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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: blackie
Date: 10-22-2006, 07:16 PM (1 of 12)
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So, my daughter is going to be a Corpse Bride for Halloween this year. I just got home with my fabrics and pattern. I'm using Butterick 4887 (http://www.smartcart.com/1sew/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=4887bk) for her gown. I'm doing a lace overlay and a tulle peplum. http://www.1sewingpatterns.com/images0/4887bkb.jpg My questions: 1. Do I prewash the tulle (nylon), the lace (100% polyester), and the trim (I don't know what it's made of)? My gut tells me not to wash them. I am currently washing the fashion fabric - a linen / rayon blend. 2. Do I have to hem or edge the tulle? Or can I leave the edges unfinished? 3. Any other tips in sewing with lace and tulle are appreciated, I am kind of scared of it. Any advice is welcome - I've never worked with this stuff. I've sewn on all kinds of cottons and some fleece but not much on synthetic or novelty fabrics. Thank you! see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-22-2006, 08:40 PM (2 of 12)
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No, don't wash it. The tuille will be fine, just cut and use. If the tuille is in a place where it would normally be hemmed, however, shorten it when you cut it out. The lace, on the other hand needs to be finished, It can be roll hemmed (just turn twice and hem) or you can lay a flat lace over the edge and zig zag it. Once again, you have to allow for what might have been a hem if it applies. I've had Vogue patterns that had the bride buy lace with edging, cut the edging off and then reapply to the edge of sleeves...works just fine. If you buy a lace with a finished lace edge, for all intents and purposes it is already hemmed if you use that lace edge. Notice that many laces are pretty much one-way, just keep that in mind during the layout. The lace protion is easy. The tuille is too except that it crawls. If your tuille is to be part of the can can, by the way, it doesn't hold up like net. It works great on top but it it too limp for a can can without a lot more tuille than net. If you have to gather the netting or tuille, zig zag over fishing line and then gather the netting on the line. It will move smoothly like curtains and will not break as you work like pulling threads will...and it is sooooo much quicker. If I have several yards of netting, I gather it all but pin and sew in quarters because it is easier to work with. By the way, my favorite fishing line is cheap 2 lb test...it isn't much heavier than monofiliment sewing thread and it doesn't detract and isn't stiff it you leave it in the fabric. If you have a foot that has a hole in the front, feed the fishing line through that as you go then all you have to worry about is getting the net straight on the machine...the feed dogs will feed the fishing line through. 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: 10-22-2006, 08:42 PM (3 of 12)
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By the way, tuille is hard to see and tends to creep as you cut. It is a lot easier if you can cut with a rotary cutter.
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: AndreaSews
Date: 10-22-2006, 08:49 PM (4 of 12)
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This sounds like fun! My 2 cents: 1) I hear your gut about not washing, but then I think--your daughter is young and might like to do a lot of dress-up in the coming year. I've washed last year's costume sooo many times in 12 mos! How about a gentle cycle and a hang-dry, considering that these are delicate bits? 2) I've seen tulle veils left unfinished, and indeed my DD's many tulle tutus have unfinished edges, with no signs of freying after vigorous use and multiple washings. A benefit of unfinished veils--You can cut into them at jagged angles, creating a fun and ghoulish appearance! I've also seen many veils finished with a serged edge, using wooly nylon. It creates a visible finish, which some folks go for. You choose. A turned hem, though--wouldn't bother. It'll change the drape of the tulle, and it won't accomplish anything I can think of. 3) Conquer your fear: Lay it out ASAP and get your biggest scissors and CUT! That's how I got through my fear with my last big project. The first snip or two pretty much seals the deal! Some time in the past yr Susan Khalje wrote an article in Threads http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/th_124_030.aspabout sewing w/ lace, with lots of good pointers. But I have the sense that for this pattern and this particular project, you won't be needing to apply such couture techniques. Jump in! Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: blackie
Date: 10-22-2006, 09:56 PM (5 of 12)
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I literally have tears in my eyes as I read the immediate, thorough, and very sweet responses I got here. S-W-N is such an amazing community! Pam, I was with you on the tulle and I had just finished cutting it out using the rotary - easy. I am going to attempt my floss-gathering (I don't have fishing line but could send my husband to get some if the floss doesn't work!). I also am using the lace edging as the overlay hem and for the sleeve hems. I don't think I'll have to do any lace hemming. Thank you for the tulle tips - I am slightly intimidated. Andrea - your "jagged" ideas are SUCH good ones! Since she is a "corpse" I may also want to fray or something, too. I am worried this dress will come out too "pretty". The heavy but rumply linen / rayon fabric is going to be great. I took a class from Khalje recently - couture hand-stitching (through patternreview.com). I now hand-baste more than I did before, which I will do with lace / trim on this thing if I need to. Thank you ladies! And I look forward to reading more from anyone else who has experience - Oh, and by the way? This was the ONLY way my daughter would let me sew her a dress. She wanted to be a skeleton but I am tired of always financing her pirate / dinosaur / reptile / skeleton fancies and wanted to do something "girlie". 
see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: paroper
Date: 10-23-2006, 08:02 AM (6 of 12)
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Get ready girls go through phases..there was the year that she wore foot ball jersey's and team sports (guy clothing), then we had the Goth year (my preacher just about didn't make it through that one...kept complaining about the dog collar and black nailpolish), then we had the bright year...psyc colors, and the girlie year where everything was frills. Have fun.... 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: 10-23-2006, 08:43 AM (7 of 12)
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I had a pink and purple year with one. EVERYTHING was pink and/or purple. And this was the one that wanted me to sew for her. I got so sick of pink and purple. The other one had a second-hand year. When I grew up we were really poor and I had to wear hand-me-downs a lot and hated it. I always tried to make sure mine didn't have to, but I have to admit it was great on the wallet the year she did all her shopping second hand. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 10-23-2006, 08:45 AM (8 of 12)
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Oh and Kelly -- If you really hate a certain stage, encourage it and she'll drop it like a hot potato. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: blackie
Date: 10-23-2006, 10:54 AM (9 of 12)
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Oh and Kelly -- If you really hate a certain stage, encourage it and she'll drop it like a hot potato. Dorothy No, I don't hate it. I just want to every once in a while see her dressed girlie, you know? She's only 4 1/2 so my ability to dress her or influence her in any way is probably rapidly evaporating...
see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 10-23-2006, 02:03 PM (10 of 12)
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DH and I went out for dinner on Saturday. It happened to be the night of a local high school fall formal (homecoming?). We were talking about this very topic, observing the girls' choices in formalwear. Most were tasteful interpretations of the basic teen dress-up uniform of the year (fully fitted bodice, strapless or spaghetti straps, short skirt, and a special hair do). And then there were some... Well, a lot of moms and dads faked a smile that night, trying hard not to chase them out the door yelling, "Honey? Don't forget your sweater!"
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007
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From: paroper
Date: 10-23-2006, 04:05 PM (11 of 12)
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..or..."don't forget the rest of your dress". My daughter wanted something "different" for her senior prom. This is the daughter that usually chooses expensive sequin gowns with trains and really sexy clothing...the garment she wanted me to buy was $360 and looked like it had gone through a shredder. The skirt was long on one side with a flounce around the edges...it had straps holding it on down one side...that was also the side that almost went up to her panty line. She told me she could wear underwear with the dress because it would SHOW (cold sweat). It was cut like a fig leaf going down one side and open on the other. Of course, it was also off one shoulder. It looked like she had been attacked by wild animals. Anyway, I refused to buy it after a really long conversation about how expensive it was for so little dress... And the color...it looked like someone had glued it to a wall and thrown paint of every muted color imaginable on it...it was hideous...... 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: mamadus
Date: 10-24-2006, 12:50 AM (12 of 12)
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I"m sitting here laughing... I taught HS and chaperoned lots of formals.... it always amazed me to see some of the dresses the girls wore... but the thing that would really get me, was when, for formals other than prom, the girls would be all dressed up in formals, and the guys would show up in kahkis and polo shirt.. or better yet... sagging kahkis and an open plaid shirt with a t-shirt underneath... go figure... MO life is too short, not to explore
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User: mamadus
Member since: 12-31-2004 Total posts: 492 
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