Quilting with knit fabrics

by Cathy
(Florida)

I'm quilting together squares of knit fabric for a relative. (These were pajamas of a loved one that has passed away).

Due to the stretch of the fabric, I decided to offset the 4 1/2 in. squares.

I've almost finished the rows and I'm concerned about the uneveness of putting on a border and/or binding.

Any suggestions on how to make the quilt more stable so the sides will be more even and not come out crooked, etc..?

And how would you recommend I finish. Border or binding and border?

Reply

Hi Cathy!

You've taken on quite the task...quilting with knit fabrics. And you're right, the stretch does need to be dealt with.

I have never quilted with knits, but I have sewn with them quite a bit in garment construction. My tips will be based on that experience.

First, if you have a serger, I'd be using the serger to put the rows together. If you use a 4-thread overlock stitch it will include an extra line of straight stitching in the seam which, in turn, adds more stability to it. The automatic overcasting of the seam allowance will help squish it down, making for a flatter quilt.

If you don't have a serger, I'd be using my walking foot to piece the blocks and rows together. It will help feed the fabrics evenly through your sewing machine.

Check your sewing machine's instruction manual. There may be some specific suggestions about reducing the presser foot pressure to help minimize stretching.

Using a fusible interfacing...

Since you're already in the middle of putting the blocks together, it's too late to stabilize each with a woven, fusible, tricot interfacing--I find mine at Joann's.

This interfacing is quite lightweight and doesn't change the hand of the fabric. I frequently use it, instead of traditional embroidery stabilizers, when stitching machine embroidered quilt blocks...so I know that doesn't cause any problems during the quilting process.

If and when you do the fusing, remember to use a lower iron temperature and a press cloth to avoid making permanent 'press marks' in the knit fabrics.

Now you might consider cutting strips of this interfacting, say 1-1/2" to 2" wide, and then fusing those strips to the perimeter of your quilt to stabilize them. If the top is 'out of square', then before doing the fusing...run a line of basting in those areas that need to be pulled in. Pull on the basting threads to ease in the fullness...distribute it as evenly as possible along the edge AND THEN fuse the strips to the side.

Before doing any of this, do practice on scraps FIRST to make sure you're comfortable with the technique and like the results. Removing fusible interfacing would be next to impossible if you don't like it.

Finishing the quilt

I'd definitely use a binding made from regular quilt fabric. That will help to stabilize the edge of the finished quilt so that it doesn't get stretched during use.

Whether or not to include a border...a lot of that depends whether the quilt is big enough without it. If I chose to add a border, it too, would be made from regular quilting fabric for the stability it would add.

Once the quilt is quilted, if the edges are again starting to ripple or wave a bit, go back in with some hand basting. That way you can distribute the extra fabric evenly across a whole side. Then add your binding with a walking foot.

Cathy, I hope these ideas help a bit. Your relative is very lucky to have someone as generous as you to create this unique memento. Good luck to you!

Readers, if you've had experience quilting with knit fabrics, do share how you've tamed the stretch. Thank you.

Piecefully,

Julie Baird
Editor

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