Fun Facts Friday!! Piecing with Knits.

What do you think of when you hear the word knits? Does it bring to mind knitting needles or sweatshirts? For me, knits are a type of fabric. Can you use Knits in quilts? Yes, you can use knit fabrics in quilts, but they require some extra care and consideration due to their stretchy nature.

But what exactly are knits? Think of a sweatshirt, soft flexible t-shirt or a fleece top. They are usually quite stretchy but also super cozy. They can be made from natural fibers such as cotton, wool and bamboo, or from synthetic fibers like poly, nylon and acrylic or blends of the two. Knit fabric is made from interlocking loops of yarn, giving it a stretchy and flexible structure. The type of yarn used can vary, and this influences the fabric's texture, weight, and overall feel. The structure of knit fabric is quite different from woven fabric, as it's made with a continuous thread that loops, rather than interlacing threads at right angles. This looped construction gives knit fabric its inherent stretch, which is its main characteristic.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using knit fabrics in quilts:

Pros:

1. Softness and Comfort: Knit fabrics, especially those made from cotton or blends, tend to be soft and cozy, making them great for quilts designed for warmth and comfort.
2. Stretchiness: The stretch in knit fabrics can add flexibility and give to a quilt, which might be desirable for certain types of quilts, such as those intended for a more relaxed or slouchy look.
3. Texture Variety: Knits offer a different texture compared to quilting cotton, which can create a unique and interesting tactile quality in your quilt.
4. Backing: Knits are routinely used for backing for baby quilts or quilts that are meant for cuddling. Fireside, Minky or Fleece are common knit fabrics used for this purpose.

Cons:

1. Stretch and Distortion: Knit fabrics can stretch out of shape during cutting, piecing, or sewing, leading to distorted quilt blocks or uneven seams. This can be tricky to manage if you’re used to working with non-stretchy wovens.
2. Difficult to Work With: Knits are more difficult to handle than woven fabrics because of their stretch. They may require special techniques or stabilizers to prevent stretching or puckering when sewing.
3. Less Structured: Knit fabrics lack the crisp structure of woven fabrics like cotton, linen, or hemp, which can result in a less rigid quilt. If you're aiming for a traditional, structured quilt, this may not be ideal.
4. Potential Shrinking: Knits tend to shrink more than wovens, so they must be pre-washed and carefully dried before cutting and sewing to avoid shrinking in the final quilt.
5. Lots of Lint: When cutting knit fabric, there is a lot of lint that is produced. Make sure to collect it before cutting another fabric as it will transfer.

Tips for Using Knits in Quilts:

• Use Stabilizers: Consider using fusible interfacing or a stabilizer on the back of knit fabric pieces to prevent excessive stretching. This is especially important if making a T-shirt quilt that is mixing the types of fabrics used. T-shirts are usually made from a stretchy type of knit and when sewn together with 100% cotton, can pucker and wrinkle. Make sure to use a light interfacing on the knit fabric to avoid any issues.
• Pre-wash: Always pre-wash knit fabrics to handle shrinkage and prevent color bleeding.
• Sew with Care: Use a walking foot or a stretch needle to better handle the fabric and reduce pulling or stretching as you sew.

If you enjoy adding texture and dimensionality to your quilts, knit fabrics could be a fun fabric to experiment with!

Have you ever worked with knit fabrics before, or is this something new you'd like to try?

Happy Sewing

Jody