Can I use piping as the finish on a neckline edge? How do I make the underside look neat?
Piping can be used to finish any edge and you can find the specifics in Guideline 11.305. It protects the edge from added wear and makes a decorative trim at the same time. The underside of piping is usually hidden under a facing or between a lining and the garment.
If the garment with the piped edge is unlined or has no facing, make the piping lip a bit wider than normal and serge or bind the raw edges so they are presentable on the garment inside. Neckline piping should be cut on the bias to shape around the curve without puckering.
If the garment pattern doesn’t call for a facing, it’s easy to make one. Simply trace the neckline curve on your flat pattern pieces (front and back) and extend a line at the shoulder about 2″. Shape the lower facing edge, keeping an even distance from the neckline edge. Sew the facing shoulder seams together before applying over the basted piping. To finish, clip the curves and trim the enclosed seams, then turn the facing to the garment inside, understitch and tack at the shoulder seams.
When we have a passion for fabric and fashion, we’re always looking for new ways to showcase our favorite hobby and Heidi Pridemore’s Fabric Jewelry offers new options. Even if you’ve never made jewelery before, you can create 20 beautiful jewelry projects, including pendants, bracelets and necklaces. Since this book is part of the Create with Nancy series, there are tips throughout from Nancy Zieman and the enclosed DVD offers demos with Nancy and the author. So whether you’re wrapping, felting, braiding or knotting, this book offers bead techniques for every skill level.
We all know how great it is to collect fabrics of all sorts, but a new fabric could help rescue the Gulf Coast residents from the oil pollution affecting the beaches.
The manufacturing company, HeiQ Materials, based in Bad Zurzah, Switzerland, has produced a fabric called Oilguard, a non-woven treated with chemical compound that selectively absorbs oil, while repelling water. Once saturated with oil, it can be rolled up and incinerated.
With a German partner, HeiQ is developing Oilguard up to 6 yards wide and hundreds of yards long to be quickly unfolded along the shoreline sands.
Watch the news headlines for more on this innovative invention as it’s being tested in the Gulf in coming weeks.
How do I seal the edges on nylon fabric that I’m using for a windsock?
There are several ways to handle ravel-prone outdoorwear fabrics. The easiest is to use a hot tool, with a tiny blade that heats up and fuses the fibers along the edge of your cut pieces. It takes a bit of practice not to melt and distort the cut edge, but once you’ve got it down, it’s easy as pie. Using a heat-resistant surface like a glass cutting board, just run the heated point along the fabric edge and a tiny bead of melted synthetic forms, making it ravel resistant.
Another way to prevent raveling is to “candle” the fabric. This involves running the cut edge quickly through the flame of a candle to melt the fibers, just like the hot tool does. This method is a bit more precarious, as you have to be careful not to catch the fabric on fire or leave it in the flame too much that it distorts and/or blackens the edge. A very quick pass is all it takes to secure the threads–no blinking or sneezing allowed, as that increases the time too much!
Either of these methods should be done in a well-ventilated area, as you’re melting synthetic fibers which emit fumes.
A third option is to apply seam sealant to the cut edges of your project. This requires careful application just to the edge, otherwise staining can occur. The best way to apply the sealant is with a cotton swab or toothpick, then allow the fabric to dry before moving.
Yet another option is to zigzag or serge the edges and narrowly hem them to prevent raveling. Check to be sure that your pattern allows for a hem allowance if you opt for this strategy.
If you love small projects for your home and also like contemporary fabrics, Sewn Spaces will satisfy both likings. Joel (son of noted designer Donna Dewberry), shares with readers more than 25 projects to bring color and style into our spaces. After a well-illustrated introductory section detailing some basic stitches and sewing techniques, he divides the book into three space areas–At Play, At Home and At Work. Look for fun projects, all with step-by-step instructions, like cards, a little bird pincushion, teddy bear, apron, bulletin board and simple quilt. He also discusses framed fabric art and glass etching. All of these projects are perfect for gift-giving, for you or someone else. Templates and full-size patterns are also included to make it even easier to create. 128 pages.
