Cut Slippery Fabric (4450 Views)

This How To shows you how to properly, easily, flawlessly cut those difficult light and slippery fabrics, like chiffons, linings, and light silks.

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Step 1 of 6

Iron your fabric.
Step 2 of 6

The idea is to sandwich the slippery fabric between two layers to keep it from shifting around during cutting. Craft paper, dot paper, and muslin are all viable options. Lay out the bottom of layer of your chosen sandwich medium. For this how-to, we are using dot paper.
Step 3 of 6

Lay the slippery fabric atop bottom layer.
Step 4 of 6

Lay out the next layer. If your pattern piece is already cut out, you'll want another layer of dot paper/tissue/muslin and THEN the pattern piece. If your pattern piece isn't cut, the pattern piece can act as the top layer.
Step 5 of 6

Thoroughly and carefully pin through all layers.
Step 6 of 6

Carefully cut through all layers.

Now that you have your perfectly cut fabric, remember to choose a new needle of the proper size, adjust your machine's tension before you start sewing. Also, leave the pieces pinned between the paper until you are ready to sew, keeping them neat and in order.

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Materials

dot, craft or tissue paper, or muslin for sandwiching; slippery fabric (such as silk and/or lining material, chiffon); pattern pieces, scissors, pins

COMMENTS (10)

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karencilla Ï Posted 25 April 2008 at 7:09 PM
working in my next project!

thanks for this how to... those slippery fabrics are beautiful but sometimes they produce me a headache!
peaudane Ï Posted 27 April 2008 at 1:30 AM

Thanks for this tutorial! I may build up the courage to try sewing silk if you add one on sewing slippery fabrics:) One question about the cutting: I thought you weren't supposed to cut paper with your fabric shears?
Memorii Ï Posted 28 April 2008 at 7:58 PM

Thank you so much for this how to! I've already been working with lining fabric and had a really hard time cutting them. Now, thanks to you "How to", I can't wait to give it another try!
Bernadette Ï Posted 29 April 2008 at 7:40 AM

Great idea to layer with paper for more control! A rotary cutter also helps a lot. I keep a separate one just for such “mixed” uses so the blade doesn’t dull too quickly on my “strictly fabric” one. (I also keep a THIRD rotary cutter – with a used blade – just for paper crafting projects.) Be sure to label your cutters if you do this!
Loopy Ï Posted 30 April 2008 at 6:25 AM

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been fighting with this for my whole life!! I promise not to be scared of slippery fabrics anymore!
Darkmatilda Ï Posted 1 May 2008 at 5:43 AM

Muchas Gracias!! Años luchando con este tema sin saber como hacerlo. Thank you, its been years strugglieng with this
sweetlilysews Ï Posted 1 May 2008 at 10:30 PM

you are so thoughtful, the world needs more people like you! thank you, :)
lorrwill Ï Posted 4 May 2008 at 1:00 PM

Thank you very much for this. It is very clear and well written. I have some slinky rayon that I will tackle using this method.
nhlulu Ï Posted 6 May 2008 at 4:20 PM

Nice of you to include this piece! Many people struggle with this. My mother used to hate sheer fabrics for this very reason.

Did you know that sewing slippery fabrics is much easier if you sandwich it between layers of tissue paper? You can see through it to sew, and it tears away cleanly leaving just a lovely neat seam in its wake.
AgelessStyles Ï Posted 7 May 2008 at 11:14 AM

I agree with Lorrwill, you made a easy read to follow. I'll try this. I was taught to put waxpaper between layers, press cool-med. iron on and when you are finished with th entire subject press again with cool-med heat. This last press you have a linen towel to press over your finished piece, the towel will absort the wax. I also do this when sewing right sides together. I put wax paper under the fabric, on the foots teeth of the sewing machine. The item will not slide. I also have waxpaper again between the fabric pieces. I also know of a person who sprays fabric adhessive but that means she must have her item cleaned at the Laundry. Thats too costly for me. But, I like the sound of your way.