The feel of Minky fabrics is really great. It is as soft as a fleece, thus giving the warmth which is very much required on those cool days. It is a perfect Fabric in which one can snuggle around cozily. However, when it comes to the stitching part using this fabric then it becomes quite a task to handle such a soft fabric material. However, there are certain ways of making sewing look simple using Minky fabrics. First, let’s understand the type of fabric Mink.

Minky is a soft and luxurious looking fabric. It resembles very much to the real mink when touched. Minky fabric is as soft as cashmere fabrics are hence they are mostly used for creating blankets for babies. Apart from baby blankets, Minky fabric is also used for preparing quilt, cozy robes, toys for babies and apparel/accessories. There are various patterns, color, and textures one can choose for Minky. Minky is available with dot patterns, stripes or with embossed prints on it.

Below are certain tips which one can use while working with Minky:

• When you purchase Minky fabric, you will notice that it sheds a lot hence to avoid the hassle and eliminate the fluff as much as possible it is best to shake off the fabric in the initial period itself. If it is not shaken properly the fluff of the fabric would get stuck while sewing which is even more irritating work. However, do not shake it just anywhere else you will have a great deal of cleaning task. You can carry the fabric outside and shake it off or hold the minky over a trash bin and shake off. Do as much as you can so that any extra fluff on the fabric also is removed. Once done, just run your hand over the fabric to check for any excess fluff being stuck anywhere. This may seem like a task initially but you would not regret carrying out this task later since it would make the sewing process much easier without creating any hassles.
• Using regular scissors for cutting minky fabric is a big No since it does not cut properly and would prove too tiresome. Instead one can go in for that rotary cutter. It can be made part of the sewing tool. Cutting minky fabric with rotary cutters becomes a very easier work and also they make for a clean line. Ensure that you keep in the mind the nap before cutting.
• Minky fabrics are already very soft and thick hence if you have to take another fabric to go along with Minky then it is better to go for less thick fabric since it would make the sewing experience a lot easier. There is no need to prewash minky fabrics since they do not shrink but if you are using another fabric along with minky then it is better to wash those fabrics first before the stitching process.
• Minky fabrics are a bit thicker than the cotton fabric. Such thicker fabrics can in some cases be more abrasive on the thread and the needle during the stitching stage hence you can go in for using a large needle which would protect the thread and also ensure there are fewer instances of thread shredding and breakage happening during the sewing process. Also, it is best to use pins while dealing with a Minky fabric. You can use as many pins as you want even though it may seem like a task but it is usually recommended especially while dealing with such a soft fabric like Minky. You can pin one after the other but pin it in such a way that there is enough of room left for sewing without hurting the pins. However, once you are done stitching the fabric ensure to remove all the pins attached to it. You can either use colored head pins or plain dressmaker’s pins.
• Leave out some extra edge of minky while stitching. It should be beyond the other fabric. This would make the sewing process a bit easier. Do not go about leaving several inches of edge, just a half inch of space is more than enough. Ensure not to stretch the fabric while sewing it, however, there may be a certain possibility of slight pulling around. You can use walking foot which would maintain even kind of pressure and also avoid the stretching of the fabric. Using the walking foot also eliminates the issue of fabric slipping while stitching. One of the advice which is usually given for the stretching of the Minky fabric is to have this fabric at the bottom layer. There have been cases when using Minky and another fabric wherein the other fabric was at the bottom layer. The bottom layer fabric got pulled away from the Minky thus messing up the entire work. Hence sewing with the minky at the bottom makes the work lot easier.
• Go slow while stitching minky. You have all the time on the earth to finish that stitching project but if you tend to go fast then there can be some of the other mistakes and the fabric would not come out the way you have imagined it to be. Especially where Minky is concerned it is better to go slow with the stitching based on the fabric material it is.
• Minky along with iron is not a good combination. The high amount of heat coming from the iron can spoil the nap. Also, a good point about Minky is that it doesn’t need ironing. However, if you still feel the urge for ironing it then you can place it face down on another cloth and use iron on a very low heat. However, if you are using any other fabric along with Minky then ensure that you iron it first before it gets attached to Minky.
• It is very important to clean the sewing machine well enough once you are done with the stitching work. Even if you had taken care initially to get that fluff away there can be chances that some of it must be strewn around and it can likely get into your machine at some point in time while stitching. Hence do a thorough cleaning work of the sewing machine to avoid any jamming.

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