Hi Everyone! Let's talk about - Specialty Fabrics! Red carpet dresses, Princess costumes, tutus, tuxedos, and whimsical styles are all on the agenda for this topic! Silk Dupioni, Shantung, Chiffon, and Challis.... I love working with these types of fabrics, they bring such an authentic look and feel to the garments. Each piece truly becomes "Fashion in Miniature"! Working with these delicate, slippery fabrics may be intimidating for some, but the results are so breathtaking, I urge you to take that daring step and try something new!
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Hi Everyone! Let's talk about - Sewing With Elastics! Using elastic is a great way to create a flexible fit for a variety of design elements. Whether you choose to use a casing on a waistline, shirring on a bodice, or a stitched elastic on a sleeve hem - knowing and understanding the proper way to sew them in is a must! Let's jump in and do some shirring with elastic thread...
Hi Everyone! This week we continue with a look at finishing the visible edges of these specialty fabrics. Depending on the fabric type, you may need to use an altered technique for the sleeve or skirt hem and possibly the neckline. It can be liberating to know that you can use an alternate fabric choice if you klnow the proper techniques or fabric treatment to make it work for the intended design.
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.
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Hi Everyone! This week we're going to take a look at replacing an existing hook and loop tape closure with a zipper. This is a great way to elevate the overall look of your garment. After doing this a few times this might be your go-to closure, no more snagging hair, broken needles, or skipped stitches!