How to Sew Sarah's Holiday Potpourri Outdoor Fabric

Quick answer

Sew Sarah's Holiday Potpourri Outdoor Utility Fabric with a heavy-duty needle, longer stitch length, and a walking foot to handle the 12oz waxed canvas. Use a hot knife or pinking shears to cut, and press with a dry iron on medium heat to avoid melting the wax.

Steps to sew Sarah's Holiday Potpourri Outdoor Fabric

1. Choose the right needle and thread: Install a size 90/14 or 100/16 jeans or microtex needle. Use a heavy-duty polyester or nylon thread (e.g., Gutermann Mara 70 or equivalent). The wax coating can cause skipped stitches with universal needles. Test on a scrap first—if you see skipped stitches, go up one needle size.
2. Set stitch length and tension: Set stitch length to 3.0–4.0 mm (longer than your usual 2.5 mm). Lengthening the stitch reduces perforation holes and prevents the wax from gumming the needle. Reduce upper tension slightly if the fabric puckers. A shorter stitch can cause the wax to build up on the needle and create uneven stitches.
3. Use a walking foot or Teflon foot: Attach a walking foot (even feed foot) to feed the thick canvas evenly. A Teflon foot also helps the sticky wax glide without sticking. If you don't have one, place tissue paper on top of the fabric and sew through it, then tear away. A standard presser foot will likely cause the fabric to drag and create uneven seams.
4. Cut with a hot knife or pinking shears: Use a rotary cutter with a fresh blade, pinking shears, or a hot knife (if available) to cut the waxed canvas. A hot knife seals the cut edge and reduces fraying. Regular scissors may get gummed up by the wax. If using a rotary cutter, change the blade after 2–3 cuts to avoid tearing.
5. Press with a dry iron on medium heat: Set your iron to medium heat (no steam) and press the fabric from the wrong side with a pressing cloth. The wax can melt onto the iron soleplate if you use high heat or steam. Let seams cool flat before moving the fabric. Never use steam—it can cause the wax to migrate and leave water spots.
6. Finish seams with binding or flat-felled construction: Because the fabric is heavy, avoid bulky seam finishes like French seams. Use double-fold bias tape to bind raw edges, or sew a flat-felled seam to keep the interior tidy. The wax coating reduces fraying, so a simple zigzag or overlock is optional. For outdoor projects, binding adds durability and a clean look that resists moisture.

Product facts

• Sarah's Holiday Potpourri Outdoor Utility Fabric (Yard): 12oz weight rated heavy weight for durability and sturdiness; ideal for rugged outdoor use; repels water and moisture; waxed canvas with anti-bacterial mold-proof paraffin-based wax. The heavy weight and wax coating mean you need a machine that can handle multiple layers and a needle that won't clog with wax residue—this fabric is not for lightweight home sewing machines.