Sewing Lessons & FAQ

[Snookie]

Hey Snookie

I spoke to my sewing teacher who found this pic of a 30s skirt without a waistband. She is convinced it doesn't need one. The material will be a slightly heavy corduroy. I guess the choice is mine, but what do you think?

http://www.sensibility.com/vintageimages/1930s/images/skirt.jpg

Heehee, it sounds like your teacher it really dedicated to this! That skirt pic is pretty cute, and if she's willing to help you get it right, I guess you should skip the waistband. Since your material is pretty heavy, you will probably need to fit the waist area extra carefully so that the skirt doesn't ride up (b/c the fabric won't conform to your body as easily as a lighter weight fabric). You can manipulate it at any of the seams, or add darts.

Oh, and I remember who you are now! You guys are so cute! Let's see, we saw you last winter sometime...oh, that night Mora played the Derby! That night was so nice. Maybe we need to have a vintage picnic soon so that the kids can come out and play too...

 

[Goodie2Shoes]

I happened across this guide and thought it might help someone. It is a guide to knowing what year a pattern was produced. Sometimes the style is in question and although I personally buy what I like no matter what the year some like to know for recreating a period exactly or even so you know if you are being charged too much etc. Hope this helps!

http://reviews.ebay.ca/Vintage-Sewing-Pattern-Dating-Chart-1939-1960_W0QQugidZ10000000002192625

 

[Barbara]

Heehee, it sounds like your teacher it really dedicated to this! That skirt pic is pretty cute, and if she's willing to help you get it right, I guess you should skip the waistband. Since your material is pretty heavy, you will probably need to fit the waist area extra carefully so that the skirt doesn't ride up (b/c the fabric won't conform to your body as easily as a lighter weight fabric). You can manipulate it at any of the seams, or add darts.

Oh, and I remember who you are now! You guys are so cute! Let's see, we saw you last winter sometime...oh, that night Mora played the Derby! That night was so nice. Maybe we need to have a vintage picnic soon so that the kids can come out and play too...

Hey Snookie! Well it's always great to see you and your partner out because you dance so well!

Yeah, I think I am irritating my teacher, who is really nice, but she wanted to prove to me that there were indeed skirts without waistbands. She is doing the fitting on the waist for me, but we dropped it ever so slightly. This is such a total experiment, it was Jose who suggested I try corduroy. You know yourself that you cannot find 30s skirts to buy. No choice but to make!!!

She also suggests an invisible zipper. I think Lauren put an invisible zipper on the one she made for me (is that right? Lauren). And it looks great, so no complaints.

A vintage picnic would be such fun. Do they ever do that here in LA?

 

[Lady Day]

Invisible zippers are not all they are creacked up to be.

1) They can be a pain to put in (and require a special foot).
2) The zipper teeth are super small so they can brake much easier.
3) If you are going for 30s style, use a metal zipper.

Plus I made a corduroy skirt from a 50s pattern and evne tho the fabric was super heavy/yummy, I put a waistband on it.

Good luck.

 

[Lady Day]

Ladies I need some help

Where oh where can I find a good girdle and long line bra pattern? Im tired of looking trying on and being all mad. I just say 'aww heck with it, Ill make my own'.

Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

LD

 

[Snookie]

Hey Snookie! Well it's always great to see you and your partner out because you dance so well!

Yeah, I think I am irritating my teacher, who is really nice, but she wanted to prove to me that there were indeed skirts without waistbands. She is doing the fitting on the waist for me, but we dropped it ever so slightly. This is such a total experiment, it was Jose who suggested I try corduroy. You know yourself that you cannot find 30s skirts to buy. No choice but to make!!!

She also suggests an invisible zipper. I think Lauren put an invisible zipper on the one she made for me (is that right? Lauren). And it looks great, so no complaints.

A vintage picnic would be such fun. Do they ever do that here in LA?

Sounds like your making good progress. Hope to see the finished product!

Lady Day is right, an invisible zipper isn't historically accurate, but I've been using them a lot on lightweight dresses and skirts, and I do like the look. They are a little more fragile for long-term wear, but for application I hand baste each side in before sewing and don't have any problems with getting the sides to line up. (but that special foot really *is* necessary) Really authentic would be a button or snap placket, but that's a HUGE pain!

I don't know of any picnics here in SoCal. I'm thinking Gatsby style. We'll just have to start one!

 

[Snookie]

Where oh where can I find a good girdle and long line bra pattern? Im tired of looking trying on and being all mad. I just say 'aww heck with it, Ill make my own'.

Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

LD

LD, I've been thinking about your question, and unfortunately I don't know where to find patterns for those garments. BUT! I thought, what about thrifting something similar to what you want, and making a pattern from it?

Of course, if you already have something close, you could skip the thrifting part. But a thrifted version offers the benefit of taking it apart (to make the patternmaking easier), plus you might see a trick hidden inside that helps with the construction -- either materials, or how it was stitched, etc.

Sorry if you've already considered this and just really want to buy a pattern. I'll keep my eyes peeled for patterns.

 

[Lady Day]

Thanks Snookie.

I did just buy a great girdle from consignment, and I was thinking of drafting a pattern from that (but not taking it apart). I also got a good long line bra that is going back, cause I want the torso a bit longer on it, but I was gonna draft a patter from that as well.

So great minds think alike
Thanks,


LD

 

[Barbara]

Invisible zippers are not all they are creacked up to be.

1) They can be a pain to put in (and require a special foot).
2) The zipper teeth are super small so they can brake much easier.
3) If you are going for 30s style, use a metal zipper.

Plus I made a corduroy skirt from a 50s pattern and evne tho the fabric was super heavy/yummy, I put a waistband on it.

Good luck.

I am going to put a waistband on this, even though my teacher disagrees. Here's the thing. I'm just about to start cutting the fabric and have a question on grains and corduroy. How do I know I'm cutting on the right grain (yes I'm a beginner!).

Thanks

 

[Lady Day]

On your pattern, you will see some arbitrary long line with arrows at either end that crosses most of the length of the pattern. That is the pattern/grain/weave line. Make sure that line is parallel to the ridges of the corduroy, and youre golden.

LD

 

[Barbara]

Thanks mucho. I have a feeling I won't finish the skirt in tomorrow night's class.

Hey if you are around. I have another question. I put some elastic into my daughter's pants and the stitches didn't hold. Does that mean the elastic was too short or not sewn down well enough. I measured the waist against another pair of her pants and thought I was accurate on the elastic. But I only sewed it down either end. Maybe I should have done a double line of sewing?

Thank yoU!

 

[Trixie]

Hi!
I just won a dress on ebay and it has a small but quite noticeable when worn hole on the bust that wasnt mentioned. Is this something that can be mended easily? I know if I were to just stitch it would probably be a mess of thread & puckered fabric. Does anyone know if there a trick? Or will it always be noticeable even if I have a professional stitch it? Thank you!

 

[Miss Dottie]

Simplicity patterns are on sale at JoAnn's for $1.99...I found this cute one:

Whoa! What the! That is so darn cute? What is the number of that pattern?

 

[Elaina]

Thanks mucho. I have a feeling I won't finish the skirt in tomorrow night's class.

Hey if you are around. I have another question. I put some elastic into my daughter's pants and the stitches didn't hold. Does that mean the elastic was too short or not sewn down well enough. I measured the waist against another pair of her pants and thought I was accurate on the elastic. But I only sewed it down either end. Maybe I should have done a double line of sewing?

Thank yoU!

Was it the elastic itself? if so, the best way I have of doing it is going in a box with an X in the middle and doing it 3 times. never comes apart on me.

 

[RedHotRidinHood]

Whoa! What the! That is so darn cute? What is the number of that pattern?

That is 3780...my new favorite pattern! I am determined to make that one this week or next. I love the bodice on it. Anyone make it yet?
Jenny

 

[Lady Day]

Thanks mucho. I have a feeling I won't finish the skirt in tomorrow night's class.

Hey if you are around. I have another question. I put some elastic into my daughter's pants and the stitches didn't hold. Does that mean the elastic was too short or not sewn down well enough. I measured the waist against another pair of her pants and thought I was accurate on the elastic. But I only sewed it down either end. Maybe I should have done a double line of sewing?

Thank yoU!

Did you back stitch? That is a common oopsie of new sewers. Back stitching (hitting the reverse on your machine to go over the same area 2-4 stitches) literally tangels the thread, there by 'locking' it in place and preventing it from unraveling. Get into the habbit of doing that and you wont have anymore unraveling

LD

 

[Lady Day]

Hi!
I just won a dress on ebay and it has a small but quite noticeable when worn hole on the bust that wasnt mentioned. Is this something that can be mended easily? I know if I were to just stitch it would probably be a mess of thread & puckered fabric. Does anyone know if there a trick? Or will it always be noticeable even if I have a professional stitch it? Thank you!

Can you provide a pic of the area?

LD

 

[Elaina]

That is 3780...my new favorite pattern! I am determined to make that one this week or next. I love the bodice on it. Anyone make it yet?
Jenny

No, and I won't. I don't do sleeveless for the sake of others, most people see the tails of scars I have with short sleeves and it grosses them out

 

[Barbara]

Did you back stitch? That is a common oopsie of new sewers. Back stitching (hitting the reverse on your machine to go over the same area 2-4 stitches) literally tangels the thread, there by 'locking' it in place and preventing it from unraveling. Get into the habbit of doing that and you wont have anymore unraveling

LD

Lady Day, Snookie, thanks so much to you both!!! I thought I did backstitch but will try again. I tried so hard to work on this skirt last night, but it was too dark and I was contending with a cranky preschooler.

OK here may be my last question for awhile I hope!!! My husband presented me last night with a pair of vintage khakis trousers that he's been trying to fix up. He ripped the inside leg seam out of one side and now wants to put it back together, but as the outside leg is sewn up already, how on earth can you do this? Will he need to take out the outside seam to get the inside seam done?

 

[Trixie]

Can you provide a pic of the area?

LD

Thank you for your response. The seller is letting me return it so I wrapped it back up. But it was like a moth bite all the way through.