How to Trim Fabrics? Sewing Preparation For Beginners

Trimming the materials properly is crucial when sewing and making your own fabric items. Especially if you want to ensure that the end result is correctly stitched. After all, all you need is a good pattern and some sharp scissors to ostensibly cut the cloth. However, it turns out that you may make a lot of mistakes without realizing it. That is why we have prepared this instruction on how to cut cloth without issues for you.

Why Trim Fabrics at All?

One of the most crucial steps in preparing any cloth product for sewing is shortening the fabric. Whether it is clothing, kitchen accessories, or even bedding, which is so simple for DIY sewing (see our step-by-step guide). You can run into a variety of issues if you do not prepare the textile properly. We want to prevent that, right?

When purchasing fabric in a store, we frequently choose to get a bigger quantity of the material. This strategy is completely acceptable since it allows us to safeguard ourselves against potential errors and losses. Buying more fabric and upcycling the remnants is usually preferable to buying too little and then regretting it.

It is always a good idea to have extra fabric on hand while trimming, just in case something goes wrong. Advanced tailors, on the other hand, can only buy as much cloth as they require. However, keep in mind the possibility of cuts and tabs. It makes no difference if it is a pair of trousers, a kitchen towel, or even a duvet or cushions cover. Having the proper measurements and choosing the right material are equally important.

Do Not Want to Trim Fabrics Yourself? Trust Professionals!

If you have a large portion of material that has to be trimmed and do not want to take on the task yourself, you may hire a professional. At H&I Tekstile, you can find a qualified and well-equipped cutting room. To create the best result for the customer, our staff uses carefully selected equipment, machinery, and cutting processes.

You may rest assured that your fabrics will be cut properly and carefully if you choose H&I Tekstile’s services. We support your ideas and projects, and it will be an honor to be a part of them. Choose the finest quality of our company’s services and say goodbye to time-consuming fabric shortening.

If you want to give it a shot, we will teach you what to look out for while trimming the material.

How to Trim Fabrics: Step by Step

While it may appear to be child’s play, trimming materials does not always go as planned. From the start, it is crucial to master the proper technique for cutting the material. You will save time and money as a consequence of this, and you will have well-prepared materials for sewing. Learn how to trim the textiles step by step in the comfort of your own home. By the way, we will show you how to get the perfect shape you will need to finish your assignment.

Step 1. Even the Edges

At the very beginning, cut off the selvage. These are the edges of the fabric that may fray as a result of the cloth’s preparation at the manufacturer’s. Not all margins of a bale are absolutely smooth and even. Fabric scissors, which may be used to trim frayed edges, come in helpful in this situation.

Step 2: Unfold the Fabric

It is important to align your material, which you may do by laying it out on a flat surface. When you buy fabric in a bale, it will be curled, which might make the sewing procedure more difficult. It is worth giving the cloth a “rest,” unfolding it so that it assumes its appropriate shape.

Step 3: Pull a Thread

Pull your fabric’s thread ~2 cm (~1 inch) from the edge and thread it all the way down the side. Repeat the process on each side to create four scattered lines around your cloth. This method works well with cotton and linen, but wool and stretchy materials will not work.

Step 4: Take a Crayon

Mark a rectangle space around the edge of your cloth with a crayon or tailor’s soap and a ruler. This method works well with wool and stretchable textiles as an alternative to thread pulling. We recommend this method when working with Jersey materials.

Step 5: Cut Around

You must now cut the material along the designated line, regardless of the technique used (see steps 3 and 4). Tailor’s scissors or a tailor’s wheel can be used for this.

Step 6: Cut the Pattern on Paper

Remember not to cut the pattern out of the paper with tailor’s scissors, as they may be damaged. It is preferable to use office scissors.

Step 7: Attach and Sketch Around Your Pattern

With the assistance of pins, secure the pattern cut from paper to the cloth. Then, it is time to trace the form cut out on the fabric with a crayon or tailor’s soap.

Step 8: Take Your Scissors and Get to Work!

Returning to the tailor’s scissors, you should now cut off the shape sketched on the fabric using them. Cut evenly along the line to produce a precisely trimmed cloth that becomes ready for sewing. Cutting the cloth according to the design helps you prepare for the next step in the process, i.e. sewing.

How to Trim Fabrics: a Few Useful Tips

Fabric shortening is a simple and enjoyable process. However, there are a few essential points to keep in mind that will make dealing with the material much easier:

1. 1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for washing the fabric, which you may find in a fabric store.
   2. Buy some extra material than you actually require. In case anything goes wrong.
   3. If the cloth is wrinkled, iron it neatly to make it simpler to trim later. Any wrinkles will result in unevenness and have a detrimental impact on the final product.
   4. Use high-quality equipment – sharp scissors should be used instead of dull scissors to avoid damaging the material during cutting.
   5. Use a tailor’s wheel to cut eco-leather, wool, jersey, and other thick or flexible fabrics.

We hope that our short guide can assist you in preparing to trim and cut the fabric on your own. If you know how to trim materials, perhaps it is time to learn how to make beddings and covers?