Cutting Slippery Fabrics

SEW - what are you working on?

As you can see by the pile here, I have been busy weeding through a stack of mending. Now that it is finished, let's move on to some fun things.

And now about that slippery fabric . . . 

 
Cutting slippery fabrics or any fabrics with a nap can be a challenge for most. Not only does the fabric change shape it seems to take on a life of its own! 

It starts creeping toward the table edge, it begins to grow taking on a whole new shape, and it even tries to creep silently out of the room! 

Seriously there must be a better way!

There is! 

If you follow along and try what this young 4-H gal learned a few weeks ago, you will be cutting miles of silk fabric strips. You will find that linings hold true to their shape, and bias edges do NOT grow as you cut and nap fabrics will not creep out of the room!

The trick to cutting any slippery fabric or any fabric with a nap is to pin the selvedge edge of the fabric to the selvedge edge of the paper. 

What type of paper? Any newsprint paper (let 'dry' one week), printed or roll end newsprint paper, Kraft paper, paper bags, etc.


Next pin the pattern pieces to the fabric/paper. 

If the fabric has a nap you have a choice before pinning the fabric selvedge to the paper selvedge. When cutting fabric folded onto itself, lay a piece of paper in between the fabric layers or cut the fabric single layer. Laying a piece of fabric between the fabric layers prevents the fabric from creeping under the table.

Now you are ready to cut your fabric.

Get out your BEST fabric cutting scissors and CUT through all layers. 

Yes, I did say BEST scissors. 

Hopefully you are not cutting with an old pair of scissors that have not been sharpened in years or a multipurpose craft pair of scissors. 

Please - you owe it to yourself to get the BEST pair of scissors on the market. I have had the same pair of scissors for over 30 years and they still cut just as clean as the day I bought them! I now own at least a dozen of the same brand, all in different sizes. 

There is one pair that is PERFECT for cutting any slippery fabrics or fabrics with a nap - the KAI 10" Serrated Edge Shears. I have cut miles of silk bias trim using these scissors without any hand/wrist/elbow fatigue. And for those that know me, cutting can be a struggle with my wrist & elbow problems. These are truly my favorite pair of scissors! I only wish they were as long as my favorite pair of professional KAI 12" scissors. 

SEW - start cutting right through the paper and fabric. Yes, cut through all layers. 

Go ahead, what are you waiting for? 

Pardon me? 

I can hear you mumbling or perhaps thinking - "NOT with my fabric scissors! The paper will dull my scissors!"

Sigh, while the paper might dull the scissors a little, the quality of the scissors makes a huge difference and your pattern will not grow in size or shape when the fabric is pinned to paper. 

This is the only way fabric is cut in pattern making workrooms and all the designers' workrooms. In fact, if someone were to cut fabric without using paper in the industry, they do not keep their job long.

As you can see here, this young designer loves to get on 'top' of her work as she cuts. Remind you of anyone you know?

SEW - what are you waiting for? Treat yourself today and get yourself a pair of serrated scissors for cutting slippery fabrics and fabrics with nap. You will be SEW glad you did!

SEW tell me, what are you working on?