Sewing with sequins: 10 tips for sewing with sequinned fabric this christmas

The holiday season is the perfect time to add a bit of glamour to your wardrobe or handmade gifts but sewing with sequinned fabric can be somewhat tricky! Whether you’re creating a magical Christmas party dress, a show-stopping New Year’s Eve outfit, or festive accessories, sequinned fabric will bring that extra sparkle! Here are 10 top tips for sewing with sequinned fabric this Christmas to make your sewing projects as smooth as possible:

Choose the right needle

Sequinned fabric is much tougher than your typical Christmas sewing fabrics, like cotton or jersey, because of the little plastic or metal discs sewn onto the material. For best results, choose a sharp needle, like a size 90/14 or 100/16, which is strong enough to pierce through the sequins and fabric without breaking. For thicker sequinned Christmas fabrics, a leather or denim needle might also be a great choice.

Cut with care
Cutting sequinned fabric for your festive sewing projects can be tricky. Cut from the back side of the fabric to protect your scissors from dulling. Flatten the sequins down as much as you can and in the right direction before cutting. This way also stops the sequins from flying EVERYWHERE.

Mind the seams
Sewing through sequins can break needles, which isn’t ideal when you’re in the middle of a festive project! Before stitching your Christmas party outfit, consider removing the sequins from the seam allowance to get a cleaner finish. This trick ensures your seams stay smooth.

Test your stitching
Testing your stitches on a scrap piece of sequinned fabric before starting your Christmas sewing project is always a good idea. For festive fabrics that include sequins, a longer stitch length (around 3mm - 4mm) helps glide through the material. 

Handle with care
When sewing a holiday dress or festive accessory with sequins, avoid too much handling to prevent the sequins from coming loose or fraying. Avoid using an overlocker as you'll have twice the needles to contend with and extra moving parts that sequins could become jammed in.

Keep it simple

Since sequins already bring plenty of sparkle to your Christmas wardrobe, you may want to stick to simple silhouettes and let the fabric do the talking. Avoid complicated patterns and choose clean lines and minimal seams.

Press with caution
When working on your sequinned projects, be careful when pressing to avoid damaging the delicate fabric. Press from the back, using a low heat setting and a pressing cloth, to avoid melting your sequins. A light steam can help smooth out your Christmas fabric without direct heat.

Lining is key
Since sequinned fabric can be a bit scratchy, adding a lining will make your outfit or gift item more comfortable. A lining is especially great for Christmas party dresses or cosy sequinned jackets, ensuring they are as comfy as they are fabulous. You could also add binding around the edges to prevent further scratching.

Hand sew finishing touches
For delicate areas of your festive project like hems or curves, hand-sewing might be the best option. This gives you greater control when working with thick sequinned fabric and ensures your Christmas garment or accessory is finished perfectly.

Mind the mess

Sequins can create quite the chaos in your sewing space! To avoid finding glittery bits well into the new year, keep a vacuum or lint roller nearby while working on your festive sewing projects. There are less flying sequins when cutting with a rotary cutter as apposed to scissors!

Sewing with sequinned fabric this Christmas can be great, especially with a bit of patience and these handy tips. Whether you’re crafting a glamorous Christmas party dress, a sparkling jacket, or even holiday-themed accessories, your handmade pieces will be showstoppers!

What festive sewing projects are you planning this holiday season? Share your creations with me in the comments or tag me on social media, I’d love to see your Christmas sewing makes!

Happy holiday sewing!