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Member since 4/12/05
Posts: 22369
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Posted on: 8/26/08 6:20 PM ET
I am working on Pamela's Pattern, tee shirt. I measured the neck opening and it is 25-26 inches. Right now I am not sure which it is.
Diane, a friend from PR, has helped me fix several problems and the tee looks great. The darts are correct for the first time and it is shapely on me. Thank you so much, Diane.

I thought I could do the neck by myself, but I am wondering why I keep having so much trouble. As I said, the opening is 25 inches. We decided the binding should be 3/4 of that and I cut it out at 18.5 inches. I am having a very hard time trying to make the neckline look good. I have ripples and what look like gatheres all on the front piece in the curved areas only. Especially on the right side of the neckline. The back seems flat and ok.

I figure I have the front marks wrong for lining up the binding when stretching and stitiching. I did not use the shoulder seams for my marks!

How do I know for sure where to put my quarter marks on the top so I know where to line up the binding when stretching it? I am thinking the binding is also too small, as I have to stetch it so much. I have taken it off and redone it, but it came out about the same.

Could someone show me a picture of where I should put my marks/pins so I can get the binding in the right place? My camera died, so I can't take any pictures.

The sleeves are in and the sides are basted. Other than the neckline, it looks and fits very well.

Carol
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Currently working on a boys quilt. Sized 40 x 40 inches. It has chickens, chicken eggs, cows, fish, sea life, afield with water, Dachshunds, mini sailboats, and many colorful other fabrics. The blocks are a 4 x 4 finished size, so many of them are needed.
This my 4th quilt in 7 months.

Bernina 630, Bernina embroidery module, Pfaff 2036, Bernina 1200DA serger, Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L

Gardening info: zone 8 standard map and zone 6 Sunset map
  
Member since 9/29/02
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Posted on: 8/26/08 6:40 PM ET
In reply to Learn To Sew
Carol, I think your binding is too short for the neckline and I say this from experience! The length partially depends upon the stretch factor of your knit. You will definitely get puckers if it's too short. What does the pattern say about length of binding? If you want it to lay flat, I would try pinning a strip that is 1 to 2 inches shorter than the neckline and see how it looks; adjust as needed. You can steam out minor puckers but the other ones are there to stay. Do take a look at Sarah Veblen's deservedly, off-cited video on knit neckline binding Sarah's video tip here on the Threads website. I think it will answer your questions. If you have extra fabric, cut a neckline and binding and try it on that first. HTH.
-- Edited on 8/26/08 6:42 PM --
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Patti

R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success
  
Member since 10/14/03
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Posted on: 8/26/08 6:47 PM ET
In reply to Learn To Sew
I'm no expert, but here goes. It may be that the 3/4 ratio is off. Some people recommend a 7/8 ratio. Also, I find that knowing just where and how much to stretch the binding is a real art. You might try watching Sarah Veblin's video on attaching a knit band on the Threads site. I haven't been able to make her method work, but many just love it. You may want to practice on some scraps a few times till you feel you have a feel for it. Using quarter marks doesn't work for me. However, Sarah explains how to do it on her video. Essentially, you put the shoulder seams together and note where the fold in the front and back are. Mark them, then put those two points together and you'll find the other two points are. they're usually in front of the shoulder seams. HTH
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If I sewed any slower, I wouldn't be sewing at all.

  
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Posted on: 8/26/08 6:49 PM ET
In reply to Patti B
I took the binding off of the interlock knit (50% stgretch) and measured it. It is 27 inches. The binding must be too small. I was sure it was 25 inches when I started cutting the binding. We measured and wrote it down. Maybe we measured wrong. We were laughing at the time.

I watched Sarah's video this morning to see what I could learn. I was sure the binding was too short, and using her method, I think it needs to be 20 1/2 inches long. The binding is 19 1/4 inches long. At least an inch too short.

Carol
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Currently working on a boys quilt. Sized 40 x 40 inches. It has chickens, chicken eggs, cows, fish, sea life, afield with water, Dachshunds, mini sailboats, and many colorful other fabrics. The blocks are a 4 x 4 finished size, so many of them are needed.
This my 4th quilt in 7 months.

Bernina 630, Bernina embroidery module, Pfaff 2036, Bernina 1200DA serger, Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L

Gardening info: zone 8 standard map and zone 6 Sunset map
  
Member since 10/9/05
Posts: 1411
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Posted on: 8/27/08 11:38 AM ET
Even when there are pattern pieces for neckline binding, i almost always have to adjust the binding lengths of the many, many t-shirts i make.

The only exception seems to be Jalie...whose neckline bindings for self-fabric always seem to be spot on.
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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 4/12/05
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Posted on: 8/27/08 12:20 PM ET
I wrote Pamela a couple of days ago. This morning I received a reply. She told me she has worked with hundreds of people who have made her tee shirt. Never any complaints about the binding being too long and not looking good on the tee shirt.

She said to make the binding 1 inch less than the tee shirt neck opening, as per her instructions. If I go with the 3/4 rule, I must use something super stretchy, like a rib knit. Otherwise the binding is way too short.

I will recut one today and see how it comes out. I will reduce it 1.5 inches, so the binding will be 25.5 inches long. The one I did yesterday was 19 1/4 inches long and it caused the tee to have many ripples where the binding joined the tee. In the curved areas of the front, it looked like I had put in garthers.

The neckline is 27 inches. I think it is stretched some with all the work I have done on this muslin.

Carol


-- Edited on 8/27/08 12:44 PM --
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Currently working on a boys quilt. Sized 40 x 40 inches. It has chickens, chicken eggs, cows, fish, sea life, afield with water, Dachshunds, mini sailboats, and many colorful other fabrics. The blocks are a 4 x 4 finished size, so many of them are needed.
This my 4th quilt in 7 months.

Bernina 630, Bernina embroidery module, Pfaff 2036, Bernina 1200DA serger, Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L

Gardening info: zone 8 standard map and zone 6 Sunset map
  
Member since 11/26/06
Posts: 2701
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Posted on: 8/27/08 12:32 PM ET
In reply to Learn To Sew
Quote: Learn To Sew
I will reduce it 1.5 inches, so the binding will be 25.5 inches long. The one I did yesterday was 19 1/4 inches long and it caused the tee to have many ripples where the binding joined the tee.

If your neck opening is 25", then 25.5" for the binding is going to be too big (or are one of those msmts a typo?). Yes, 19 1/4 sounds way too small, but the binding does need to be smaller than the opening, as recommended. Did you watch BOTH of the Threads videos? There is one on measuring your strip and another on attaching the binding correctly. This method is all I use anymore for my knits. I don't even bother w/ the pattern piece, as these instructions - if followed very closely - give perfect results every time.

Eve
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People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it - Chinese proverb
  
Member since 4/12/05
Posts: 22369
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Posted on: 8/27/08 12:52 PM ET
In reply to EveS
The video I watched showed how to measure and sew and then serge it. Are there 2 seperate video on tee shirt bindings? I'll have to look again.

I forgot to say the neckline is 27 inches, so this was why I thought 25.5 inches should be a good length for the binding. There is no pattern piece. The instruction sheet has you measure the neckline and subtract 1 inch for the length of the binding needed. She has you cut one 2 1/2 inches wide. This is too wide for me, so I cut mine 2 inches wide and when folded over, it is a good width and does not seem too wide on me.

I will cut one today, sew it and post the results.

Carol
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Currently working on a boys quilt. Sized 40 x 40 inches. It has chickens, chicken eggs, cows, fish, sea life, afield with water, Dachshunds, mini sailboats, and many colorful other fabrics. The blocks are a 4 x 4 finished size, so many of them are needed.
This my 4th quilt in 7 months.

Bernina 630, Bernina embroidery module, Pfaff 2036, Bernina 1200DA serger, Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L

Gardening info: zone 8 standard map and zone 6 Sunset map
  
Member since 11/26/06
Posts: 2701
Send Message
Posted on: 8/27/08 1:27 PM ET
In reply to Learn To Sew
Ah, gotcha. I just thought I'd ask even though I presumed it was a mis-type or something.

Here are the Threads videos, too. I presume (again) that these are the ones you've watched, but juuust in case.....
video 1
video 2

Good luck with this! When I first started doing knits I was so afraid of bindings for this very reason (and yes, the first one - pre tuturial - was a wadder ) But once you can finally get them to work, it's a great feeling!

BTW, don't forget that your neckline is still going to look a bit wavy until you steam it. I've panicked more than once.

Again, good luck and keep us posted!!
Eve
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People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it - Chinese proverb
  
Member since 4/12/05
Posts: 22369
Send Message
Posted on: 8/27/08 2:33 PM ET
In reply to EveS
Thank you. I had not seen the turtle neck one before. I did learn some things from it.

Carol
------
Currently working on a boys quilt. Sized 40 x 40 inches. It has chickens, chicken eggs, cows, fish, sea life, afield with water, Dachshunds, mini sailboats, and many colorful other fabrics. The blocks are a 4 x 4 finished size, so many of them are needed.
This my 4th quilt in 7 months.

Bernina 630, Bernina embroidery module, Pfaff 2036, Bernina 1200DA serger, Unique Sewing Cabinet 450L

Gardening info: zone 8 standard map and zone 6 Sunset map
  
12 
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