How to Sew With Minky Fabric
Minky fabric, a polyester microfiber, is an excellent choice for plush baby blankets, warm, soft hats, cuddly stuffed animals and any other project that calls for plush fabric. You'll find Minky is easy to sew, but it does handle differently from other fabrics. In order to create Minky items that look like professionally sewn pieces, you must adjust your sewing approach to accommodate the fabric's unique qualities. These adjustments are easy to make.
Things You'll Need
- Minky fabric
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Stretch needle
- Polyester sewing thread
Instructions
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1
Cut all Minky pattern pieces in the same direction; this will ensure the fabric nap--the blanket of plush fibers that stick up from the fabric--will face in the same direction.
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2
Pin cut pieces of Minky fabric every 3 to 5 inches. You only need to place pins closer together if the seams you want to sew are curved.
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3
Replace your standard sewing machine needle with a size 90/14 stretch needle.
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4
Thread your sewing machine with all-purpose sewing thread, preferably made from 100-percent polyester.
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5
Test your stitches on a piece of scrap Minky fabric. Sewing a few inches of test stitches will allow you to determine whether you need to change your sewing machine tension or the length of your stitches.
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6
Topstitch in the same direction as the nap faces to avoid forcing the nap fibers to lay in the wrong direction.
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7
Avoid fusible interfacing. If you're sewing a Minky garment and a particular piece needs extra reinforcement, interface with an extra piece of Minky fabric.
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Tips & Warnings
This fabric is also available as "Minkee" by its original manufacturer, Benartex. "Minky" from Kondi Knitting is more widely available.
