In this video from Industry Insider Techniques, Vol. 7, learn to match stripes and plaids over the shoulder, around the circumference of the body, and down the sleeves.
Volume 7 of the Industry Insider Techniques series is separated into 13 videos showing how to match stripes, prints, and plaids; reinforce underarm seams; sew a smooth neckline zipper finish; make precise bound buttonholes, and many more expert techniques.
Louise Cutting shares years of expert experience in this Industry Insider installment. It’s amazing how much you’ll learn as this gifted instructor demonstrates professional techniques, such as fine hand stitching and flawless miters. This level of workmanship is second nature to pros, and now you’ll see how they contribute to the quality of hand-sewn garments—and how to do these techniques yourself.
Topics covered in Industry Insider Techniques, Vol. 7 include:
- Best practices for working with thread
- How to match stripes, prints, and plaids
- Precision bound buttonholes
- What to do when prints lap
- Hidden button plackets
- Perfect sleeveless armholes
- One-dot pocket placement
- A smooth neckline zipper finish
- Easy, flawless miters
- No-fail invisible zippers
- An expert neckline finish
- Reinforcing underarm seams
- Match Stripes and Plaids Perfectly
Every video in Volume 7 will help you to learn to sew like a pro.
Purchase the Industry Insider Techniques, Vol. 7 DVD.
The Industry Insider Techniques series is separated into 8 Volumes, each available on DVD and for download at the Taunton Store.
I didn't catch what reference points Louise used to match the sleeve with the back piece before she drew the lines. Did she use the notches?
To match the sleeve, Louise has placed the pattern so the seamline at the bottom of the sleeve cap is aligned to the intersection of the bodice's armscye and side seams. Since the bodice front and back have been marked for alignment, you can match the sleeve to the either one and the result will be the same.
Carol J. Fresia, Threads Senior Technical Editor
This is a really good video, very clearly explained and well photographed. I think a less experienced person would soon find how well it all works out in practice by following this class. Thank you.
I just bought material for a winter coat and it is plaid I am so glad I watched this I certainly learned a lot.
I followed this method for a yoked shirt. The stripes matched only at the neck edge. I guess it doesn't apply to yokes?
I'm not sure what style of yoke your pattern has. If it's only from the shoulder seam to the back, you can match it across the shoulder seam, just as if it where the full back pattern. However, a man's style shirt, with a yoke that crosses over the shoulder seam position to the front and back, is trickier. If you match the front seam, you may not be able to match the back seam without shifting the back off-grain. I noticed on many men's plaid shirts that the yoke is cut either on the cross-grain or, for a more "western" look, on the bias. Both of these solutions make the lack of matching into a design feature.
Carol J. Fresia, Threads Senior Technical Editor
Thank you!! I am making Christmas dresses for my granddaughters with an uneven plaid, lined with a tattersall check. The thought of matching the plaid at a number of places was daunting but this method works beautifully.