Sewing with Oilcloth & coated Fabrics

Tips for a beautiful result

Wax cloths and coated fabrics are versatile, easy-care, and durable—whether for bags, placemats, or utensil holders. With a few tricks, they're easy to work with.

Don't stick - rather clamp.

Regular pins leave holes. Instead, use fabric clips to hold your pieces together.

Sew slowly & adjust stitch length

Set the stitch length a little longer (approx. 3-3.5 mm). This prevents the seam from perforating the fabric or slowing down the sewing process unnecessarily.

Use non-stick presser foot or trick 17

A Teflon foot or a walking foot prevents the fabric from sticking to the presser foot. If you don't have a special foot handy, placing some baking paper or thin tissue paper between the fabric and the foot, or sprinkling the fabric with talcum powder, often helps.

No turnaround experiments

Avoid projects with narrow openings—the material isn't as flexible as cotton and can wrinkle. Be generous with the opening to protect the fabric.

Ironing? Only inside out – and with a cloth

Never iron coated fabrics directly! If necessary, iron only on the left, uncoated side and always with a thin cotton cloth between them.

Save leftover pieces

Even small scraps are perfect for bags, labels or patchwork - so don't waste anything.

Still questions?

If you're unsure or have a specific sewing project planned, feel free to write to me. I'll share my knowledge and experience with you.