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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: ninifav
Date: 05-08-2005, 04:11 PM (1 of 17)
| Can someone please tell me if I should fold the material with right sides together when cutting out the pattern...If so, what is the reasoning? I usually do wrong sides together because that is the way most of the material seems to come on the bolt; but after the fabric is washed, I guess it does not matter..TIA Paula |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: Catalina
Date: 05-08-2005, 04:14 PM (2 of 17)
| I know they say right sides together- but I always do wrong side together- if its a print that way you can check the print location too. I have never notice that it mattered. |
User: Catalina
Member since: 01-06-2005 Total posts: 119 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-08-2005, 04:47 PM (3 of 17)
|
I think the important thing is doing it the same way all the time so you will always know which way you did it. At least that's the reason I thought it said always do it right sides together. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Saydee
Date: 05-08-2005, 10:14 PM (4 of 17)
|
My understanding was right sides together, reason was so that your markings were placed on the inside of the garment. However I do it both ways depending on the material, how clear the pattern is to see from the inside so the pattern lines up well when constructed. I don't think it matters too much really. |
User: Saydee
Member since: 05-07-2004 Total posts: 68 
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From: dopey
Date: 05-08-2005, 10:57 PM (5 of 17)
 I have just joined this list and would like to say hi. Regarding right sides or wrong sides together I have always put the right sides together but you have made me stop and think about it. Most blouses now don't seem to have a lot of darts, better slacks styles do have a lot of darts as do the skirts. If you have a lot of marking to do I would put the right sides together so that you won't be marking the right side. I would think it would depend on what you are making. I like to mark collars on both sides. I am having a "Senior's Moment" because I can't remember why I do it. Sometimes when you have used a technique so much that it becomes second nature. Obviously I am ready for a wake-up call. I'm trying to get my nerve up to make a princess line dress. My body is asymmetrical and I know that I will have to make the left side larger than the right side. That means making two sides to every piece. I am sure that some sewers have the confidence just to cut the one side larger as they cut but I think that would be tricky too. I know personally that I won't be able to cut the fabric with right or wrong sides together. Each side of the body will have to be cut out separately. I have been reading about all of the different fabrics that have just a little stretch. I live in Canada in the country and wonder where this is available. I know it won't be here. If anyone has any ideas as to where it is available I would appreciate it. I find it so expensive buying fabric from the States because the postage and USFunds just double the price. Well, sorry to get off topic. Nice to meet you all. Dorothy
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User: dopey
Member since: 08-12-2000 Total posts: 6 |
From: carman
Date: 05-09-2005, 12:55 AM (6 of 17)
Welcome Dorothy, these ladies are a bundle of info. have you done a google search for the fabric you are looking for, there are a huge number of canadian stores on line so only postage and delivery would be the cost. another option is ebay, i love buying fat q's for my quilting there, so much variety and even with exchange and postage i still save upto 10.99 a meter, as most quilt fabric is between 16 and 20 dollars a meter, when i have to pay 7 or 8 meter i am sooooooooooo happy 
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User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
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From: MaryW
Date: 05-09-2005, 05:31 AM (7 of 17)
Hi Dopey. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: paroper
Date: 05-09-2005, 11:47 PM (8 of 17)
|
I don't refold my fabrics, I really don't see a point, but I do like it better when I cut so that the wrong side is inside. The reason is for marking transfers as so well pointed out by Saydee. I've always just thought that they tell you that because they had to make an "executive decision" if they were going to give you all the instructions from beginning to end. Besides, it saves ink if they don't have to color the pattern material. When giving the instructions they color one side.
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: DorothyL
Date: 05-10-2005, 07:43 AM (9 of 17)
|
Pam, What do you mean you don't refold your fabrics? You don't mean you bring them home from the store in a condition that you just lay them down and cut them, do you? If you can do that you really are a sewing goddess. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 05-10-2005, 08:08 AM (10 of 17)
|
That's pretty much the size of it...unless the fold isn't centered or the grain is not correct. If I purchase many yards of fabric, I sometimes have it bolted and use it without unbolting....just unrolling, laying and cutting as I go. When you sometimes deal with 30-40 yards at at time, it just seems the thing to do. Especially on big jobs, organization is the key (for me) to getting things done in a timely fashion. Since I lay my pattern pieces to utilize as much of the fabric as possible, I keep a check sheet of pieces that need to be cut by each girl (or boy's) name...and I check them off as I cut each one. After cutting, each piece is either labled or stacked in a particular way; by pattern type if I am doing many pieces alike (if I were doing something like color guard flags), or by person's name is I am doing many outfits. If I am doing many outfits, I put a name on the top of the stack and the first thing I do after everything is cut is interface and finish the edges of the facings. Into these facings, I use the built in machine stitches and put the name of the person who will wear that outfit. From that point on, the facings go with the outfit everytime I do anything on it. This also rather helps me keep my focus. It is like I am custom sewing a project for that person, not just doing bulk sewing and for me it relieves boredom. My highschool home ec teacher and I sometimes talk about this process and she just shakes her head at me. Except for people that wash all their fabric, I didn't realize that people routinely did anything else. I do sometimes rather fuss at myself if I have to unpin and repin to mark dart, but if I tailor's tacks I don't have to do that. 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: paroper
Date: 05-10-2005, 08:25 AM (11 of 17)
|
I brought home the fabrics for my daughter's wedding party yesterday. I had everything bolted or rerolled at the store. Over the next several months, I will sew these outfits straight off the bolt. When I cut them they will be pristine. All the girls are either at the end of a diet where they lost a lot of weight or on a new program working out at a gym. I'll start out making the veil (I have to do the bias cut satin strips for this and beading the veil) and her train (once we figure out how it will be embroidered and beaded.) I'll do the pillow and maybe the pew roses. Then I'll do the men and boy's vests and bow ties. After that I may rough cut and serge the edges of the dress so that I can bead the main portion of the dress while it is flat. I'll do the bride's maids, then the flower girls and then construct her dress. I'll just be trying to logically get as much of the wedding done as I can early, but I'll need to stall for time on the girl's dresses because they are all growing or they are diets. It isn't such a big deal because I can easily construct 17 dresses in a week and this project isn't nearly that big, but I really don't like to have things pending so this will be hard for me.
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: DorothyL
Date: 05-10-2005, 08:25 AM (12 of 17)
|
WOW I'd have such a mess if I did that. And I'm only working with one piece at a time. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 05-10-2005, 08:50 AM (13 of 17)
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Pam, you WILL be sure to show us pictures when you're done, right?
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
|
User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-10-2005, 01:09 PM (14 of 17)
|
Pam, Thanks . That is soooo interesting .. I picked up a good tip also.. About the name on the facing.. Great idea for my Grands..They will love it.. I admire your work ethic, but better you than me.. Of course, I was never the type to sew for a living anyway.. I love to decide what to make, and choosing my own fabric.. I also do not prewash my good garment fabrics.. I do prewash all cottons (100 %) . But I have just started to experiment a little with quilting type stuff.. A pro garment maker told me a long time ago that the better dressmaker fabrics come folded RST on the bolts.. I see some like that even now, and I was told that many years ago.. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: ninifav
Date: 05-10-2005, 11:56 PM (15 of 17)
| Gosh, Pam, I am hyper-ventilating just reading your post!! Just getting through one new pattern causes anxiety for me...I would love to sew more garments (I do a lot of embroidery projects) but I really have an awful time understanding and following pattern directions...I think that I am spacially challenged..or something..he he ...Paula |
User: ninifav
Member since: 09-06-2004 Total posts: 204 |
From: paroper
Date: 05-11-2005, 12:21 AM (16 of 17)
|
It's all in organization and getting good measurments. You make most of the adjustments when you cut. When doing a wedding I always do a mock up of the basic structure of the dresses...just past the hips...for a fitting before I cut the real fabric. I make most of the expected alterations on the mock up...but when I fit it, I fit it as though it is the real thing...there are sometimes suprises in the fit. I buy inexpensive material that has either a stripe, plaid or check and I run a basting stitch everywhere there will be a seam that I am not using so I can check the arms, shoulders, etc. I do a large basting stitch to hold it together so that I can rip it if I need to. I mark all over the mock up, cut and slash and add fabric where I may need it, make changes, do all kinds of things. When I am through I take it apart and using the alterations that I have made, it becomes the actual pattern. I use the stripe, check or plaid so that I can keep the dress grain perfect when fitting...make sure the grain is running correctly in relationship to the floor and the client's body. I can use the straight lines to measure straight of grain when I cut it out.
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: grandmasue
Date: 05-11-2005, 09:57 AM (17 of 17)
|
I have only one reason that I cut my patterns out with the right sides of the fabric facing together and that is because you sew the pieces together with the right sides facing. I can cut and sew. No turning pieces around and trying to get them lined up again to sew them. less handling of the fabric and less chance of them losing shape while you are flipping pieces around.
Grandma Sue
------------ At the end I am not showing up at my grave all pretty and well preserved...I am coming in sliding, yelling "What a ride!" |
User: grandmasue
Member since: 10-26-2004 Total posts: 138 
|
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