Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Quiz: Guess My Least Favorite Sewing Task
There's a circle of hell where the punishment is to gather big, full skirts onto tiny bodices for eternity. And every time you're almost done pulling up the gathers, the thread snags and breaks.
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14 comments:
Sounds like you're making good progress (there in hell.)
Once on my sewing forum I started a thread asking what people's least-favorite parts of sewing were, and to my disgust there were a couple of women who answered, "I love all of it." But there were plenty who disliked sleeves, zippers, buttonholes,, waist gathers, etc. I think my least-faves were hems, because you feel like you're so near the end but a nicely-done hem can take quite a while--and there's also risk since a badly-done hem can ruin a garment--and setting-in sleeves, and, yes, gathering and sewing in skirts.
I recommend doing two rows of gathering stitches, 1/8" to 1/4" apart. I have also used string--set a wide zigzag and zigzag over the string, being careful not to catch it in the stitch. It gathers pretty darn easily. You probably know those methods, though, in which case I recommend investing in a gathering foot. ;)
Also, while I do genuinely enjoy most of the parts of sewing, I really dislike regular zippers (invisible are SO much easier for me!) and cutting it all out. Once it's cut, I'm fine. It's the cutting I don't care for.
It's sounds as tho' you're in that circle. Even if it's not for eternity it seems that long! You don't deserve such punishment.
Wait a second, you already gave the answer.
I haven't done it for a long time, but I pretty much disliked the whole process of sewing. Some parts of it more than others. But I just loved what I had when finished.
to answer your question you left on my blog...
i always have a little extra left over when gathering the the ruffler foot, either of the ruffle or the skirt body so you might have to trim a few inches at the end. but with fuller skirts that should make no difference whatsoever.
when things to need to be super precise when gathering i practice on scraps first measuring the long strip of fabric before hand and then after it's 'ruffled' to make sure it ruffled enough.
zig zag over a piece of dental floss. pull the dental floss to create gathers.
my other fave method is to use clear elastic. cut it the finished length, stretch to fit the part to be gathered, sew with a zig zag, steam it to shrink it back to size.
I don't know much about heaven, hell and sewing, but "Every stitch you stitch on Sunday, you have to un-stitch with your nose in heaven." Or so my mother tells me her mother told her. But unstitching with noses seems like a task for hell. I don't think any sewing takes place in heaven. I'm voting we'll all be naked and wont give a darn (the kind of darn Zina talks about- not the euphemism for that other place).
Cutting, definitely cutting. Then gathering, hemming, putting in sleeves, zippers, and buttonholes. Oh...I thought I liked to sew.
Sorry my comment didn't make any sense. You were sewing on Sunday. I shouldn't make comments instead of going to bed.
make that "weren't". maybe I shouldn't comment at all. :)
That sewing on Sunday comment is from Grandma Zina Charlotte Chlarson--which I have inadvertantly ignored on some occassions--like the Sunday past--but I put a dickie in a blouse to make it more modest which justified it, right? As far as gathering there is no easy method. Even the gathering foot failed me on one project. What are you making? Ginny Gowns?
This Heidi woman, I like how she thinks. I agree with everything she said. I am also an AVID supporter of invisible zippers! I think the thing I dread the most is the sleeve. Yes, sleeves make me have a pit in my stomach, even just while writing about them.
Hannah-LOL
you should always comment.
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