Hi Everyone! This week we take a closer look at the specific needs of these lighterweight, more delicate fabrics. Linings are a great way to quickly and easily enclose seams and finish raw edges. Underlays are used to give strength and structure to a softer more flimsy fabric. Both methods are important to understand so that you can confidently swap in a more luxurious fabric type into a favorite pattern that may use quilting cotton as it's primary design choice. These types of fabrics are perfect for some of the more specialty types of seam finishes like French Seams, Flat Felled Seams, and Hong Kong Binding. In the video posted below I am joined by Melinda (of Melody Valerie Couture) to help illustrate some of these techniques.
The goal here is to help you have a better understanding of the needs of these fabrics and proivide you with the skills to work with them confidently!
Are you ready? Let's go...
Pattern Overview:
- Liberty Jane Hello Oscar
- Liberty Jane Opening Night
- Liberty Jane Abbey Road A-Line Dress
- Liberty Jane Cosplay Day Dress
- Liberty Jane Blossom Dress
- Liberty Jane Aspen Party Dress
- Liberty Jane Picture Day Skirt for WW
- Liberty Jane Woomera Dress
- Liberty Jane Killara Dress
- Liberty Jane Salina Dress AG
- Liberty Jane Picture Day Skirt Barbie
- Liberty Jane Picture Day Skirt AG
- Liberty Jane Mindil Beach Dress
Patterns By Melody Valerie Couture Shown in the Video:
Resources (added to from last week):
Fabric Notes - Depending on where you live, some types of fabrics may be easier to find than others. For doll size projects you can also check discount stores for dresses or tops that can work well for your projects too! The nice thing about these finds is that they usually have coordinating linings and trims included!
Tools and supplies - Like I mentioned above, you may be able to find these things locally, but just in case.... I've included some links below to some of the useful sewing supplies. I may be helpful to read through reviews under the product listings to be sure you purchase the items that will work best!
If you like to shop online, check out these sources for specialty fabrics and the tools I recommend:
- Britex Fabrics in SanFrancisco is my favorite place to shop - if you're ever in the area be sure to check it out!
- Pacific Fabrics (Northgate store in the Seattle area has a great selection of bridal and formal dress fabrics!)
- Fabric Depot (there's a better selection in store but they do have some items online)
- Schmetz Microtex Sharp Needles - Amazon
- Dritz Extra Fine Glass Head Pins - Amazon
- Clover Triangular Tailors Chalk - Amazon
- Acrylic Ruler - Amazon
- 28mm Rotary Cutter - Amazon
- Freezer Paper - Amazon
- Fabrics A to Z by Dana Willard
- Acrylic/Nylon Linings - Jo Ann Fabrics
- Bemberg Rayon Lining - Fabric.com
- White Rayon Challis (you can watch me dip dye it here on Instagram!)
- A Variety of lining fabrics found at Fashionfabricsclub.com
Week Two Task:
- Practice, practice, practice! Choose a pattern you're familiar with and mix it up with a new choice of fabric. Be sure to use the proper needle and lining/backing fabrics if needed.
Next Tuesday - Week 3: Delicate Fabrics, creating hems and using bindings
2 Comments
I too have missed the videos, are they in an archive that can be accessed?
Thanks, Deirdre
Hello! I have missed a few of the month topics from 2017 and would like to catch up on them please as part of my membership. Where do I access past topics? Unfortunately I haven’t been downloading the videos the entire time during the course.
Kind regards, Loretta