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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: blackie
Date: 05-09-2005, 01:22 AM (1 of 15)
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Finished this today - a scrap dress for Sophie (http://kelly.hogaboom.org/2005/05/and-now-for-break.html). I didn't like how full the skirt turned out so I may give it to a friend (who I know would love it). I have a question - Hong Kong seam finish! Why does mine suck? I made my own single-fold bias tape (not true bias tape, the strips were on the grain). Sewed with 1/8 S.A., trimmed close (about 1/16), flipped over to stitch in the ditch. Had a hard time sewing in the ditch. Good thing these awful-looking seams are on the INSIDE of the garment. Any good ideas on how to do HK seams? Help is appreciated! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-09-2005, 05:24 AM (2 of 15)
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She is so cute, she's gonna be a real heartbreaker. I don't know why you had problems staying in the ditch. Maybe you were watching fabric instead of where your stitching went. I dunno. MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 05-09-2005, 07:31 AM (3 of 15)
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I really like that dress, especially the sleeve treatment. As for your Hong Kong seam finish, maybe you trimmed it a little to close. How wide was your seam binding? I find a little wider a lot easier to use. And I like a tape cut on the bias myself. Go slow and keep the ditch right down the middle of your foot. Do you have a clear plastic foot for your machine? That might make it easier. I really do think wider seam binding helps a lot. If the fashion fabric is to light to take a wider binding maybe you should consider a different finish. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: shediditagen
Date: 05-09-2005, 10:58 AM (4 of 15)
| Would "Seams Great" have worked for the seam binding? Betty |
User: shediditagen
Member since: 03-15-2005 Total posts: 28 |
From: blackie
Date: 05-09-2005, 03:46 PM (5 of 15)
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Betty - what is "Seams Great"? Thank you for the tips! Dorothy, I was using a rather narrow strip and not cut on the bias. I also wasn't going very slow and YES, I was watching the fabric, not the foot. I am used to watching the fabric instead of right where the needle goes, KWIM? Looking at the HK seams this morning, they aren't as bad as I thought. I just wish I had sewing classes where I live, so I could learn all the cool tips on how to have a more professional finish. :-( see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 05-09-2005, 04:03 PM (6 of 15)
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Here's the big tip. It helps every time with every thing. SLOW DOWN!!! Most of us taught ourselves, just like you, Blackie. You seem to be advancing fast so just keep at it. Every once in a while things don't turn out the way we plan. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: BeckyW
Date: 05-09-2005, 05:19 PM (7 of 15)
What kind of machine do you have Blackie? I have a Janome and I just bought the most wonderful foot ever. It is called a ditch-quilting-foot by Janome. Some manufacturers call it an edgejoining foot. It has a nice little blade down the middle of the foot that helps you do perfect stitch-in-the-ditch. The other wonderful thing is that you can shift your needle over using the stitch width setting (straight stitch) and make the most perfect topstitching. I do not know how I lived without this foot. I have an old Kenmore machine which this Janome snap-on foot fits as well. If you can find one to fit your machine. I highly recommend it. 
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User: BeckyW
Member since: 12-25-2004 Total posts: 24 |
From: MaryW
Date: 05-09-2005, 05:31 PM (8 of 15)
Hi BeckyW, welcome to Sew Whats New. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542
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From: blackie
Date: 05-09-2005, 05:37 PM (9 of 15)
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What kind of machine do you have Blackie? I have a Janome and I just bought the most wonderful foot ever. It is called a ditch-quilting-foot by Janome. Some manufacturers call it an edgejoining foot. It has a nice little blade down the middle of the foot that helps you do perfect stitch-in-the-ditch. The other wonderful thing is that you can shift your needle over using the stitch width setting (straight stitch) and make the most perfect topstitching. I do not know how I lived without this foot. I have an old Kenmore machine which this Janome snap-on foot fits as well. If you can find one to fit your machine. I highly recommend it. Oooooh! That sounds greally great! I have a Kenmore too - it would probably fit. I am assuming you mean this (http://www.janome.com/product_show.php?id=459). Can you buy from them direct, or do you have to find them in a shop? Thank you thank you! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: sewingrandma
Date: 05-09-2005, 06:07 PM (10 of 15)
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Seams Great is a notion you can get to put over the seams raw edges to make a neat and clean finish. It is like a stretchy bias tape and will roll around the edges you are covering as you sew, almost like magic!
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: BeckyW
Date: 05-09-2005, 08:58 PM (11 of 15)
| Blackie, that is exactly the foot I am talking about. I bought mine from my Janome dealer's local shop. If you have a local dealer you can probably take your snap on shank and a foot with you to make sure that it will fit. I would bet that it does. You will love that foot. If it does, there are several more Janome feet that are really helpful. I would say that I use that ditch quilting foot the most. Your Hong Kong finish will be perfect. It helps you make such beautiful topstitching too. I just made a little Hawaiian shirt for my little boy and the stitching where I used that foot to sew on the pocket was a thing of beauty. |
User: BeckyW
Member since: 12-25-2004 Total posts: 24 |
From: paroper
Date: 05-10-2005, 06:15 PM (12 of 15)
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That was the foot I was thinking of as I read your post. Bernina makes two. One of those is used for blind stitching. I use them for all kinds of edge stitching too (including sewing on patch pockets....they are WONDERFUL and well worth the few dollars they cost!
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: abcameo
Date: 05-12-2005, 01:51 PM (13 of 15)
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I bought mine from: http://www.sewexcited.com I love this site. They have all sorts of presser feet for Janome and generic, and the prices are excellent--cheaper that my local sewing shop, even with the shipping and handling included! I've purchased a bunch of presser feet from them for much less including a ruffler foot. Amy |
User: abcameo
Member since: 11-02-2004 Total posts: 131 |
From: blackie
Date: 06-13-2005, 12:58 AM (14 of 15)
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Amy & Becky - Thank you for the foot recommendation AND the sewexcited website - I got my foot last week and have put it to use many, many times! K. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: luv2sew
Date: 06-13-2005, 08:40 AM (15 of 15)
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Blackie.....just found this site on seam finishes. http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/textiles/heg147.htm Thought you might be interested. Luv2sew Luv2sew
An act of kindness is never wasted!! |
User: luv2sew
Member since: 05-21-2004 Total posts: 174 
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