pinking finished seams
Pinking is defined as a zigzag cut from a saw/scallop-toothed edge blade using pinking shears or a hand crank pinker. A good pair of Pinking Shears or a hand crank pinker that mounts to a tabletop are handy tools for any sewing room. To keep your pinking shears cutting sharp and even, use them for fabric and fabric only. However, some hand crank pinkers allow you more freedom to use interchangeably on fabric, paper, leather, etc. because of the design of the blade or disk.
Regardless of the tool you choose, it is invaluable to be able to pink a seam or fabric edge quickly.
Pinked seams using pinking shears
After stitching the seam, simply trim the seam allowance with pinking shears or with a pinking tool and press the seam open. How much fabric to trim will vary depending on your pattern seam allowance. I prefer to leave about 1/4″ – 3/8″ remaining of seam allowance to be pressed open. Pinked seams still fray somewhat resulting in a less professionally-looking finish, but pinking is advantageous in that it is quick and easy.
Pinked seams using a Singer Hand Crank Pinker. This is my favorite pinking tool; it's fast, easy, fun and doesn't tire the hands!
If the fabric unravels easily, then an extra step of straight-stitching just below the pinked edge will add greater stability to the seam allowance and prevent further unraveling as discussed in the straight stitch seam finish.
Sometimes I will pink all raw fabric edges immediately following a fabric purchase. This prevents excessive unraveling or fraying of the fabric when I am pre-washing and shrinking it to prepare for pattern cut-out. Granted, these are extra steps to your sewing project, but the finished result will preserve the garment seam for longer lasting wear.
Labels: tutorials
13 Comments:
I have been zigzag stitching fabric before washing… pinking is a much better idea!!!
My mom always had pinking shears and I really didn’t know what they were for. I just thought it was fun to cut zig-zags! LOL
That’s so funny because when my got my fabric orders with pinked raw edges I also thought it was to make it look pretty, LOL!! After washing I realized why they did it and a pinking shears was one of my first buys! A great investment!
Great tutorial again April! This is really a simple technique for neat (almost) seams and it takes almost no time.
I use a rotary cutter with a pinking wheel attached – easier and quicker than scissors, and MUCH cheaper than a hand-crank machine.
So, I stopped to look at the pinking shears while in the fabric store this morning and all the scissors were 50% off!! I now have my very own pair of pinking shears :)
I have never seen that pinking hand crank! I am putting it on the hotlist for the studio needs. Amazing! Thanks for the tip.
I love my pinking shears, but my hand can’t do much of that intense cutting without cramping.
That’s a great idea, Emily – I hadn’t thought of getting a pinking blade for a rotary cutter.
(The main difference with that and the vintage Hand Crank Pinker, is that the Hand Crank Pinker does not rely on sharpness of the blade but the pressure of the disk. So you can use it for practically any medium without it going dull.)
Thanks for sharing that tip! I’m sure there are many who already own rotary cutters who can just add a pinking blade – how easy is that? Wonderful idea!
Wow, great idea, I am getting sick of all the frayed edges when I pre-wash my fabric. Love the idea of a pinking wheel for my rotary cutter.
April thanks for the tutorial. Love the fabric you use too, so pretty!
I love these tutorials! Thanks for doing them! I have a pair of pinking shears and was using them, but I didn’t know that it was important to do it quickly. And the idea of using them before washing- fabulous idea! I will have to try that next time I wash fabric! THANKS!!
But Emily, you have to admit the hand crank machine is just cool. ;)
I’m loving this gorgeous seam series. Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
Thanks you for the tutorials.
bonjour,
je couds depuis des années , mais pour les finitions je ne suis pas trés douée, je vous remercie de partager vos connaissances avec les petites mains que nous sommes ..
amicalement
annick 33
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