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making sure I cut and pin nicely with a soft fabric like rayon (Moderated by EleanorSews)
Posted on: 8/19/09 3:32 PM ET
I'm working with a pattern that calls for a soft drapey fabric like rayon. I typically work with normal cotten wovens. This is my first attempt at working with rayon. I laid out the fabric and the pattern pieces, cut, and despite my efforts to be careful, things don't look as nice as I'd expect, and the pieces don't match up as well as I'd like, especially on curved areas.
I'd like to do a lot better the next time. Any tips?
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I'd like to do a lot better the next time. Any tips?
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Sondra
Posted on: 8/19/09 3:42 PM ET
I've worked with a fabric like you describe exactly once, so take this with an enormously large grain of salt, but I'd say to spray starch the heck out of it. Well, if it's going to be washed, of course. Also, have you tried using a rotary cutter and mat with weights instead of pins? Love my rotary cutter.
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... but what do I know?
Posted on: 8/19/09 3:45 PM ET
In reply to SondraG
Are you using scissors or a rotary cutter?
IMHO a rotary cutter is the only way to go, especially around curved areas. Otherwise, spray starch when you iron the rayon might help to keep the fabric more crisp and stable.
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IMHO a rotary cutter is the only way to go, especially around curved areas. Otherwise, spray starch when you iron the rayon might help to keep the fabric more crisp and stable.
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I am going for a level of perfection that is only mine... Most of the pleasure is in getting that last little piece perfect...Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just keep showing up and doing the work.
Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer
Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage
St. Augustine
Chuck Close, painter, printmaker, photographer
Hope has two lovely daughters: Anger and Courage
St. Augustine
Posted on: 8/19/09 3:51 PM ET
In reply to tlmck3
I used scissors, but I'll try a rotary cutter the next time!
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Sondra
Posted on: 8/19/09 8:17 PM ET
In reply to SondraG
I too am a really big fan of the spray starch technique for slippery, washable garments. Starch can both save your sanity and produce a much nicer looking garment.
If you're working with a slippery woven, simply laying it out very flat before spraying will probably remove the need to iron it before sewing. With a couple of my fabrics, I found that ironing after spraying softened the crispness and made the fabric just a touch slithery again.
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If you're working with a slippery woven, simply laying it out very flat before spraying will probably remove the need to iron it before sewing. With a couple of my fabrics, I found that ironing after spraying softened the crispness and made the fabric just a touch slithery again.
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Elona
Re: working with soft fabrics with lots of give (posted on 8/20/09 9:04 AM ET)
Another vote for using a mat, weights and a rotary cutter. I also find that in smaller curved areas, a smaller diameter cutter works better ~ that would be maybe just me....
Once you get the pieces cut out, removing pattern pieces one by one, doing any stay stitching as soon as you remove the pattern piece. That helps too.
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Once you get the pieces cut out, removing pattern pieces one by one, doing any stay stitching as soon as you remove the pattern piece. That helps too.
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"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." Anais Nin
"Attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal." unknown
“Be curious, not judgmental.” Ted Lasso
"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." Anais Nin
"Attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal." unknown
“Be curious, not judgmental.” Ted Lasso
Posted on: 8/20/09 10:08 AM ET
The other way to work on slippery fabrics is to pin them to light weight paper with square corners and then lay the pattern pieces on top using weights. Cut through all layers. I prefer using a new blade in my rotary cutter. The fabric doesn't move and shift.
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www.nancyksews.blogspot.com
Posted on: 8/20/09 10:13 AM ET
In reply to SondraG
I have a roll of exam room paper that I use for tracing patterns and also for situations like this. I lay it on my cutting table, carefully put my fabric on grain on the table (using weights to hold the fabric stable as I lay it on grain) then pin the pattern to the fabric and paper, using weights to keep the edges of the pattern as flat as possible. I use a rotary cutter, small blade to go around curves such as facings and armholes and necklines.
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www.luckysewandsew.blogspot.com
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