16:38:25.417-04:00I use a rotary cutter and mat for everything. I c...I use a rotary cutter and mat for everything. I can't use scissors because they strain my hands. I also find that ITY type knits (poly/lycra blends) dull my scissors and cutter like nothing else... anyone else experience that? <br /><br />Great tip about the sharpie! I don't trace, I pin, but I can see that working. I don't get pattern weights - maybe I'm working with too much slippery fabric, but when I try that the fabric always shifts anyway. Maybe I'm not using enough?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-84424257290737364082010-08-13T15:13:31.167-04:002010-08-13T15:13:31.167-04:00I can't wait to get into the sewing room again...I can't wait to get into the sewing room again! Eric has to do some kid duty so I can sew a few skirts.<br /><br />The old bulletin board is genius. I use a homasote board for pinning. Not as handy as the bulletin board, but thick and cheap ( $35 for a 4 x 8 sheet? )and you can make the lumber yard cut it to you specs. Since it's pressed paper I have taken lots of notes on it over the years. And if you ignore it long enough it doubles as a scratching post, I just learned.<br /><br />After owning several pairs of pricy sewing shears, I prefer the feather weight versions. They are much cheaper and the matte blades grip slippery fabrics. The seem to cut tricky fabrics-like chiffons, more accurately for me and I buy a new pair when they dull up and turn the olds ones into paper scissors.<br /><br />Awesome article Alyson, I can't wait for more!Carly Jaynenoreply@blogger.com