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How do you tell the difference? (Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952)
Posted on: 9/11/06 7:59 PM ET
Hi everyone! I know I haven't been posting much lately, I've been crazy busy!
I'm working on V2924 (it's *not* a poncho... it's a *cape*)
I bought some really nice black wool melton from fabric.com and now I'm getting ready to cut it out, but have no clue which side to use as the right side.
Seems like there's 2 distinguishable sides : one is more fuzzy and one is more firmly woven (like a twill).
Can someone help me out? Thanks!!
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I'm working on V2924 (it's *not* a poncho... it's a *cape*)

I bought some really nice black wool melton from fabric.com and now I'm getting ready to cut it out, but have no clue which side to use as the right side.
Seems like there's 2 distinguishable sides : one is more fuzzy and one is more firmly woven (like a twill).
Can someone help me out? Thanks!!
------
Leslie
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
Posted on: 9/11/06 9:28 PM ET
In reply to SewingSkater
Leslie,
Wool melton's right side has dull, tightly napped surface. Given your two choices, fuzzy or firmly woven like a twill, I think it's safe to say that the 'fuzzy' side is the right side.
You can check this info by looking carefully at the selvages and the pin holes that hold the selvages on the 'fabric machine' (sorry, name escapes me). Anyway, the right side of the selvage will show a series of holes where it appears the pins pierce inward (the entry hole). The wrong side of the selvage will have the same holes where the pins push out a miniscule bit of the selvage beneath each hole (the exit hole).
Hope that makes sense. Being a napped fabric, it is vital that all pattern pieces be laid out in the same direction on the melton, as you would for velvet, corduroy, etc.
Kate
Edited to Add: Many people prefer the twill side and intentionally sew that as the right side.
-- Edited on 9/11/06 9:31 PM --
Wool melton's right side has dull, tightly napped surface. Given your two choices, fuzzy or firmly woven like a twill, I think it's safe to say that the 'fuzzy' side is the right side.
You can check this info by looking carefully at the selvages and the pin holes that hold the selvages on the 'fabric machine' (sorry, name escapes me). Anyway, the right side of the selvage will show a series of holes where it appears the pins pierce inward (the entry hole). The wrong side of the selvage will have the same holes where the pins push out a miniscule bit of the selvage beneath each hole (the exit hole).
Hope that makes sense. Being a napped fabric, it is vital that all pattern pieces be laid out in the same direction on the melton, as you would for velvet, corduroy, etc.
Kate
Edited to Add: Many people prefer the twill side and intentionally sew that as the right side.
-- Edited on 9/11/06 9:31 PM --
Posted on: 9/11/06 9:32 PM ET
KAB - not meaning to start a new thread here but my info is that the selvage with the pin holes pointing out is the right side of the fabric?
Posted on: 9/11/06 10:05 PM ET
In reply to carolynw
Clin,
Really? Ok, now you send me to the books ... and my sewing room.
Kate
Edited to Add: Yes, Clin, thank you for that important correction. I went to my sewing room and pulled out 5 wools. Yes, I have stated it backwards. The holes appear more pronounced on the right side, in that the right side contains the "exit holes." On the right side, the selvage appears more finished than on the wrong side, but the holes exit up onto the right side. Whew! Thanks again, Kate
-- Edited on 9/11/06 10:28 PM --
Really? Ok, now you send me to the books ... and my sewing room.
Kate
Edited to Add: Yes, Clin, thank you for that important correction. I went to my sewing room and pulled out 5 wools. Yes, I have stated it backwards. The holes appear more pronounced on the right side, in that the right side contains the "exit holes." On the right side, the selvage appears more finished than on the wrong side, but the holes exit up onto the right side. Whew! Thanks again, Kate
-- Edited on 9/11/06 10:28 PM --
Posted on: 9/11/06 11:07 PM ET
This side I like best is the right side.
Posted on: 9/11/06 11:35 PM ET
In reply to KAB
Quote:
...the pin holes that hold the selvages on the 'fabric machine'
...the pin holes that hold the selvages on the 'fabric machine'
Kate, they're tenterhooks, as in "being on tenterhooks" (a condition that will make fabrics or people feel stretched out and tense).
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Elona
Posted on: 9/12/06 7:47 AM ET
ok, great! I think the fuzzy side is prettier anyway, but I didn't want to invest the time and then have it pill within a few wearings. Thanks for the help!! :)
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Leslie
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
Posted on: 9/12/06 9:01 AM ET
Real Melton cloth, which is 100% Wool, should not pill. If it is a blend, it might. You can test with a wire brush for about a minutes time. That is basically what the automated machine does thats used in test labs for clothing MFRing.
Posted on: 9/12/06 10:28 AM ET
My quilting teacher always told me that you paid for both sides, so you get to chose which one you'll use. :-D
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Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com
If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well;
and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
Posted on: 9/12/06 10:39 AM ET
In reply to Elona
Quote: Elona
[QUOTE]...the pin holes that hold the selvages on the 'fabric machine'
[QUOTE]...the pin holes that hold the selvages on the 'fabric machine'
Kate, they're tenterhooks, as in "being on tenterhooks" (a condition that will make fabrics or people feel stretched out and tense).[/quote]
Elona,
Thanks, what a concise picturesque explanation; now I'll remember the name and its meaning. Do you think this is the original source of the word?
(As in Gone With The Wind, when Frank Kennedy said to Scarlet O'Hara, "Why Miss Scarlet, you do keep me on tenterhooks!" Yes, stretched out and tense; that's perfect.)
Kate
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