In Sewing News Today...

 The spring coat is still on my mind. Silver Mom asked me an important question, 

The pattern description also specifies that the sleeve is cut on the bias. Is your sleeve cut on the bias?

Yes, they were cut on the bias. My bad. I should had considered the fabric that I was working with has stretch in it and cutting the sleeves on the bias would only add to the amount of stretch. Thankfully, I have enough left-over fabric to cut another set of sleeves on the grain-line. I would have cut it on the cross-grain if I had a long enough width but we'll see if this works out.  

Summer F-T thought that it "looks like the sleeve wasn't drafted well" but I don't want to say that even though it does look that way. So far this coat pattern has proved to be a well-drafted and beautiful pattern. I think Silver Mom is correct when she asked if I corrected assessed my fabric choice with the design of this pattern. I did not.  

Hopefully, [fingers crossed] the new set of sleeves will work out. 

I also broke down and purchase a pressing mitt which will help with pressing those shoulder seams. I just found the weight of the coat to be too much for getting around the pressing ham. It looks like I am all set, I just need to sit down and remove those seams so I can get back to the sleeves.  

Meg over at McCall's has also been helpful with another project that I'm working on, the wrap dress. 

I was hoping for more advice and guidance from the much anticipated section on sewing with knits when I wrote this, 

Graca

MAR 17, 2015 @ 19:06

I was also hoping for more in regards to this topic. The last knit wrap dress I made I had a great deal of difficulty with sewing my knit fabric and I was hoping for more guidance and help in this department. I did use a ball point needle and sewed tried both the knit stitch (lighting bolt stitch) on my machine and the straight stitch and still had trouble. I do believe I spent a great deal of time digging out bunches of fabric pushed through the needle plate. Oh well…

Meg promptly replied to those of us who are challenged by sewing knit fabrics. Thank you Meg! Her suggestion to my previous wrap dress sewing frustrations is

Meg Carter

MAR 19, 2015 @ 08:52

Hi Graca! I would try starting the seam on a piece of tissue paper first. And sewing with tissue under the fabric might be worth a test. But I wouldn’t stabilize the seams with interfacing as that may affect the hand of the fabric too much. I wish I could be of more help but I’ve never had this happen with any of my machines. Curious!

I'm going to give it a try. I have tissue paper in my stash and again with fingers crossed this will be a solution that works. I can not properly express how thankful I am for the online sewing community and all the advice they are willing to share. Thank you!!!

I also have to give a shout out to those working in fabric stores who also share their knowledge. I stopped by my local fabric store where one of the lovely and knowledgable sales ladies suggested these needles for my knit fabric. Again, fingers crossed.  

Well, that is all in sewing news today... 

Happy Sewing!