These last few weeks have been like swimming in jello, moving, but getting no where fast. Do you have weeks where your projects and goals feel out of reach? I have been feeling very stuck without my iron and camera. The rest was good, but I sure missed blogging, sewing and you! My Rowenta iron came back from the factory this week. The diagnosis was a faulty water holding tank. The manufacturer recommends not overfilling the water tank. I have been known to overfill my iron at times. Although this didn't break the iron it's a good measure to keep in mind against overfilling.
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I have been sewing two skirts this week, I wanted to pause and look at the inside of these garments. Over the last 6 months, part of the joy of sewing for me has been to create a clean looking garment. One that I could wear inside out. Some of the things I do are simple, but to me make a garment look more couture. I don't have a lot of finishing tips, but I thought I would share the ones that have served me well with you.
1. To reduce the overall mess, I clip every thread after sewing a seam. I use thread cutters, they are wonderful. Doing this really helps me keep of top of those loose thread.
2. This sounds like a given, but finishing all seams at the right time creates a beautiful garment. There are many ways to finish a garment. I use my serger a lot. Sewing is like a Chess game is some ways. You have to know the moves you are going to make while sewing up a piece. I am finding mapping this out ahead of time very helpful. Sometimes you should serge a pattern piece by itself, other times it's necessary to wait until you have made a seam. Mapping out your seams, results in less wasted thread and a better looking garment I am finding.
3. There is a little game I play when sewing my facings to make them look good. I try to sew them as straight as possible, doing my very best work. Yes, it's silly but my stitches are improving because of this game and I smile when I see them!
4. Iron every time, every seam, a garment won't come together without ironing and it will look wonky on the inside. I iron the seams after sewing from both sides and steam them in place. This makes a huge difference with the finished seams.
Have a wonderful vintage day!
Gina
Wow! They do look lovely! I like to make my insides look nice too, but I don't have a serger and I tend to be lazy with the iron...
ReplyDeletei love pretty seam finishes! i think it makes the garment that much more luxurious, even if no one else can see it :) my new favorite thing is to finish my facing edges with bias tape. it looks very clean & professional (and gives me an excuse to use up the dozens of bias tape packages i've been hoarding lol).
ReplyDeleteI love a well finished seam and am very picky about facings and finishings. Your skirts are lovely! I am finishing up a dress I started a couple weeks ago (life got in the way) and doing an embroidery job for hire. Next up is a mini wardrobe for my holiday to England and Greece.
ReplyDeleteI don't own a serger and am pretty lazy about how the insides of my garments look, to be honest. I am a big believer in ironing all my seams, though!
ReplyDeleteLovely work. I think care on how the insides of a garment looks affects how you feel about a garment. The nicer it is, inside and out, the nicer you feel when wearing it! Clothes hold up better, too, when you finish those seams.
ReplyDeleteHooray for pretty garment insides! :) I really love using various finishes on my pieces, as well as the necessary steps during construction--it really makes a difference (even if I am the only one who sees it). I use my serger most of the time to finish seams, but hand overcasting and binding are other favorites as well.
ReplyDeleteAlas, I haven't really been sewing anything this week... Which is a pity! But I did finish up a little 50s top over the weekend (just in time for the Fourth)! I really need to double check my summer sewing list and see what is next!
I, too, have become obsessed with finished seams. I love flat-felled and French seams, though if those don't work I've done seams finished with bias tape or just overcast them with my sewing machine. (I have a serger, but for some reason, we have never really hit it off... I think because it's so loud. I much prefer my Viking sewing machine.)
ReplyDeleteThe insides of your skirts are lovely. Isn't it nice to know they look as nice on the inside as they do on the outside?
Your skirts looks fantastic, inside and out! I'm so glad your comments seem to be working again!
ReplyDeleteYes, they do!
ReplyDeleteIt shows that you took the time to make something exceptional :)
Ms. Me
Good to have you back Gina, we missed you! Your skirts look wonderful on the inside, well done!!! It's such a satisfying feeling isn't it? That's for sharing some top tips too!
ReplyDeleteGood advice. I'm doing my best to make my sewing look like high quality work as well. Since I still consider myself a novice, I don't always know the best strategy to achieve the quality I am going for, but still learning along the way.
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny your wrote this today, taking pride in your work that no one sees really. I had a friend over the last couple days for two hour sewing refreshers from me. I was so disappointed with the sloppy sewing she did and she did not seem to care at all that it was mess and needed to be taken out and done over. She would never have pressed if I hadn't got her to and threads just left in and not pulled out on basting, etc. She ended by thinking she'd had enough and can put together a garment now. I try and make the inside pretty too and am using this antique lace I have on hand instead of binding. Actually it was my Mom who did things like this and I picked it up from her. I just posted on my blog two finished outfits and am deciding what to tackle next.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is planning on taking her first sewing class, which starts mid August, I was a bit intimidated when you stated that sewing is like a chess game. Why should this intimidate me? Well, I'm no good at playing chess. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you finally got your iron back. I didn't realize that one could overfill an iron. I guess you could, but I've never done so (at least not yet).
I like the idea of making a skirt that you can wear on either side. Sounds goody, goody to me. You'll have to show us what that looks like when you're done.
Well, I have missed your posts. I'm glad to "see" you again. :)
:)
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I'll have time for sewing this week. But the next item on my to-sew list is a blue gingham Crepe dress - I think--- :)
Excellent encouragement and advice, Gina! I find that the longer I've been a sewist the more I expect excellence in my workmanship. It's a work ethic issue.
ReplyDeleteMy hands are SCREAMING for my scissors, thread, some fabric, a vintage pattern and my sewing machine. Alas, sewing is not happening for several weeks... It's all in a box bound for Manila.
Yes your work is lovely and inspires me to get neater on the insides too. My work is often like the inside of my car, a mess! Maybe I will pull out my serger. I just hate threading that thing though!
ReplyDeleteThe insides do look well made, I noticed that too now that I have a serger, the difference compared to zig-zaging is enormous! I still haven't started making as nice hems as you do though, maybe that will come too...
ReplyDeleteThis week I will most likely continue working on diminishing my to alter-pile, there's a couple of dresses there I wouldn't mind wearing this summer. Glad to have you back blogging!
Your first skirt looks crazy-awesome with all of those gores! Your straight, careful stitching really shines on this piece.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about 'swimming in jello'; my current Macaron dress is taking ages to complete.
I admire your productivity even with adverse problems, you are always so elegant in your posts they shed optimism. I like this feeling ....
ReplyDelete