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From: sew4me
Date: 01-01-2006, 08:06 PM (1 of 8)
| help! i'm new at sewing and i can't seem to understand what the difference is between sewing with vs against the grain. what's the difference when sewing for instance table runners & place mats vs a blouse or a skirt. help please! thanks, a new beginner |
User: sew4me
Member since: 01-01-2006 Total posts: 2 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 01-01-2006, 11:22 PM (2 of 8)
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Welcome sew4me! I am not even going to attempt an answer, because there are some really knowledgeable people who can explain things so clearly. Me, you'd see mud!!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: woodywoodpecker
Date: 01-01-2006, 11:55 PM (3 of 8)
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The way I understand this is the drape or flow of the fabric. Say for instance that it was a skirt or shirt, the weight of the fabric could pull it out of shape and you wouldn't have a good product. If you notice in the patterns of the clothing it shows you how to lay out your fabric on grain and the sewing directions, that's because it reduces the chances of stretching out of shape. It's kind of the same thing when you are cutting or sewing fabric, you don't want the material hanging off the edge of the cutting table or sewing table, because the weight of the fabric could cause you major headaches with stretching. I personally don't get too excited about having placemats and smaller stuff like that on grain but clothing I do, sometimes if you have too much pressure on your pressure foot it will cause your material to stretch as well, or the top layer will feed different than the bottom layer, causing a shortage. Hope this somewhat answers your question and I'm sure you will get lots of replies to your question. |
User: woodywoodpecker
Member since: 11-07-2003 Total posts: 242 |
From: paroper
Date: 01-02-2006, 04:13 AM (4 of 8)
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If you sew against the grain the garment will stretch. A common place to see the grain is at the neckline where the garment is cut in a circle or at the shoulders where it is recommended that you stay stitch to keep from stretching your garment. On some fabrics, sewing against the grain can actually amount to inches of extra stretched fabric. If you are cutting square tablecloths, it is not a problem because the fabric, unless laid on the bias is already on the straight or cross grain where you are not sewing across slanted edges. If you are sewing a round table cloth, on the other hand, you will be constantly dealing with the grainline. So, how do you tell what the straight of grain will be? Well, It is sewing WITH the long threads of the garment, not across the short ends. On a skirt, it is sewing up from the bottom of the skirt, not down from the top. At a neckline, it is stay stitching down from the top corner of the neck toward the middle on both sides. If for some reason, you much construct your garment in reverse, you can stay stitch first to make sure that it doesn't stretch because of the pressure of sewing against the grain. At the shoulders, you stitch up from the corners to stay stitch. 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: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 01-02-2006, 11:41 AM (5 of 8)
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If you are using patterns, the stitching lines on the printed pattern pieces have little arrows in them.. These are directional arrows to tell you which direction to stitch that particular seam.. Start looking at them and following them.. It will soon become second nature..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: esrun3
Date: 01-02-2006, 03:35 PM (6 of 8)
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Welcome sew4me! I think you've got your answer but I wanted to welcome you!
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: sew4me
Date: 01-06-2006, 02:44 PM (7 of 8)
thank you all so much for your replies, you've all been so helpful! i'll be sure to post more questions as i begin my sewing adventures! 
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User: sew4me
Member since: 01-01-2006 Total posts: 2 |
From: mozeyrn
Date: 01-06-2006, 02:54 PM (8 of 8)
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I just learned a bunch from your posting! I was browsing thru and figured I don't know a whole lot of grains and took a peek. Thanks so much! - Maureen.
Learning something new with every stitch!! Kenmore 16231000 |
User: mozeyrn
Member since: 11-29-2005 Total posts: 349 |
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