Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: wentzel2
Date: 12-29-2005, 07:58 PM (1 of 6)
|
Help! I am pretty new to sewing. Got a great machine (Singer Quantum XL 5000) and have been teaching myself to sew and embroider. I was trying to make a lightweight jogging suit with a thin stretch velour material. I added the zipper and when I looked at it the whole front was all 'scalloped' looking from having stretched all out of shape. Could anyone offer me any pointers on how to keep from doing this? Seems like I mess something different up every time I do something. When will I ever do something perfect?? |
User: wentzel2
Member since: 12-29-2005 Total posts: 2 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 12-29-2005, 08:03 PM (2 of 6)
|
Hmmm..I haven't ever sewn a zipper onto a stretch knit before, so I don't know what to tell you. "Stabilizer" comes to mind. Hang in, though, somebody here will know!
Andrea
|
User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
|
From: Chrysantha
Date: 12-29-2005, 09:20 PM (3 of 6)
|
Try an iron on stabilizer and a walking foot. (Steam a Seam comes to mind). Also don't let the weight of the fabric pull on itself. Chrys
|
User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
|
From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 12-30-2005, 11:45 AM (4 of 6)
|
Wentzel2 Like the other previous statments, stabilzer would be a good thing. I usually cut a strip of iron-on interfacing, about the width of the zipper and iron-on both sides of the opening. I also lay the garment on a flat surface and pin the zipper in, being careful to make sure it is identical on both sides. I also reduce the pressure foot pressure, so it doesn't force the material to stretch. Hope this helps you and keep on sewing. Congrats on your new machine, and yes you will be doing perfect in no time flat, it's all a learning curve and many things are not memtioned in books or patterns. I do find the magazine Sew News is very good as well as the kwik sew books(with patterns). Hang in there! When you remove the zipper from your garment lay garment flat on your ironing board and kind of push the opening(from each end) towards the centre and then hold your iron over it and give it a few shots of steam and then pat it into shape and let cool before you move it to see if you can get opening back into pre-stretch lenght. I saw this on Shirley Adams one time and it has worked for me in the past. Actually her books are good too. |
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 01-01-2006, 09:29 AM (5 of 6)
|
I have been sewing off and on for about 40 years and it still ain't perfect. There is a flaw in everything I make and when I look at it -- that is what I see even though no one else notices. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 01-01-2006, 11:21 PM (6 of 6)
|
Truer words have not been spoken Dorothy!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-17725.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft