Nancy Zieman’s Top Ten Knit Sewing Tips!

Nancy Zieman’s Top Ten Knit Sewing Tips!

Wherever you’re going, knit garments will take you there in comfort and style! Sew one or more knit garment pieces – that are perfect for layering. Sewing knits is easy and enjoyable with Nancy Zieman’s Top Ten Knit Sewing Tips! Join Deanna Springer for her Live In-Person “What’s Not to Love About Sewing Knits” Seminar this week at our SEW•QUILT•CREATE Weekend Event!

Deanna Springer will be presenting her “What’s Not to Love About Sewing Knits” One-Hour Seminar during our SEW•QUILT•CREATE Weekend Event this Thr. and Fri., May 14 & 15, 2026, 8:30-9:30am! Register Today at ShopNZP.com!

Nancy Zieman’s Top 10 Knit Sewing Tips!

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #1: 

Choose a pattern suitable for knit fabrics, with few seams – letting the drape of the fabric be the star. Choose a pattern such as our Knit Wardrobe Pattern M7331 by Team NZP Available at Nancy Zieman Productions ShopNZP.com for The McCall Pattern Company.

Sew a loose-fitting, unlined knit jacket with self-lined/self-fabric front. Or sew a pullover top with stitched hem – with just three easy pattern pieces. Stitch a stylish skirt with elasticized upper edge self-lined yoke band with 1″ Knit Elastic . Or make tapered cuffed pants for comfort – all day long!

Ponte Knits with 5% Spandex available at Nancy Zieman Productions at ShopNZP.com

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #2:

Select quality knit fabrics with at least 25% crosswise stretch and 5% spandex – for durability and sag-free comfort while wearing. Our Ponte Knit Fabrics are the ideal fabrics for sewing dresses, tunics, pants, skirts, and jackets! 

 Refer to pattern envelope back – for sizing and fabric yardage.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #3:

Use the guide sheet, included with the pattern to layout pattern tissue pieces. With a pencil and  yard stick, extend the grainline the entire length of the patter piece. Pin pattern pieces to fabric, or use pattern weights, heavy washers, or can goods to hold pattern tissue pieces in place.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #4:
Before cutting, double-check all pattern pieces are in place. Instead of using a scissors, use a 28mm or 45mm Rotary Cutter, Mat and Ruler. A 28mm Rotary Cutter easily cuts curves – such as sleeve caps and armscyes. Before removing the pattern tissue pieces, transfer markings to wrong side of fabric with Chacoliner or Marking Pen. Because knit fabrics look similar on the right and wrong side, place a piece of painters tape on the fabric wrong side – on each of the cut pattern pieces.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #5:

Stabilize garment back: Cut Multiple 1/2″ or 3/4″ bias strips of Pellon Easy-Knit Interfacing . Prior to stitching, fuse interfacing strips to the wrong side of garment back – at top neckline and along shoulders and neckline.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #6:

Select a sewing machine needle designed for sewing knits – such as Schmetz Chrome Jersey/Ball Point Sewing Machine Needles.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #7:

Choose a seam option: Use a sewing machine or serger for knit garment construction.

• Serger: Choose a 4-thread overlock stitch. Now’s the time to use that serger!

• Sewing Machine: Set sewing machine for a wobble-stitch: Choose a slight zigzag (2.0-2.5 length and .5 width). On the garment outside, this stitch will give the appearance of a straight stitch, while providing a slight amount of stretch to the seam.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #8:

Include a length of clear elastic within the stitching of the shoulder seams, to provide extra seam stability. On garment front shoulder seam, serge or wobble-stitch the seam, stitching over the clear elastic. The shoulder seams will stretch when needed without stretching out of shape or popping stitches. This tip works on shoulder seams of any length.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #9:

Press seams flat, then press open – or to one side. Pressing the stitches flat makes it much easier to press the seams open, or to one side. To Prevent seam edges from making an imprint on the fabric right side, press seams over a Seam Stick.

Nancy Zieman Knit Sewing Tip #10:

• Many knit garment sewing patterns don’t have facings to finish the edges – and one fabric layer is all that’s used. Finish single-layer garment edges with a double fold or single fold, and topstitch!

• Fold and press under a double 1/4-inch and straight stitch, wobble stitch or single needle coverstitch. For a jacket, stitch one center-front edge (center-front jacket seam in this example) and then stitch the hemline. Before stitching the hemline’s double fold, place a scrap of fabric under the presser foot, stitch from this “anchor cloth” scrap onto the garment fabric, then onto a second anchor cloth. The anchors allow you to easily sew thicker areas at the corner – with even stitches. Clip off the anchor cloth when finished.

The McCall Pattern Company and Team Nancy Zieman are delighted to bring you The Nancy Zieman Productions TM Collection of sewing patterns designed for those of us who love to sew and have limited sewing time.

We’re designing patterns to be sewn with Nancy Zieman’s innovative sewing techniques. Within each of our McCall’s patterns, we give you construction tips and specific hints how sewing notions can be used to save time. You’ll find that in a matter of hours you can sew fashion garments and make your daily style pop.

We hope you’ll give sewing knits a try with Nancy Zieman’s Top 10 Knit Sewing Tips! Visit shopnzp.com for innovative knit sewing fabrics, notions, and McCall Patterns designed by Nancy Zieman Productions!

• Knit Wardrobe Pattern M7331 by Nancy Zieman for The McCall Pattern Company
• Ponte Knit Fabrics
• Schmetz Chrome Jersey/Ball Point Sewing Machine Needles
  
• Schmetz Stretch Double Needle for hemming
• 1″ Knit Elastic
  
• 3/8″ Clear Elastic
• Pellon Easy-Knit Interfacing
• Seam Stick

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