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From: Military_Mom
Date: 02-13-2005, 09:04 AM (1 of 6)
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I'm making a nightgown for DGD and the pattern says to put a casing around the neck...stretching as you go to tighten up the neckline. When I measure around the neckline itself, it's about 23 inches.(It's a size 2 pattern)How do I know how long to make the casing so it gathers a little? Is there a 'rule of thumb' for that? I'm sure it's shorter than the 23 inches but I don't know how much shorter to make it. The pattern doesn't indicate anything about that. I had put one on already and had to take that off because it didn't gather it at all...I cut the casing on the wrong direction of the knit so there wasn't any stretch at all and the neckline was too big. Learning as I go here... I had the same problem when I put a cuff on..I had to keep cutting it down so it had a more snug fit. Any help for me?? Thanks! ~Becky |
User: Military_Mom
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 109 
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From: dmoses
Date: 02-13-2005, 11:30 AM (2 of 6)
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Hi Becky, I'm not sure that I understand what you are saying. A casing usually has an elastic or some type of cording running through it. That is what you would pull on to gather the casing. If you are using a ribbing, then the ribbing is smaller than the garment neckline to which you are attaching it. In that case, you would have to stretch the ribbing as you sew. When finished, the ribbing should 'recover' its original size, thus 'gathering' the neckline. The ribbing should be able to stretch over the childs head, as well as be comfortable around the neck. I think it is usually about 2/3 of the garment neckline, but it would also depend on the elasticity of the ribbing. Hope this helps. If not, I hope I haven't confused you even more!  
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: Military_Mom
Date: 02-13-2005, 01:41 PM (3 of 6)
Thanks for your reply,Donna. The pattern was a little confusing to me,too. (Butterick...SUPPOSEDLY "fast and easy"!..yeah,right!) I guess it's saying to use double fold bias tape and stretch as you go. I didn't think that was stretchy but I guess it must be.  What I ended up doing was to make a ribbing out of the material and did as you suggested and it worked great to finish off the neckline.(serged) All I need to do now is put a little button or some kind of closure in the back and it'll be done. This is the first time I've tried a nightgown project and with each project I'm learning a little more! I'm sure I'll be asking a lot more questions along the way and I do appreciate your response. Thanks again. ~Becky |
User: Military_Mom
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 109
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From: bridesmom
Date: 02-14-2005, 09:11 AM (4 of 6)
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Ok, bear with me here, I've been up all night working. Nancy Zieman ( Sewing with Nancy) suggests measuring the neckline and cutting your ribbing 2/3 of the length or a 2:3 ratio. The other thing I have read and done as well especially with childrens clothing is to take a strip of the fabric I am using for ribbing and put it around the child's head, measuring it so that it can easily be stretched over the head as sometimes their heads are bigger and the neckline can be too tight using their pattern piece. That way it ensures the child can get the top over their head! Well, that wasn't too bad, at least I think I understand what I just wrote.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Military_Mom
Date: 02-14-2005, 03:03 PM (5 of 6)
Thanks, Bridesmom..that's a good way to measure..I'll remember that. The problem that I have, though, is that my DGD is in Virginia and I'm in PA. I don't get a lot of cooperation with DIL for measuring.."can't find a tape measure, baby's sleeping, etc..." so I'm going pretty much by the pattern and hoping for the best!  I think the size 2 pattern might be a little big, but she'll grow.
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User: Military_Mom
Member since: 01-10-2005 Total posts: 109
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From: bridesmom
Date: 02-15-2005, 08:56 PM (6 of 6)
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I can really relate, my DGD is in Alberta and I am in BC, but the daughter is quite good at getting me measurements, its the grandaughter that can't be bothered to stand still for 5 minutes!! I am making pj's for her and when I got her sizes I realized she is just barely a size 2 but is almost 3 years old. So the pj's will be BIG for a while. Good thing they grow!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
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