smokeythecat

I'm going to cut out the pieces for a sweatshirt soon and want to use my vintage machine if possible. So, if you sew knit fabrics on a straight stitch only machine, how do you do it? Messing with tension, stretching while sewing, using a zigzagger, etc. I sewed a sweatshirt in home ec in junior high and we used a straight stitch for all the seams, but it ended up coming apart in a couple places.

bearisgray

When I took classes at Stretch and Sew - the method was:

Use a longer stitch - stretch the fabric as one sews it - and then when the fabric is relaxed, there is some "stretch" in it.

Practice on some scraps. I think we used about 6-8 stitches to the inch when sewing sweatshirt fabric.

For added durability, sew a second seam about 1/16 inch away from the first seam - stretching the fabric again while sewing.

Farmhousesewer

I would add interfacing to remove the stretch.

quiltedsunshine

Also, use polyester thread, as it stretches and cotton thread doesn't.

busy fingers

Make sure that you use a ball point needle.

mindless

This is how I learned to do it too. Also, you can now find stretchy knit serger thread. It works great for kids knit wear, and you can use it on your straight stitch machine. And, as Karen mentioned, a ball point or knit needle is necessary.

Wanabee Quiltin

I sewed with knits for years using the straight stitch on vintage machines but you have to use the correct needle. The needle is vitally important, it’s made for knits.

MaggieLou

You can also use a very tiny zigzag stitch for knits.

elnan

She wants to use a straight stitch only machine.

Farmhousesewer

When most straight stitch machines came out, there was no such thing as a stretch needle!