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Have you made one? Or someone did it for you? (Moderated by Sharon1952)
Posted on: 6/23/16 10:11 AM ET
I'm getting fussier about my results due to spending time on PR and now I feel a need for a seam stick. Or want. I used my sleeve roll but felt that the smaller, harder stick would've been easier to press the seams of a 12 gore skirt after the first one I pressed left marks on the right side of the skirt after installing the zipper.
I did a google search but alas, didn't find what I was looking for. I imagine I would want hardwood, not fir or pine. Can I get half round trim, is that big enough? It looks small in the hardware store. Could I use a 1" or so hardwood dowel? And maybe glue it to a bit of molding to keep it from rolling around? That might address my lack of skill needed to rip a piece of round stock neatly down the center.
Ideas? It might be cheaper and easier just to buy one, though. Unless I can get a higher quality one by making my own.
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I did a google search but alas, didn't find what I was looking for. I imagine I would want hardwood, not fir or pine. Can I get half round trim, is that big enough? It looks small in the hardware store. Could I use a 1" or so hardwood dowel? And maybe glue it to a bit of molding to keep it from rolling around? That might address my lack of skill needed to rip a piece of round stock neatly down the center.
Ideas? It might be cheaper and easier just to buy one, though. Unless I can get a higher quality one by making my own.
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Little strokes fell great oaks. On the other hand, go big or go home!
Projects completed in 2024: 3 pairs gloves. Four pairs of jeans. Five custom tarps. A dozen linen hankies. A wool wrap for a friend. Four linen bath towels and 24 washcloths. Two bed pillows.
38.5 yards of fabric out.
Projects completed in 2024: 3 pairs gloves. Four pairs of jeans. Five custom tarps. A dozen linen hankies. A wool wrap for a friend. Four linen bath towels and 24 washcloths. Two bed pillows.
38.5 yards of fabric out.
Posted on: 6/23/16 10:20 AM ET
I have a long 1" diameter half-round dowel for this purpose. I got it at a lumber yard. Not sure what kind of wood - maybe maple? I think it was $1-$2. It's basically a piece of molding like you'd use for trim around a window or something.
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Cheers!
Posted on: 6/23/16 10:26 AM ET
My husband bought a full-length (8'?) of half-round molding and cut it into 3 different lengths for me. I honestly don't use it much, but I like having it. Don't know what type of wood. He probably sanded it smooth, but it's unfinished. Probably cost less than $10 for the entire piece.
Posted on: 6/23/16 10:34 AM ET
I have a 1" half round dowel (hardwood) as well -- don't remember how much I paid for it. Mine is 30" long. I picked it up in the "scrap" bin at Home Depot and all I had to do was sand the ends. I use this pressing tool a lot.
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Sheila
"sewing very slowly to fill an empty closet"
Stash Tally: net +46.375 yds (2014 to 2020); net +48.0 (2021); net +57.125 (2022); net +109.875 (2023)- Stash Tally 2024: 77.5 yds out/90.375 yds in (net + 12.875 yds)
2025 Stash Busting:
0 yds sewn (as of 01/01/25)
0 yds purchased/received (as of 01/01/25)
"sewing very slowly to fill an empty closet"
Stash Tally: net +46.375 yds (2014 to 2020); net +48.0 (2021); net +57.125 (2022); net +109.875 (2023)- Stash Tally 2024: 77.5 yds out/90.375 yds in (net + 12.875 yds)
2025 Stash Busting:
0 yds sewn (as of 01/01/25)
0 yds purchased/received (as of 01/01/25)
Posted on: 6/23/16 10:37 AM ET
When I first started studying tailoring againabout 4 years ago, I found a 3' piece of halfround at Home Depot, near the oak stocked for staircase work. Its about 1-1/4". Wasn't expensive. Don't use it often - but excellent when you need it. Haven't seen it at HD recently. You might check a locally owned lumberyard, they tend to stock stuff HD and Lowes don't have in stock.
Posted on: 6/23/16 11:14 AM ET
In reply to blueviola
Yes, you want hardwood, preferably light colored and smooth. Poplar, ash and maple are my first choices. Some oak will stain some fabrics.
Look at some of the stair rail moldings, aka handrail. Bigger areas for pressing than the usual half-round, some with several possible curves.
Some moldings come beautifully sanded and some need at least a little light hand sanding to knock down snaggly spots. Do not apply finish. Fingerjointed molding is fine, as well as the paint grade moldings, but not the ones made of vinyl or engineered wood products.
Look at some of the stair rail moldings, aka handrail. Bigger areas for pressing than the usual half-round, some with several possible curves.
Some moldings come beautifully sanded and some need at least a little light hand sanding to knock down snaggly spots. Do not apply finish. Fingerjointed molding is fine, as well as the paint grade moldings, but not the ones made of vinyl or engineered wood products.
Posted on: 6/23/16 11:29 AM ET
In reply to blueviola
Got one when I was doing pattern drafting. Be sure that you get hardwood as you will likely be steam pressing on it.
Mine came from a sewing supply place but darn if I can remember the name and in any event was bought here in Canada so wouldn't be much help to you.
You'll be so pleasantly surprised to see your seam lines almost disappear when you use this - when tailoring (and many other times) this is a must have tool
Mine came from a sewing supply place but darn if I can remember the name and in any event was bought here in Canada so wouldn't be much help to you.
You'll be so pleasantly surprised to see your seam lines almost disappear when you use this - when tailoring (and many other times) this is a must have tool
Posted on: 6/23/16 11:59 AM ET
In reply to blueviola
Sold at quilt stores, comes in different lengths, if you do not want to make your own. Seam stick
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A
SMAD due to PR
2017 Bernina 590E, 2016 - Bernina 550QE (traded in for 590), 2015 - Pfaff Performance 5, Baby Lock Enlighten serger; Bernina 380 (traded for 550QE); 2014 - Brother Quattro 6000D, Bernina 1001; 2013 - Pfaff Passport 2.0; 2000 - Singer 401a (MIL hand-me-down)
SMAD due to PR
2017 Bernina 590E, 2016 - Bernina 550QE (traded in for 590), 2015 - Pfaff Performance 5, Baby Lock Enlighten serger; Bernina 380 (traded for 550QE); 2014 - Brother Quattro 6000D, Bernina 1001; 2013 - Pfaff Passport 2.0; 2000 - Singer 401a (MIL hand-me-down)
Posted on: 6/23/16 12:45 PM ET
I use a wooden brush stale I bought for about 50 pence at a local general hardware shop. It was already sanded nice and smooth, ready to be inserted into a broom head and used around the house. I made it a very tight white cotton cover to add a little more credibility to it as a sewing tool, and to prevent it from being spirited away for use outdoors in its original guise.
Posted on: 6/23/16 1:26 PM ET
Mine is made from a 1.5" full round dowel. One side was cut flat, but only just a bit (the flat side is about 1" wide) so that the dowel sits higher on the ironing board than if it was half round. Because it sits higher, I'm able to position a seam to sit fully exposed for pressing, without fear of involving the seam allowance at all. It's also cut to a longer than normal length at 26", great for pant legs. A good sanding allows the stick to move smoothly under the fabric
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