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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 02-18-2005, 08:06 PM (1 of 14)
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I'm getting ready to cut out my fabric for a new dress I'm making. I'm using a very lightweight poly crepe to make a loosely fitted dress with empire wasteline and front and back pleats. Any pointers on working with this kind of fabric. Any special tips regarding how it feeds?
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 02-18-2005, 09:22 PM (2 of 14)
Hmm.....are you feeding it or are you feeding it to someone else ???  ::smart a** mode:: Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-19-2005, 08:22 AM (3 of 14)
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Ouch Chrys! Andrea -- I find crepe very easy to work with and treat it like any other fabric that is the same kind of fiber -- wool crepe like any wool, poly crepe like any poly. I have no problems with the way it feeds but I have the Pfaff walking foot so that helps with everything. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 02-19-2005, 01:27 PM (4 of 14)
ahhhh....just getting my feet wet here. I see we have some live wires!  Thanks for the insight Dorothy!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: MaryW
Date: 02-21-2005, 09:01 AM (5 of 14)
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Hi AndreaSews, welcome to Sew Whats New. We have fun here, don't mind us. Crepe has a variety of weights. The heavier is for pants and jackets. Apparently the designers just love crepe. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 02-21-2005, 12:48 PM (6 of 14)
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I'd hoped to get started on it this weekend, but it's still untouched. Oh well! I did manage to pin fit the pattern to myself and have a couple of minor changes in mind. I was a little nervous at first, thinking the yardage was a little expensive, and so I really didn't want to make mistakes! But I looked at my receipt again and considered that it was cut for a 60 inch bolt and I needed a shorter length. OK, wish me luck!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 02-21-2005, 10:45 PM (7 of 14)
Now's the part when we get to know each other.  I'm sort of known for making delightful little kiddy outfits and "rewarding" myself occasionally by splurging on a project for myself. The part I'm best known for is selecting the worst-to-work-with fabrics possible for the things I make for myself, so that, once I finally get through the project, I have come to actually hate the garment and even have trouble accepting a compliment on it b/c I am so bitter! My lightweight crepe is so flimsy, it will surely need to be lined, top to bottom, prolonging my misery... I began to cut the fabric this afternoon. The fabric is running away from my very sharp scissors. I can't cut it straight at all. If I breathe too deeply, the fabric shimmies ever so slightly and I end up cutting a big old warp. I ended up fixing one piece just now using a rotary cutter, and that helped. It looked like a kindergarten craft until I got the bright idea. Just as I got it done, I went and sliced my thumb. On the bright side, the blade was super-sharp, so it's a clean cut and doesn't hurt. Yet. I have a big bandage on now, and I've already taken my first official blow-off-some-steam break from this project. Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: DorothyL
Date: 02-22-2005, 07:27 AM (8 of 14)
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If you are going to line the garment anyway, perhaps underlining -- with the lining sewed to the fashion fabric then working as if it is one piece of fabric -- will make it easier to handle. You would lose someof the drape though. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: MaryW
Date: 02-22-2005, 10:43 AM (9 of 14)
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It sounds as if you are really having a rotten time with this stuff. Try laying your fabric out on an old flannel sheet when you are cutting it out. Sometimes that helps to control it a bit. Tissue paper works too. Pin your fabric to the tissue paper or flannel. Then pin the pattern thru both fabric and tissue paper and cut out your pieces.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 02-22-2005, 01:36 PM (10 of 14)
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Oh! OK, good. now I have some ideas to work with! Thanks! I recently re-did the sewing room, and my desk is wirking nicely as a cutting table now that I keep it clear and it's away from the wall. It looks like for this project I'd do better to get down on the carpet again!!! Then I won't have to tug against the weight of the fabric that is draped over the edge of the desktop. I do have some extra flannel yardage to lay out too. I think I'll take your advice, Dorothy, and work the lining and outer fabric together, except for the skirt. The skirt will be straight lines to sew, and should be easier to get through! OK, thanks, ladies, I'm feeling more optimistic now!
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 03-04-2005, 11:25 AM (11 of 14)
I'm back, and yes, I'm still working on this dress!! OK, I used above suggestions to cut out the fabric and that went well, though laboriously. And then I bought a good quality poly lining, and cut that out too. I decided, as suggested, to sew the lining pieces right to the fabric pieces. I've done just 2 pieces so far, and I want to stop for more help before I have a mess on my hands . The crepe still wiggles around, and the result, no matter how much pinning I do, is that when stitched together, the two pieces do not lie flat together. I've done them and torn the stitches out and done them over again, trying with the crepe on top and with the crepe on bottom. The first thing that comes to mind is stabilizer (?). Is there something I can do to stabilize this stuff? I've heard about wash away stabilizers but I don't know how to use them. Do you buy it on thebolt or in a package? Do you apply it to the whole piece or just to the seam allowances? Gee it sounded like it would be such a nice project! 
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: Hogmami
Date: 03-04-2005, 11:45 AM (12 of 14)
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Try some spray adhesvise.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
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From: MaryW
Date: 03-04-2005, 11:57 AM (13 of 14)
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I'm wondering if you shouldn't interface everything. This might take a bit of the drape out of it but make it easier to handle.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: mamadus
Date: 03-08-2005, 01:21 AM (14 of 14)
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Floriani makes a very light weight iron on mesh stabilizer that might be what your looking for... check your local sewing shop... I don't think Joanne;s carries Floriani... this would probably be at a smaller shop... just my 2 cents... MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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