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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: Katielady
Date: 03-04-2006, 09:30 PM (1 of 5)
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Hello everyone, I'm so glad that I bumped into this sewing forum - looks like fun! I gotta tell you that after so many years of seeing my mom sew (she's been sewing ever since she was born!!) such beautiful things from every garment you can imagine, to curtains, upholstry etc...I decided to take up the challenge and see if I got some of her talent...?? I sewed 2 curtain panels for my kitchen with an old 1967 Singer machine for the first time and I DID IT!!! For my second little project I want to sew a skirt. Because I know nothing about sewing, I found some sewing terms on the pattern that I don't know what they mean. I can't ask my mom because she's a woman in her late 60s whos first language is Greek. She just looks and sews - doesn't need the teminology. I feel quite stupid not to know this  and I'm hoping someone can help me. What is a stay stich? Is that the temporary stitch you do by hand before you sew? I don't even know what a "nap" is.Your help is really appreciated Katielady ]
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User: Katielady
Member since: 03-04-2006 Total posts: 2 |
From: dmoses
Date: 03-04-2006, 10:51 PM (2 of 5)
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Hi Katielady, Welcome to Sew-What's-New discussion boards! I know you will like it here...there are many knowledgeable sew-ers here who are happy to share information. The temporary stitch before actually stitching is called basting. Staystitching is done on curves(for example, necklines) to prevent distortion. It is done on a single layer of fabric, before stitching the seam, between the cut edge and the seamline. I usually use a shorter stitch length. I'm struggling to explain 'nap' right now...it's past my bedtime.  But don't worry, I'm sure someone will pop in to explain it soon.In the meantime, I found a site that explains a lot of the sewing terms...Sewing glossary (http://www.sewingweb.com/dictionary/). Check it out! 
Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 03-04-2006, 10:59 PM (3 of 5)
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Some fabrics have 'naps' in their finish. Corduroy, Flannel, Velvet, Silk... If you brush it one way it's UP, the other way, it's DOWN. You ALWAYS want the nap to lay DOWN on a garment. (if it doesn't it looks funny and will make the garment 'almost' unwearable....trying to slide in corduroy going UP is hard to do....brushing velvet thats UP will pull the fibers out.) Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: paroper
Date: 03-05-2006, 02:59 AM (4 of 5)
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Stay stitching is always done in a particular direction as noted on your patten by arrows or more frequently on your pattern sheet. The stay stitching is done with the direction of the grain to keep you from stretching your fabric as you sew. It keeps your fabric, some more than others, from stretching out and getting larger on one side of the neck than the other, the shoulders from becoming misshapened, etc. There are two types of nap. One, as stated is where the fabric has a difference in the way it catches light or has a texture that lays differently. If you are unsure of your fabric, always buy for with nap. There is another type. This has to do with the print of the fabric. Often if you really look at the fabric, sometimes more often than you realize, if you look at the fabric you'll see that all the patterns go one direction. Those patterns use the nap layout. Also, sometimes all the patterns are repeated the same except for one flower or the orange butterfly...those would also use a nap cut out. More importantly, when dealing with plaids or even stripes. Always make sure that the pattern is equal. Sometimes you'll find a green or yellow line that is always on only one or sometimes two sides of the pattern. Sometimes the line is green on one side and yellow on the other, or the size is irregular. Special care needs to be taken in cutting those out, one piece at a time so that the plaid/stripe is not reversed on one side of the body, esp in cases where the center is cut on the fold..then you end up with one back section that is reversed and it really shows. I just bought the most lovely skirt fabric from Hancocks. Is it done in bands. When they get to the solid color, the bands reverse and "go back" the other direction. The full pattern is a 27 inch repeat. If I cut this pattern out in tiers, I can save a lot of fabric. If I cut it out as a long skirt, I'll have some problems (unfortunately, the pattern I really love for this is very full, pleated and long, no tiers). I haven't really decided on the skirt pattern yet because I haven't checked to see how much I'll waste. Because the bands are straight across, I'll need to make sure that I don't have a pattern that curves or it will look strange. 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: Katielady
Date: 03-05-2006, 12:23 PM (5 of 5)
Thank's a bunch ladies I never expected such a quick reply with your detailed explanations and glossary site. I'll let you know how my skirt turned out (if I bump into another obstacle I know who to contact! )and once again thanks  I better get crakin' and start sewing!! 
Katielady ]
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User: Katielady
Member since: 03-04-2006 Total posts: 2 |
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