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Posted by Kate Dicey on November 27, 2006, 6:08 pm
S R Glickman wrote:
> Many thanks Kate for your swift reply.
>
>
>
>>I'm the Queen of Cheap Poly Satin - I've sewn masses of it! Take a look
>>at what can be done with it on my web site. It's fantastic stuff if you
>>keep several things in mind...
>
>
> And you have years of experience and lots of skill!
Thank you. :) In this instance, certainly lots of experience!
>
>>Things to be aware of:
>>
>>Puckered seams: ALL straight cut seams will pucker. This can be
>>mitigated by sewing it as if you were sewing bias cut fabric, using a
>>small very narrow zigzag. But it won't work miracles... And the
>>expensive stuff behaves no better than the cheap stuff!
>
>
> I think I get the message!
I've made some fantastic costumes with it, and it likes serged seams
best, but there are some areas and styles where this just isn't practical...
>
>
>>Ironing: it's very easily marked! Start cool and work up.
>
>
> Dry, I pressume, not steam?
Not particularly... It's washable, after all. But frequently it starts
to mark before the iron is hot enough for proper steam, and you don't
want spit marks! Test! :)
>
>>Basting: hand baste tricky bits! The damned stuff is so slippery it's
>>quicker than doing it the 'easy' way!
>
>
> This gets better :))
>
>>Use FINE pins and a size 60 or 70 needle on the machine. And decent
>>poly thread. I usually use Empress Mills 120's poly for both machine
>>and overlocker. Drima is far too tightly wound ans will pucker even
>>more. Gutterman is OK...
>
>
> OK
>
>
>>Use sew in interfacing! The fusible stuff doesn't stick to it.
>
>
> Could I sew in the fusible kind?
NO! When you press it, it might just stick in parts, leaving a lumpy
and uneven finish... :(
>
> Fine or medium weight?
I usually find a soft medium weight is best.
>
>>Clean finish long skirt seams, even if fully lined.
>
>
> What does 'clean finish' mean?
Erm... Overcasting or finishing the edges. Catch-all term covering all
finishes from a Hong Kong type down to a serged/overlocked one. :)
>
>
>>>I've worked with velvet before but not really anything as slippery as
>>>this.
>>
>>And you never will again! Velvet is MUCH better behaved! :)
>
>
> I get the feeling I'm not going to like this job - if I decide to do
> it !
Oh, do it! Once mastered, you'll never be afraid of it again! :) And
the cheap and cheerful stuff isn't always the worst to sew with. The
gold ball gown on my web site (What The Dickens project) was expensive
John Lewis £8.99 type stuff, and it was a nightmare compared with the
£3.50 red stuff I used for the bridesmaids elsewhere on the site... The
worst of the lot was the £12.99 stuff 'bought from the warehouse for a
very good price' brought in by a customer... ARGH!
>
> Maybe we'll keep looking round the shops - but everything is so
> expensive and not nearly as nice.
Just take care, don't rush it, and yell if you get stuck!
--
Kate XXXXXX R.C.T.Q Madame Chef des Trolls
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.katedicey.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!
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