I recently picked up some beautiful fabric that has embroidery threads sewn randomly around some of the prints. Does this affect the way I should cut it, sew it, etc? Any hints would be appreciated.
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You may want to stay-stitch around your cut pieces to lock the threads to keep them from coming out while you are working on your project.
Sherry
In addition to SAAM's posted suggestion, please look over your cutting plan carefully. The design may seem random, but you might want to be mindful of were it all will fall in the overall piece.
My thought, is the center front in one piece or is there a closure as in a blouse?
You'd want to consider matching if there are sleeves. Both with the design similar?
Likewise the hem line. How will the random design lay along the bottom of your fashion?
Center Back - what do you wish to have aligned?
MO, working with any sort of printed fabric takes time to study the all as it is laid out on the cutting table, comparing it with the the pieces of the fashion pattern.
Do post and let us know how your project results.
Me
When deciding the lay-out, avoid having an embroidery fall in a less than desirable place.......such as the tip of the bust.
The embroideries that fall in the cutting line can be dabbed along the cut edge with Fray- Check to keep them from raveling during construction. The stitching in the seam line should, then catch the cut ends
Thank you ladies for all your suggestions and help. After carefully going over the fabric I discovered that a) the embroidery thread was attached every other stich by another thread, so that solved my worry about it unraveling. And b), whoever or whatever sewed it on, didn't bother to iron/lay the fabric flat, so there were lots of puckers.
I carefully choose the best areas, and designs (thanks spicegirl), and the top turned out beautiful. Onward and upward.
peace....diane
Use a lower temp iron as the embroidery thread may burn more easily than the cotton. I often iron my embroideries from the back side too. I'd prewash if it is washable fabric, on a delicate cycle and a cool dryer cycle and take it out before it is completely dry.
I agree with the other post re staystitching too.
OOps, I see you have it all worked out. Happy stitching!
Edited 2/25/2008 12:17 am by MaryinColorado
A thought on ironing embroidered fabric.
Consider placing a white, as thick as possible toweling, on the board. Lay the fabric onto this, wrong side up. Press - i.e. place and lift the iron as you progress rather than slide it back and forth - overlapping the areas. Use a see-thru press cloth depending on the fabric. Be mindful of the iron temperature.
Doing this makes the embrodiery "stand out" rather than "flatten" as can happen w/o the terry.
Me
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