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Member since 7/12/05
Posts: 23
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Posted on: 12/28/05 2:42 PM ET
I made simple top for my daughter from cotton interlock .After stitching the shoulder seams I tried putting it over her head to see if the neck is wide enough so that it can be easily pulled over her head.And it went over her head easily.But after I attached the neckline binding I tried to put over her head and it was very tight and few stiches broke.What am I doing wrong?Why is the neckline not stretching after I sew the binding?


  
Member since 10/9/05
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Posted on: 12/28/05 2:59 PM ET
I'm wondering how you are applying the binding? Is it that you are folding in half and sewing the two raw edges of binding to the raw edge of the top? Or are you folding the raw edges of the binding under as you sew it to the top?

Also, is your binding cut across the grain of the fabric or with the grain?
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Trinity

I probably have too many sewing machines, but how am I supposed to resist when they're either free by the side of the road or people give them to me?

http://thimblesthreadsandneedles.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 4/8/02
Posts: 2662
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Posted on: 12/28/05 3:14 PM ET
And what stitch are you using to attach the binding? A straight stitch has no stretch.
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Neefer aka AgitProp and Village Churl Sewing Blog: http://www.oaktrees.org/blog/

Bonny lass, bonny lass, will you be mine?
You shall neither wash dishes nor serve the wine;
But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam,
And feast upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.
  
Member since 7/12/05
Posts: 23
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Posted on: 12/28/05 3:57 PM ET
In reply to sameena1
I am folding the raw edges of the binding under as I sew and I am using straight sticth.Which stitch shold I use?Most of the RTW tops have straight stitch but they strech nicely.But I noticed that they use wolly nylon thread in the bobin.May be thats why they have stretch even after sewing.
  
Member since 10/9/05
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Posted on: 12/28/05 4:32 PM ET
I think most RTW tops actually are using a coverstitch: straight stitching on the right side(two or three rows) and a serger looking stitch on the wrong side. Along with wooly thread, the structure of this stitch gives it stretch, just as a serger stitch is stretchy even though it has a straight stitch as part of it. Did that make sense?

So when you sew on your binding, there's three things that I can think of to keep in mind. Make sure your binding is cut with the long edge lying across the grain, so that it has the greatest stretch. Stretching the binding a teensy bit as you sew. And using a zigzag stitch. If your machine has it, I like to use the 3 part zigzag stitch for DD's t-shirt binding.




-- Edited on 12/28/05 5:32 PM --
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Trinity

I probably have too many sewing machines, but how am I supposed to resist when they're either free by the side of the road or people give them to me?

http://thimblesthreadsandneedles.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 4/8/02
Posts: 2662
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Posted on: 12/28/05 4:47 PM ET
RTW uses a chain stitch or a coverstitch. Both are done on a serger and look like straight stitching from the right side.

I would use a zigzag (if I didn't have my serger).
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Neefer aka AgitProp and Village Churl Sewing Blog: http://www.oaktrees.org/blog/

Bonny lass, bonny lass, will you be mine?
You shall neither wash dishes nor serve the wine;
But sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam,
And feast upon strawberries, sugar, and cream.
  
Member since 10/20/05
Posts: 1185
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Posted on: 12/29/05 1:41 AM ET
Forgive the mostly likely moronic-ness of this question, but if you use a zig-zag to attach a neck binding (or anything else), won't it show on the right side?
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... but what do I know?
  
Member since 11/9/05
Posts: 149
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Posted on: 12/29/05 7:15 AM ET
In reply to leigh7911
Quote: leigh7911
Forgive the mostly likely moronic-ness of this question, but if you use a zig-zag to attach a neck binding (or anything else), won't it show on the right side?

Boy, I've wondered about that too.
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“The best thing...,” replied Merlin, “is to learn something. That’s the only thing that never fails."
— T.H. White, The Once and Future King
  
Member since 10/9/05
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Posted on: 12/29/05 9:40 AM ET
Yes, the zigzags will show. Just like the straight stitch would show, but the zigags have stretch, which you need with a knit garment. That's why I like to use the 3-part zigzag. I think it looks a little nicer than a plain zig.

An alternative would be a double needle, which has a little stretch, but the stitches on a double needle will pop if you need alot of stretch.
-- Edited on 12/29/05 10:42 AM --
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Trinity

I probably have too many sewing machines, but how am I supposed to resist when they're either free by the side of the road or people give them to me?

http://thimblesthreadsandneedles.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 1/30/03
Posts: 2172
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Posted on: 12/29/05 9:49 AM ET
In reply to Neefer
Quote: Neefer
RTW uses a chain stitch or a coverstitch

Is the chainstitch made on a coverstitch machine stretchy?
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Leslie
  
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