How to Sew Minky Fabric

I have sewn with minky fabric for years. The first time that I attempted to sew it was an absolute disaster. I wanted to rip it into pieces and run screaming from the sewing machine. Needless to say, I did not finish that project. The next time I tried sewing with minky, I made a baby blanket for my son. This time I came prepared. I cut a few sample squares and practiced stitching it together. The result was sew much better (pun intended)! I had to self teach myself these techniques, but you don’t have to do that. Don’t stop using these beautiful fabrics. In this tutorial, I will show you all the tips and tricks that I have learned. You will learn how to sew minky fabric with ease! This post contains affiliate links.

What is Minky fabric?

Before we start, we should talk about what the heck is minky fabric and why should I use it? It is a fleece material that is made from 100% man made products usually polyester. Minky is lighter weight than a true fleece and is referred to as “baby soft”. Obviously this is why minky is great for many baby items. I have used minky fabric for crib bumper pads lining, baby blankets, car seats, changing pad covers, and sleeping bags. Basically, all things baby.

Another thing to consider is price. High quality minky fabric will cost $12 – $20/yard or more. If you buy it cheaper, the pile doesn’t stay soft and fully. The more expensive product is better.

Characteristics of Minky fabric

• 100% polyester, lightweight fleece
• very stretchy in all directions
• has a “baby soft” quality
• do not buy bargain fabric unless a high quality one is on sale
• doesn’t shrink when washed and dried
• never use an iron directly on the fabric – it will melt
• doesn’t ravel

How to Cut Minky Fabric

Before you start cutting, it is important to remember that minky fabric has a nape and all pattern pieces should be cut in the same direction on the fabric. This is of course unless you want to emphasis the nape and use it as a design element. Otherwise, cut all the pattern pieces in the same direction on the fabric.

I always use a rotary cutter when cutting minky even if it is not a straight line. The reason I use a cutter instead of scissors is because minky is stretchy and is easily distorted when cutting (and sewing). Minky fabric also makes a huge mess. The cut fibers go everywhere! Imagine shaving a cat or dog. It would probably be the same amount of mess.

To minimize the mess and get an even cut:

• use a rotary cutter
• work on a surface that can easily be wiped or vacuumed
• remove all other fabric from the work surface (the fleece fibers will stick to the other fabrics)
• don’t work over carpeted area
• don’t pull the fabric too much

5 Tips for How to Sew Minky Fabric

Sewing minky can be sew rewarding when done properly :). Here are 5 tips for sewing minky. If you just try to sew it like other fabric, this will be the result: The 2 fabric pieces on the left I stitched together using a standard sewing method. The one on the right, I used the techniques below. The difference is night and day!!!!

1. Choose the right seam allowance.

Minky fabric tends to roll at the cut edge. Always give yourself a minimum of 1/2″ seam allowance when stitching. This gives the feed dogs plenty of fabric for more even feeding and ultimately a better sewn item.

2. Choose the right foot.

Use a walking foot. I know walking foots can be expensive, but I love mine and I think that it is well worth the investment. If you ever plan to make bags or hem jeans, a walking foot is almost non negotiable.

If you don’t have a walking foot, it is ok. Use the basic foot that you have to sew a straight stitch. You will not get the same even feeding that you would with a walking foot, but you can make it work.

The rectangle on the left is sewn together without using a walking foot or a basting stitch (tip 3). Look how much the minky stretched! The rectangle on the right is sewn using a basting stitch first and then using a walking foot to sew the 2 pieces of fabric together.

3. Use a basting stitch.

This is where the magic happens!

One trick that I use is to sew a line of stay stitching (white dotted line) on the minky fabric 1/4″ to the right of the seam allowance (black line). If you are using a 1/2″ seam allowance, stitch a straight stay stitch 3/8″ from the raw edge. This will decrease the stretch of the fabric dramatically when it is sewn together. You can also use a zigzag stitch as well.

4. Test a piece first.

Before jumping in to sewing your item, test a few pieces first like a did in the previous photos. Cut a couple of squares the same size from the minky fabric and the other fabric that you are using. Practice using the techniques above and see how the material performs. Make any necessary adjustment before starting on the finished product.

5. Sew, Sew, Sew

It is time to sew your project! I use a regular 80/20 needle. Although if I am only sewing together minky fabrics, I will use a stretch needle. Use lots of pins! I pin the pieces every 1″ – 2″. I know it looks excessive, but it really helps decrease the stretch of the fabric.

After sewing the items together, trim your seams and turn right sides out. I usually topstitch the project. See the difference!

This blanket was made from one of my sewing patterns that is available for purchase in my shop. The Easy Peasy Baby Blanket Sewing Pattern. Use the techniques shown above to sew this pattern with ease.

How to Store Minky Fabric

I usually store my minky fabrics folded on a shelf which is the traditional way to store fabric. Do not put it on hanging file folders. I have seen this technique and it is a great idea for most fabrics but not minky! Don’t clip it to a board or store upright. You can mess up the pile or distort the shape.

I hope this helps! Enjoy sewing your minky fabric!! If this helped you, leave a comment. I would love to hear from you!

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