Sewing Lessons & FAQ

[Gracie Lee]

Yeah, list price on mine was $30 or something... got it on half off, so I don't feel so bad about it. I have a vintage one that uses pins, but I can't use that one solo. I didn't realize there were vintage ones you could use on your own!

 

[Lady Day]

Mine has the rubber perfume bottle puff thing connected to a rubber tube that connects to a clamped wooden jar thing that holds the chalk dust. I adjust the height, and a few squeezes of the puff and the chalk blows out of the wood jar thing.

Its awesome! :biggrin:
LD

 

[Gracie Lee]

Sounds pretty much identical, only nicer to look at Where do you get refill chalk? I'm not out yet, but I like to be prepared, and JoAnns doesn't seem to carry it.

 

[Lady Day]

I got mine at an art store. But Im in LA and special nick knacks at stores abound here. Its actually a bag of 'sewing chalk', lol . Im sure any powdered chalk will do. Ive even been told corn starch works just as well.

LD

 

[MarieAnne]

Inspiration

I have some really cool fabric and I'm not sure what to do with it. It's a little sheer. It's quite crisp but I don't think the fibers are synthetic. The print is really cool. It is 36" wide and 4 yd long. But it has a few small rust stains scattered on it. I was thinking of doing a plain blouse (puffy sleeves?) I think ruffles and pin tucks would hinder the print. I want to consider all options before I cut. Anymore ideas?

 

[Drappa]

^I'm in favour of a sleeveless summer dress, with a pretty slip underneath.

 

[MarieAnne]

Drappa, that would be lovely. I'll see what patterns I can conjur and I'll see if I can work the pieces around the rust stains. The fabric is too sheer for a zipper so I think I would do center front buttons all the way to the hem.

 

[jessesgirl08]

ok again newbie sewer here, so i was making a pair of shorts and they accidentally ripped along the side (don't ask how ) before they are even completed and not along the seam sort of near the side seam so my question is....how do i fix this? i was thinking maybe putting on a decorative stripe of a contrasting color along the sides? i dont know....HELP!

 

[Amie]

I'm trying to make your typical 50s circle skirt with waistband attached. I was wondering what "belting" was because on the pattern it says to attach belting on the waistband. What type of material is this made out of? I guess I could simply use the modern method of ironing interfacing on the waistband which would eliminate the need for belting, but I'm still curious what this is.

 

[Valya]

Amie, it's possible they mean some sort of grosgrain ribbon to stiffen/strengthen the waistband, if it is on the inside. Although I'm not sure as I have never come across that before, so don't take my word for it.

 

[Amie]

Valya, I think you're right. The drawing actually looks a lot like grosgrain ribbon. :eusa_clap

 

[Amie]

What is the best way to hem a 50s circle skirt? I've read it's a good idea to baby hem, but my instructions don't say to do this. Any suggestions?

 

[Tatum]

What is the best way to hem a 50s circle skirt? I've read it's a good idea to baby hem, but my instructions don't say to do this. Any suggestions?

Hi Amie, I just hemmed a 1/4 circle and it was giving me fits too. I found this, and boy did it help!

 

[Amie]

Thanks Tatum. I will probably use her technique, only I'm a little scared cause my machine likes to eat up fabric whenever I do a narrow hem. Out of curiosity, does anyone know what might have been the preferred method back in the day?

 

[sheeplady]

Thanks Tatum. I will probably use her technique, only I'm a little scared cause my machine likes to eat up fabric whenever I do a narrow hem. Out of curiosity, does anyone know what might have been the preferred method back in the day?

If you're really ambitious, you could sew on hem tape by machine and then do a blind hem by hand. I did this once on a full circle poodle skirt (it was required to have a blind hem by the competition I was entering). My instructor had me use the hem tape because she said that is what they did for skirts like that back then. (Her kids went to sock hops so I figured she knew).

You could also do a twill tape hem if your machine is really nasty, which is about the same amount of work, but gives a nice edge.

 

[Lady Day]

ok again newbie sewer here, so i was making a pair of shorts and they accidentally ripped along the side (don't ask how ) before they are even completed and not along the seam sort of near the side seam so my question is....how do i fix this? i was thinking maybe putting on a decorative stripe of a contrasting color along the sides? i dont know....HELP!

That's called a gusset and would be a great way to fix your oopsie

LD

 

[Amie]

If you're really ambitious, you could sew on hem tape by machine and then do a blind hem by hand. I did this once on a full circle poodle skirt (it was required to have a blind hem by the competition I was entering). My instructor had me use the hem tape because she said that is what they did for skirts like that back then. (Her kids went to sock hops so I figured she knew).

You could also do a twill tape hem if your machine is really nasty, which is about the same amount of work, but gives a nice edge.

If I used that method, wouldn't it be necessary to do an ease stitch and if so, at what point should I put in the ease stitch? After the hem tape is sewn in place or before, or does it matter?

 

[bunnyb.gal]

I have a couple of dresses (one a vintage repro and the other vintage-y) that have been hanging in my wardrobe for months which I don't wear, pretty much because I'm unable to raise my arms in either comfortably without the whole kit and caboodle coming up. What would be your advice for making alterations (either by myself, if the skill level involved is not too high, or by a tailor), or should I maybe just turn them into skirt? Thank you for any advice you could give me!

 

[Gracie Lee]

Could you take some fabric out of the hem, or hem it shorter, and use the excess to make underarm gussets? They're a bit fiddly to draft and insert on your own if you've never done it before, but a seamstress or tailor should be able to help out if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. Just a thought!

 

[sheeplady]

If I used that method, wouldn't it be necessary to do an ease stitch and if so, at what point should I put in the ease stitch? After the hem tape is sewn in place or before, or does it matter?

Typically with hem tape seams, they are narrow enough that a huge amount of ease isn't a concern- basically the tape starts where the fabric ends on the outside. I personally would add easing with the hand sewing, or put the ease into the tape itself before sewing it to the garment. This will make the outside of the hem look nice and flat. If you use the type of hem tape that is lace, that allows you to account for more fabric ease when hand sewing- which is probably why my instructor indicated to do it this way- given the fact that skirt is so full.

My seams had to be hand-finished because I was in 4-H, which at that time (20 years ago) would not accept a garment with a machine sewn hem. (I am not referring to the hem tape that is adhesive- I've never used that- although that may work).