How To Stop Jersey Fabric From Curling

Jersey fabric is famous for curling and rolling at the edges. Jersey fabric always rolls towards the front. This rolling makes it difficult to work with this fabric. This is because rolling fabric makes it difficult to measure and cut. And, when you do, you can’t be accurate. This causes you to waste lots of fabric.

To use jersey fabric, you need to come up with methods that prevent the fabric from curling. It is only by doing this that you will complete your projects on time.

How Do You Stop Jersey Fabric From Curling?

There are many ways you can stop jersey fabric from curling. One of the most effective methods is weighting the fabric. Place fabric weights on the fabric edges while it’s on the working surface. This will prevent the edges and selvages from rolling and curling. Also, avoid cutting jersey fabric with scissors, use a rotary cutter. 

Method 1. Use Fabric Weights

If you are going to cut jersey fabrics, one easy way to prevent curling is using fabric weights. Place fabric weights on the edges and selvages of the fabric. This keeps your jersey fabric from rolling and curling and ensures that you can cut or sew perfectly. 

Cut edges of jersey fabric roll downwards while selvages roll upwards. With fabric weights on the fabric, you are able to keep the edges and selvages flat on your working surface. 

You can improvise anything to make it a fabric weight. You can place any of your tools on the fabric to keep it flat on the working surface. Or, you can buy fabric weights. 

Method 2. Use A Rotary Cutter To Cut Jersey Fabric

To keep the edges of your jersey fabric from curling, don’t cut with scissors. Use a rotary cutter to cut your jersey fabric. 

When you cut with a rotary cutter, your edges will be fine and sharp. When you cut with scissors, you can expect curls and rolls on your fabric along the cut edges. A rotary cutter also enhances your cutting accuracy for a fabric that stretches as easily as a jersey fabric. 

With your edges clean and accurate, you don’t even have to hem. Jersey fabric doesn’t fray, so these edges will remain as you have cut them.

Place fabric weights on the jersey fabric while cutting. 

Method 3. Spray Starch On The Fabric

Starch has been trusted for a long time to keep fabric stiff and straight while working with it. You can use starch while working with jersey fabric to keep it from curling. Starch is easy to use and affordable.

To use starch effectively, you will have to iron your jersey fabric. Use low heat on your iron so that you won’t damage your fabric. Spray starch on the edges of the fabric as you iron to straighten them out and to keep them stiff as you work with the fabric. 

You can then wash the starch out after you have finished your project. 

Method 4. Use Water Soluble Stabilizer 

When working with jersey fabric, a water-soluble stabilizer will work well to keep the edges straight. Fix the stabilizer on the edges of the fabric that are curled or as soon as you have cut. The stabilizer holds the edges in place as you work on them and ensures that they retain their form. 

When you are done working on the edges, all you need to do is soak the jersey garment in the water. The stabilizer will wash away, leaving you with straight edges on your garment. The stabilizer effectively keeps your jersey fabric from curling and rolling. 

Method 5. Serging The Edges

Hemming the edges of the jersey fabric is not necessary. The jersey fabric doesn’t fray, so it doesn’t need hemming. However, you can serge the edges of the fabric to keep it from rolling and curling.

Serging adds weight to the edges. Thus, it keeps the edges facing in the right direction. They do not keep rolling into the fabric. Making sure that the fabric stays flat enough to work on easily. 

In addition to keeping the edges flat, serging also makes them neat and appealing. 

If you don’t have a serger, you can use the overcast stitch on your sewing machine.

Method 6. Hold the Edges And Selvedges In Place With Pins

To keep your jersey fabric edges and selvages from curling, you can use pins. Use pins to hold the edges and selvages in place as you work on a project with jersey fabric. 

You will need fine pins that will not damage the fabric if you choose to use pins. Ordinary pins will not have the stability on jersey fabric that they have on other fabrics. They are likely to fall off.

Thus, you will need pins that work well with jersey fabric and other stretch fabrics. The right pins will make your sewing on jersey fabric easy and enjoyable. 

Method 7. Right Pattern For Jersey Fabric

Another way to keep your jersey fabrics from curling when working with them is to use them with simple patterns. 

Due to the nature of the jersey fabric, rolling, and curling, it is difficult to complete projects with difficult patterns on them. Just get simple patterns that may only involve slight cutting and sewing. The best patterns when you are working on jersey fabric will have few seams and even fewer embellishments. 

When working with fabrics such as jerseys, make sure that you have a pattern designed for the fabric.

Method 8. Use The Right Needle On The Sewing Machine

Jersey is a stretch fabric. Thus you need to get thread and needles that are suitable for a piece of stretchy fabric. Working with the wrong needles causes the fabric to fall off your sewing machine. The wrong thread bunches up, rolls and curls easily. Making it difficult to complete your project.

To prevent this, make sure you have the right needle and thread for a piece of fabric as stretchy as the jersey fabric. The right needle ensures that the edges and selvages of the fabric remain straight. 

In addition, make sure that you use the right stitches for your fabric. Use long stitches while sewing with jersey fabric.

Method 9. Smash And Sew

This is a method that requires speed to keep the fabric from curling. 

When cutting the fabric, use pins or fabric weights to keep the edges flat. When you finish cutting, bring your fabric to the sewing machine immediately. Then finish sewing as fast as possible before the edges curl or roll. 

Keep the tension of your sewing machine perfect for the fabric to prevent threads bunching. Also, use the right presser foot for jersey fabric. 

How To Stop Your Pocket Flap From Curling?

Curling pockets on shirts are a common occurrence. They make your shirt look unsightly and make your pockets almost useless. 

To keep your shirt’s pockets looking good and useful, you can use a piece of cardboard to stop them from curling. Cut off a thin piece of cardboard that is the same size as the pocket. Insert the cardboard into the pocket and close the flap. Leave the cardboard there for about a day. 

Then wash your shirt. Before your shirt is completely dry, iron the pocket flap. This will ensure that it stays in place without curling. 

You can also simply iron the pocket flap in place. When ironing, spray starch on the edges of the flap and this will keep it from curling. Or, use steam on your iron to iron the edges of the flap in place. 

What Is A Stretch Stitch?

A stretch stitch is the most appropriate stitch to use on a stretch fabric. The most commonly used stretch stitch is the zigzag stitch. The stitches of a zigzag stitch stretch along with the fabric as it stretches when sewing. This ensures that the fabric maintains its stability and does not tear from the stitches. 

Further, the zigzag stitch easily goes through the stretch fabric. And, since it stretches as the grain of the fabric it allows the fabric to breathe easily. Other stitches used with stretch fabrics include lightning stitch and stretch stitch. 

The straight stitch which is an easy to use stitch and is used with lots of woven fabric can also be used. However, it is not the most preferred. It also easily stretches with the fabric, hence why it is an option when working with stretch fabrics. It is light on the fabrics and doesn’t damage them. 

Stretch fabric, such as jersey fabric is delicate. Thus it needs you to know how to work with it. You need to understand the care it needs to prevent curling. You need to use the best tool to cut it and have a pattern that is best used for a stretch fabric. Since it is a delicate fabric, use stitches that blend in well with it, rather than bunch it up or damage it.

Jessica

Jessica

I'm Jessica Flores, a professional fashion designer and an expert seamstress. Crafting has always been a deep-seated passion of mine, one that has flourished and evolved over the years. I've dedicated considerable time to both studying and practicing in the realm of fashion and sewing, amassing a wealth of experience and skills. It brings me great joy to share these insights and experiences with you all, hoping to inspire and foster a similar passion for the art of sewing.

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