Minky fabric – it’s so cute and so soft! Maybe it’s just me, but if I’m at the fabric store looking for fabric for my next baby quilt, it’s almost impossible to not pick up some minky fabric. The first time I sat down at my sewing machine to make a minky quilt, I regretted my decision immediately! It can be so hard to sew on, it is stretchy and hard to sew on. In order to help you not have the same problems I did at first, here are some tips I have learned. It will make sewing on minky a little less stressful
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Use a Walking Foot
Since this fabric is so stretchy and silky, it moves a lot and it can be very hard to sew in a straight line. Using a walking foot can be a game changer! A walking foot helps move the top fabric so both the top and the bottom fabric are being moved through your sewing machine at the same time. Like this walking foot.
Don’t stretch your fabric
When I learned how to sew, I was taught to hold my fabric tight, and help pull it through the machine. This works great to help cottons and non stretchable fabric to not get bunched, but it doesn’t work with minky. Just lightly hold your minky without pulling. Focus on controlling your fabric to make sure your minky doesn’t stretch or bunch.
Use Lots of pins
This is a no brainer. Lots of pins = fabric stays in place better
Leave excess Minky on the sides
Leaving extra on the side gives you more room for error, just cut any excess off after you’re done sewing. I’ve also found this helps me keep some of the fuzzy pieces that come off your fabric out of my sewing machine.
Lengthen your stitches
Set your sewing machine to stitch slightly longer stitches, this allows you to see what you are doing easier. It can also be easier to unpick if you need to. You may also want to lower your pressure on your pressor foot, especially if you aren’t using a walking foot. Lowering the pressure keeps your Minky from getting stretched.
Now it’s time to go out and make your next Minky project!
