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From: Parsuzi
Date: 10-28-2004, 06:31 PM (1 of 7)
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My lovely 3 year old daughter is Snow White this Halloween. I carefully purchased the pattern (simplicity 5402), fabric, and followed the directions carefully. After wearing it twice (day care party and preschool party), the sleeves are pulling out. The fabric's just fraying and 'giving out'. I did serge the seams. SHould I have done something else to prevent this? I have solid basic sewing knowledge and spent years watching my grandmother sew. Suzanne |
User: Parsuzi
Member since: 09-11-2004 Total posts: 7 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-29-2004, 12:36 AM (2 of 7)
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Some fabrics are more prone to do that than others. You might have had better luck with a French seam which encloses your ends in the seam and double sews them.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: TerryOH
Date: 11-01-2004, 11:32 PM (3 of 7)
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Which satin did you buy? At the Joann nearest me they had 2 kinds. One was with the Halloween fabric and it frays a lot. The other was better quality and was in with the bridal fabric. I used the "cheapy" fabric to make some blanket binding (I needed orange) and it frays easily.
TerryOH
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User: TerryOH
Member since: 09-11-2004 Total posts: 3 
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From: Parsuzi
Date: 11-02-2004, 06:50 AM (4 of 7)
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Terry, It WAS the cheapy Halloween stuff. Good point. I didn't consider that when purchasing my 'bargain'. Some bargain, huh?! |
User: Parsuzi
Member since: 09-11-2004 Total posts: 7 |
From: CatholicMum
Date: 11-02-2004, 08:15 AM (5 of 7)
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It's probably overkill on my part but when I sew for my kids (4 y/o daughter, 13 y/o son - both hard on clothes), I always trim one side of the seam after sewing it, then turn fold the other side over it and sew again. It's an extra step but the raw edge is completely enclosed and can't fray, - plus it makes for a stronger seam. I don't have a serger so not sure how this would compare to serging as a finish technique.
Linda
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User: CatholicMum
Member since: 10-31-2004 Total posts: 19 |
From: MaryW
Date: 11-02-2004, 08:30 AM (6 of 7)
Parsuzi, I know exactly how you feel. I had this happen to me once. It was a combination of cheap satin and serging too close to the stitching line. It was years ago but I was so mad when it happened. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: paroper
Date: 11-02-2004, 08:58 AM (7 of 7)
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Catholicmum, that's a flat fell seam and it is a good one. The French seam is almost the same but it is used for fine garments (usually). You sew 1/4 inch seam with the WRONG sides together, trim and then pull the seam back "into" the dress and sew again, the seams are encased. You still have two seams encased, you just don't have a stitch showing on the outside. Both methods make a very nice clean strong seam. I just made some 18 inch by 20 foot streamers for the band and I used a combination. I used a French seam (but I did NOT trim it) and then sewed the thing down like a flat fell..made it three seams strong. They took a lot of torment in band competition and came through it great. I thought that might be a good way to handle the flags because they twist and pull so much and have so much weight to pull against them. .
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
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