How To Cut Knit Fabric Without Unraveling
We wear different kinds of neat garments in our everyday life. We wear knit sweaters, dresses, hats, and many other types of knit clothing. Like with other types of clothing, we get to a time when we need to cut the knit fabric. We cut knit fabric garments to make them shorter, to repair or restyle them.
It is possible to cut knit fabric without unraveling.
Why Do You Need To Be Careful While Cutting Knit Fabric?
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When it comes to cutting knit fabric, one of the things we worry about is that it may unravel. This will damage the fabric and make it unwearable. Knitting is a long process that requires lots of patience. Knitting projects take up a lot of your time and you don’t want a single error holding you back from completing your project.
You, therefore, need to be careful when cutting your knit fabric. Cutting wrongly may lead to your project unraveling, setting you back several steps.
If you have already finished your project, cutting wrongly will ensure that you cant wear your garment. Every time you wear it, holes will appear. You will spend more time repairing the garment than wearing it.
How Do You Cut Knit Fabric Without Unravelling?
When you have an area of knit fabric you need to cut, sew a line around that area with your sewing machine. With sharp scissors, cut your knit fabric without touching the sewn line. This prevents the knitting left in that part from unraveling. Rather, it felts together.
Method 1. Secure With A Sewing Machine
Step 1. Prepare your knit fabric for cutting. Place your fabric on a flat working surface so that you see the part that needs to be cutting. Then, mark this part with a marking pen or chalk. Use clear markings on the knitting. You can use a color that is visible on the knit fabric.
Step 2. Bring your knit fabric to the sewing machine. Sew around the area that needs to be cut. Or, you can sew two lines on each side of this part that needs cutting. The sewing secures the knitting around the part that you will be cutting. This helps to keep the knit fabric threads in place so that they don’t unravel when you cut.
Step 3. Take your sewn knit fabric or garment out of the sewing machine. Place it back on your working surface. Cut with sharp scissors inside the sewn part. Take care not to cut the sewn lines.
Step 4. You can then repair the cut part if you were cutting out a hole. Or, you can hem the knit fabric garment to shorten it. When you secure the part of your knit fabric you want to cut, it will not unravel. Making it easier to mend or proceed with your knitting project.
Method 2. Secure With Pins
Step 1. Place your knit fabric or garment on your working area and identify the part that needs to be cut.
Step 2. Stick pins on opposite sides of this part.
Step 3. Use sharp scissors to cut precisely between the pins. Do not touch the pins as you cut your knit fabric or garment.
Step 4. Take out the pins from the knit fabric. Notice that the rest of the knit fabric is intact and it didn’t unravel. You can then proceed with your project or needed repairs on your knit fabric.
Method 3. Secure With Crocheting
Step 1. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can use a crotchet and a yarn of different colors from the knit fabric you want to cut.
Step 2. Crochet your contrasting color yarn around the part you want to cut to mark it. Make sure to insert the crochet hook into the fabric to pull a loop. This enhances the firmness of the knitting to ensure that it won’t unravel when cut.
Step 3. Use sharp scissors to cut the intended part that is now surrounded by the crocheting. Your knit fabric will cut easily without causing the rest of the fabric to unravel.
Method 4. Cutting A Pattern Into Your Knit Fabric
Step 1. Prepare your knit fabric for cutting into a pattern. Make sure it is clean, dry, and ironed. Also, leave it for a while before you start cutting the pattern on it. This allows it to regain its natural stretch and to ensure that it doesn’t shrink after its first wash as a garment or when you finish your project.
Step 2. Fold your knit fabric with the lengths touching and right sides touching. You can quickly identify the lengths of knit fabric by checking for the direction with less stretch on the fabric. It is sometimes difficult to identify the lengths in a knit fabric. Folding the fabric lengthwise ensures that it will not unravel when it is cut.
Step 3. Place a cutting mat on your working surface then place the folded knit fabric on the cutting mat. The cutting mat prevents you from damaging your work table.
Step 4. If you have several patterns pick one that is suitable for a knit fabric. Place the pattern on the fabric. Hold the pattern in place with pins and trace it onto the fabric with carbon paper and a tracing wheel. This will transfer your pattern to the knit fabric easily.
Step 5. Set your pattern aside and check your fabric. You will see that you have transferred the pattern onto the fabric. You are now ready to cut the fabric.
Step 6. Use a rotary cutter or sharp scissors to cut the pattern on your knit fabric. Follow the lines of the pattern as traced onto the fabric. Your pattern will cut perfectly without unraveling. Since it is folded, you can easily get two parts of the pattern easily. Use sharp scissors or any other cutting tool that you will use.
You can also cut your knit fabric with the pattern still fixed onto it. Just be sure to keep your hands away from your cutting tools to prevent cutting yourself.
How Do You Bind Edges On Your Knit Fabrics?
One of the best methods to bind your knit fabric project is by using a band. A band is a fabric folded in half and stitched on any openings of other fabrics. When you sewing a band onto a piece of fabric the seams are turned to the other side. Bands can be seen on the sleeves and necklines of T-shirts.
When you decide to bind your knit fabrics with a band, remember that bands are best sewn on the round parts of the fabric. Since a band is made from a different fabric, you must take good measurements to make a perfect band.
The band you use to bind must be smaller than the opening you are binding. If it is too small, it will cause puckering. So, prepare your band then lay it on your knit fabric project to confirm that it is a perfect size before sewing it on.
If the band fits perfectly, sew it on and bind your knit fabric project.
You can also use bindings to bind the edges of your knit fabrics. When you use binding in knit fabrics, you don’t sew them in the round. Rather, you have one seam left open then the binding is sewn on one end. Then, the seam and binding are closed at the same time.
You can also use edge stitching as a method to bind the edges on your knit fabrics. Edge stitching is easy and leads to a neat and strong edge. You can use the chain stitch feature on your sewing machine to make this edge binding on your knit fabric projects.
Why Use Knit Fabrics?
Knit fabrics have grown in popularity. They are many types of clothes now made with knit fabrics as more and more seamstresses get to know the advantages of knit fabrics. In addition, more people are choosing to wear knit fabric garments.
Knit fabrics are comfortable to wear. They stretch easily. Thus, they will not be tight around your body. They are also light and warm enough to be worn in every season. They are also quite soft to touch and on the body when worn.
Knit fabrics are easy to take care of. You can easily wash, dry, and iron your knit fabric garment to keep it in the right conditions. They are durable and retain their shape for a long time. They also don’t get wrinkles easily. When washing knit fabrics or garments, use a mild washing soap. Also, air-dry your knit fabric garments to help maintain their structure,
Knit fabrics are versatile and can be turned into a range of garments. You can wear them as a sweater, t-shirts or dresses. You can easily turn your wardrobe, style, and fashion sense around with knit fabrics.
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