In today’s Sewing Basics post, I’m sharing seven tips for sewing with waterproof fabric. Waterproof fabric has a coating that makes it perfect for tablecloths, lunch totes, pet carrier liners, and more.
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Earlier this year, my dear friend Mary Beth from MBT Creates came across Splash Fabric, a Seattle-based company that makes water-resistant products and has its own line of waterproof fabric. She picked me up four different types of fabric to sample, and I immediately set about thinking of a worthy project.
To make a long story short, I ended up needing to make a washable liner for the cat carrier in a hurry, and in the process, I learned a lot about waterproof fabric. I’m sharing seven helpful tips in this post, so read on for details!
7 Tips for Sewing with Waterproof Fabric
Sewing Basics by Underground Crafter
But first, what is waterproof fabric?
Waterproof fabrics are coated or laminated with waterproof materials such as wax, linseed oil, or polyurethane. Different types of waterproof fabrics are available, including those made with natural fibers or synthetic fibers and with different thickness of coatings. In this post, I’m sharing tips for using the eco-friendly, food-safe, laminated cotton waterproof fabrics from Splash Fabric. You can learn more about their fabric and the history of laminated cotton fabrics here. Waterproof fabrics are used for projects as diverse as tablecloths, aprons, food pouches and totes, or, in my case, a washable pet carrier liner.
Tip 1: Waterproof fabric should be washed and dried before use
Most likely, you’re using waterproof fabric to make a project that you expect will need frequent washing or stain removal. While many of us start crafty sewing projects with unwashed fabric, I highly recommend washing waterproof fabric before sewing. This is especially true if you plan to combine the waterproof fabric with other fabrics or with batting. I made a quilted waterproof fabric project with batting, and I washed both the fabric and the batting before use so that I wouldn’t have unusual shrinking after completing my project. When combining waterproof fabrics with other fabrics, you should wash all the fabrics you plan to use before starting to sew.
Tip 2: Use polyester thread with waterproof fabric
Use 100% polyester thread in your top spool and bobbin when working with waterproof fabrics. Polyester threads recover easily from stretching, are strong, and are heat resistant. They work well with a variety of fabric materials, including the base fabric and the coating of the waterproof fabric.
Tip 3: Test marking tools in a small area before using on waterproof fabric
You may be tempted to treat the Splash waterproof fabric just as you do your quilting fabric. After all, both are made with cotton and are pretty easy to sew with using your standard presser foot. But, the waterproof fabric will respond differently to marking tools because of its coating. In this case, I used an erasable marker and it was difficult to remove the marks afterwards. Next time, I’ll try several marking tools using a scrap waterproof fabric piece before marking on my actual project.
Tip 4: Pin generously when sewing waterproof fabrics
Unlike standard quilting fabrics, waterproof cotton fabric curls slightly after cutting. You’ll want to use more pins before sewing to keep the fabric flat and aligned to the other pieces.
Tip 5: Use a walking foot for multi-layered sewing with waterproof fabrics
I started my project on the Baby Lock Bloom using the standard J leveling foot (zigzag foot) and it worked great, because in many ways, Splash waterproof fabric is just as easy to sew with as cotton quilting fabric. Once I added backing and binding, however, it became a challenge to sew through the layers of waterproof fabric, especially at the seams. It’s thicker than standard quilting fabric and I found myself trying to pull the fabric through the machine rather than let it move on its own. Pulling fabric always results in uneven stitches and other problems. Therefore, I recommend switching to a walking foot — a presser foot with its own feed dogs — when quilting or sewing multiple layers with waterproof fabrics. The walking foot allows you to move multiple layers of fabric evenly through the sewing machine without shifting. (Keep in mind your walking foot should only be used with straight stitches.) You can read more about presser feet in my Sewing Machine Presser Foot Guide.
Tip 6: Sew at a slower speed with waterproof fabrics
Until you are completely comfortable using waterproof fabrics, you should sew at a slower speed than you use for other projects. One of the main reasons for this is that it is harder to pull back stitches on waterproof fabric because of the coating. Sewing slower may help avoid having to go at it with a seam ripper.
Tip 7: Be careful using a seam ripper on waterproof fabrics
And, speaking of seam rippers, you may perforate or tear the waterproof fabric with a seam ripper if you are not careful, and a small hole may defeat the entire purpose for sewing your project with waterproof fabric. If you do have to pull back seams, move slowly so you don’t damage the fabric.
Bonus Tip: Use wider binding strips if you quilt with waterproof fabrics
If you decide to quilt and bind a project using waterproof fabric, I recommend using wider binding strips. Because the waterproof fabric is thicker than uncoated fabrics, when you fold your binding strips your folds will be slightly smaller than with 100% quilting cotton fabric. Using a wider binding strip will give you more flexibility while still allowing your binding strips to cover your quilt layers.
I hope you enjoyed this Sewing Basics post! If you have other questions about sewing, let me know! Don’t forget to use my coupon code SAVE10-A424 to get 10% off all machines, accessories and software at Baby Lock.