I spent some fun time on pininterest looking for inspiration. My board can be found here. .http://www.pinterest.com/louise0451/party-dress/
This was one of my favourites.
In the end I decided on a mini-length dirndle style dress with short sleeves. I have Wendy Mullins book Built by Wendy - Dresses which allows you to use her basic patterns to design your own clothes. Sorted. Or so I thought.
I cut out my pattern pieces, started to pin my pieces together and then ...PANIC... it suddenly struck me, I had no idea how to sew with stretch fabric.
Easily fixed - I can practise on the scraps left after cutting out. But I can't do it! The tensions all wrong, the seams won't hold. I tried again the next day, hoping it was just because I was too tired. Same again. I've tried using a walking foot to stop the fabric moving around, but I still couldn't get the tension right. Anyway, this is the first thing I've tried to sew since I took up this hobby that I haven't enjoyed. I'm feeling beaten. Bah.
Not sure what to do now. Give up? Keep going? Buy a party dress for Xmas? Do same pattern with non- stretch fabric? Or I may sew something else, then come back to it. I need a sewing "high"!
I can hear your frustration! My current nemesis is side closures! Perhaps take some time out, and practice sewing a loose fitting stretch fabric something or sampler (find some scraps, old Tshirts, op shop, fabric samples from happy land?), definitely read all the wonderful hints & tips posted in the blosgospheres and get a feel for how stretch fabrics (and they can all be quite different) act with different settings. Use stabilisers, experiment...
ReplyDelete- being 2 weeks out from Xmas though, I'd be tempted to buy a non stretch pretty, non velvet fabric to make a pretty party dress, but I can get a tad stressed with deadlines and you may thrive on them! ;)
From my bookmarked list (and there are SO many more wonderful tips out there!): http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/24079/tips-and-tricks-for-sewing-with-knits http://sewaholic.net/a-big-list-of-tips-for-sewing-knits/ and http://sewingcake.com/tiramisu-30-minutes-a-day-sewalong-4/
Please, let us know how you go, it's a gorgeous inspiration dress! ;)
I'm doing loads of research. I haven't looked at my sewing machine today- it's like we've had an argument! I will attempt to finish it and try and get the joy back.
DeleteHave you tried Schmetz Stretch needles? Also, use new good quality polyester thread.
ReplyDeleteNot heard of Schmetz but I did go out and buy stretch needles. I agree about the thread going to try a better quality thread see if it makes a difference. Thanks for the tips.
DeleteIt's always a good idea to turn to a simple no-fail project to get your sewjo back. I know there are some great posts and tutorials out there on sewing with stretch from A Fashionable Stitch and Handmade by Carolyn. Maybe a bit of research could help if you have the time.
ReplyDeleteSpent a lot of time today online reading how- to's. Hoping it will help. And I have some fun things to sew as a "reward" for keeping going!
ReplyDeleteHope that all your research has paid off and that you work out how to get it sorted - I know I saw a good tutorial about sewing with velvet somewhere recently but I can't remember where it was now. If I find it then I'll let you know! Good luck, and definitely treat yourself with something fun and easy to sew too!
ReplyDeleteGood advice here! I have none to offer myself - also not had a huge success rate with sewing jersey. Sometimes I overlock the seams first and then do a row of stitching next to the overlocked edge and that seems to help, but mostly I avoid sewing jersey altogether... Good luck x
ReplyDelete