Burda Style For people who sew

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

Technique Materials

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

• Intro
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

• Add to my toolkit
• Print Page
• Get Instructions (PDF, 2.8 MB)

18 Comments

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  Nov 1, 2009, 07.13 AMby 祝 蕾冰

  It ’s said that Burda providing free clothing drawings downlaod for its members,how should I do?
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  Jul 15, 2009, 04.29 AMby JULIA7

  I find that spray starch works well too…..I spray a test patch of the slippery fabric about 5 cm square near the edge, iron it dry, and wash out the starch….just in case the spray on starch alters the look of the fabric , its never happened though in about 10 years.I then ball up the fabric and spray it generously all over, allow to dry slightly and iron folded double, then lay the patterns on it and cut as usual.The starched fabric is much easier to sew-especially hems. Finally iron and then rinse out the starch.
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  Jun 29, 2009, 02.01 PMby flginnyfl

  I will definitely try cutting between papers! Thank you, Lorrwill! I will also try waxpaper between layers, AgelessStyles! I can see how that could help. However, for LESS DIFFICULT fabrics, let me suggest a simpler method. Try putting right sides together and pressing before sewing. Use steam if you have it. The fabrics pieces will stay put as you sew the seams and hardly any pins will be necessary.
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  Jun 23, 2009, 09.58 AMby ParaNoire

  I also hear my fabric scissors shriek in panic… is this really okay? I do have some cheap 1,99€ IKEA fabric scissors that i could use for that evil paper-fabric-paper-monster, though :D Wouldn’t be tragic if they were damaged in the process…
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  May 28, 2009, 10.31 PMby ginifur

  I wish I had seen this before I cut all that chiffon for my prom dress! I ended up taping it super tightly to the floor, and enlisting the help of my sister to keep it taut for me.
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  Apr 25, 2009, 03.46 AMby Aleah

  I have a problem with this… we are supposed to cut through all the layers, but with which kind of scissor? My normal paper scissor does not cut the fabric, and my fabric scissor will be ruined if I use it to cut the paper! What to do?
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  Jul 1, 2008, 12.31 AMby kellimaier

  This is going to change my sewing life.
  I have some beautiful slippery fabrics…and have been afraid to cut them. Now I know how. My Mom has struggled with this for years and she’s going to love it too. Thank you!
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  Jun 16, 2008, 12.59 AMby nicola82

  Hottest Tip Ever! Am working with silk satin as we speak and this advice saved me hours of heartache. I used a roll of architectural/ drafting/tracing paper (it comes in A0 size), with a decent pair of scissors-cutting out my dress was a piece o cake.
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  May 7, 2008, 11.14 AMby AgelessStyles

  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.
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  May 6, 2008, 04.20 PMby nhlulu

  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.
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  May 4, 2008, 01.00 PMby lorrwill

  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.
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  May 1, 2008, 10.30 PMby sweetlilysews

  you are so thoughtful, the world needs more people like you! thank you, :)
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  May 1, 2008, 05.43 AMby Darkmatilda

  Muchas Gracias!!
  Años luchando con este tema sin saber como hacerlo.
  Thank you, its been years strugglieng with this
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  Apr 30, 2008, 06.25 AMby admin

  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!
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  Apr 29, 2008, 07.40 AMby admin

  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!
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  Apr 28, 2008, 07.58 PMby admin

  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!
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  Apr 27, 2008, 01.30 AMby peaudane

  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?
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  Apr 25, 2008, 07.09 PMby karencilla

  thanks for this how to… those slippery fabrics are beautiful but sometimes they produce me a headache!