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Stitching & Crafting Room:  question about sewing curves  |
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Carolinagirl
True Blue Farmgirl
486 Posts
Kim
Rutherfordton
NC
USA
486 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 02 2007 : 09:42:00 AM
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I'm working on a basic A-line skirt from a pattern I drew myself (following directions from Sew What! Skirts)... The first one I sewed, I didn't put enough curve in the waistline so it bunches up and makes me look like I have an innertube around my middle (which my body does all on its own, thank you, I don't need a skirt to help), so I am redrawing the curve and trying again. My question is: is there some trick to sewing a curve (for the skirt's casing or the hem) so that the curve actually stays and doesn't become just one straight line?
Thanks-
Kim in NC |
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Lizabeth
True Blue Farmgirl
560 Posts
Washington
560 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2007 : 12:30:58 PM
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I liken sewing curves to driving a car--if you are driving and look at the road directly in front of the hood of your car you will over correct and not steer properly whereas if you look down the road aways to what is coming ahead you drive better and can anticipate.
So too with sewing curves. If you guide the fabric (say using the presser foot corner or one of the 1/8 mark on the plate) and allign it once the fabric reaches your marker it will be too late. If you guide the fabric and "steer" 2, 3, or even 4 inches away from your marker you will have anticipated the curve and will end up with a truer curve line; though this technique works when sewing straight lines as well.
I don't know if any of this makes sense... maybe someone else can describe what I am trying to say better.
http://www.handcraftsbyheather.com |
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smoothiejuice
True Blue Farmgirl
6309 Posts
Jessica
Bloomington
Indiana
USA
6309 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2007 : 1:43:49 PM
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oh you did a great job...i read this earlier and could not put it into words.
Make sure your hem is not buckling while you do so, pins help at this point. I usually stay away from pins, except for really important projects, but curves need pins. |
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Carolinagirl
True Blue Farmgirl
486 Posts
Kim
Rutherfordton
NC
USA
486 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2007 : 1:48:51 PM
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I did okay on the hem, but it's the waist casing that's bothering me. When I draw the pattern, I'm supposed to dip down and then bring it back up, making a curve. My problem is that when I am folding this curved waist over to make the casing for the elastic or drawstring, then my casing is coming out less curved and adding that extra fabric that makes me look (even)fatter. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the tips about the hem... I'll pay close attention to doing that better.
Kim in NC |
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Lizabeth
True Blue Farmgirl
560 Posts
Washington
560 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2007 : 3:43:14 PM
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try on a scrap of wide fabric (6-8 inches) triming the edge with pinking shears so that the fabric will lie in a curve better without extra material--this works for dramatic curves or circles like an arm scye.
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Stitching & Crafting Room: question about sewing curves |
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question about sewing curves
