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From: thanson68
Date: 07-10-2004, 08:18 AM (1 of 4)
| Could someone please give me advice on how to create gathers that look decent. It seems everytime I try to gather something, it comes out terrible! I have never had any luck with this. My sewing techniques are rusty and I am trying to donate some time each day to try and improve, but I am becoming disgusted. The last couple garments I have made, I threw them away. Also, when a pattern calls for an elastic casing for a skirt, pair of shorts, etc, it looks messy. The material wants to slide around on the elastic or the elastic wants to turn and roll. I have tried the STITCH IN THE DITCH method. This doesn't look professional either. Any suggestions? Interfacings: I have always used fusibles. I know the instructions say to trim the interfacings. Should they be trimmed and how much? I want it to look nice and neat but do not know a method of making sure the trimmed edges are even. I hope you guys out there have some suggestions. I am so frustrated, but I am determined not to give up. Also, if anyone knows of any other sewing websites, that would be great too! Thank you! |
User: thanson68
Member since: 08-05-2002 Total posts: 16 
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From: stitchmd
Date: 07-10-2004, 10:19 AM (2 of 4)
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You sound totally overwhelmed by all there is to learn. How about choosing one of these skills at a time, getting advice, and practicing just that. All of us have gone through this trial and error process, it takes a lot of patience and there are a lot of failures along the way. I'm kicking myself over something I cut backwards, corrected, then sewed on backwards yesterday. I've been sewing over 40 years. I had to put it down and wait until I was ready to tackle ripping out and resewing, lost my momentum and am not as far along on this project as I would have been without this frustration stopping me. So please don't give up. You'll get it and you'll love what you can do with the skills. |
User: stitchmd
Member since: 02-25-2003 Total posts: 226 |
From: weB2cats
Date: 07-12-2004, 11:10 PM (3 of 4)
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Gathers done with 3 rows of basting thread (by machine on the largest stitch possible) always works the best for me. One trick I use is to divide the circumference of the measurement being used into 4. Mark CF and CB (center front & center back). You should now have 2 areas pinned. The middle of two seamlines are the other 2 points to mark. Do the same with the pieces going into that area (sleeve, bodice). Adjust the gatherings between those 4 areas and you'll have fairly perfect gathers, evenly spaced. I've had pretty good luck using this method and have always been satisfied w/the results. The old school was to hand-baste the gatherings and I'm sure some just wing it and can judge distances better than I. But personally, I like a more professional look. I notice in the new Nancy's Notions catalog that there is a single-shank needle with 3 separate needle eyes (page 45). You would need 3 spools/bobbins of threads ready to go. But they wouldn't have to match. |
User: weB2cats
Member since: 11-07-2002 Total posts: 232 |
From: MariLynnTX
Date: 07-19-2004, 12:11 PM (4 of 4)
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I did custom sewing for many years and also taught freemotion machine embroidery. For gathering I keep a ball of crochet thread about the same weight as cordonnet sewing thread and I cut off a piece about 2" longer than the piece of fabric I am gathering. I knot one end with a fairly bulky knot and lay in on the gathering line of the fabric, then zigzag stitch over it with a wide stitch. Then you can pull the cording thread to the length needed and it is easy to even out the gathers without breaking the crochet gathering thread. Straight stitch to wherever it is you need to (at the lower edge of the zigzag stitch), cut off the knot at your beginning end, and pull out the crochet thread. This is far easier than pulling two or three rows of gathering stitches. For elastic, I cut a length that fits comfortably but snugly around my waist. I use one inch wide elastic that is firm and not easy to roll from edge to edge. I fold it in half, mark the fold, then fold each end to that center mark, and mark those on their fold. This divides the elastic into four sections. Stitch the ends together. Pin the center mark to the center front of your pants or skirt (if you are just turning a waistband in) or to the center of the waistband (if you are using a separate piece), and the seam of the elastic to the center back, then each side mark to the side seams and stitch across the elastic at each of these places. Now turn the fabric (which I assume has been given a finished edge, either zigzag-stitched or turned under and straight-stitched on the edge) and the elastic to the inside of the pants or skirt and straight-stitch (or zigzag-stitch on knits) the lower edge to the pants/skirts fabric, stretching the elastic to fit. Elastic put in this way will not roll and it is easy to smooth the gathers evenly. If you find this confusing, I'll be glad to try to answer any questions you may have. It is hard to picture exactly what to do, I know, but it is simple once you get it sorted out. MariLynntx Life is a song...we give it harmony or dissonance.
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User: MariLynnTX
Member since: 08-13-2001 Total posts: 256 |
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