Replies

1. 
   carolfresia | Mar 23, 2004 05:07pm | #1

   Here's David's reply:

   Check with:

   The Sewing Emporium

   1079 Third Ave., Suite B

   Chula Vista, CA 91910

   619-420-3490

   for felling feet for a wide variety of machines, and for customized feet.

   The felling foot simply folds over and stitches down a raw fabric edge by a specific amount, determined by the width of the slot in the foot. You can get a similar but not so easily controlled effect by feeding the required width of fabric into a rolled hem foot; i.e., feed in just enough fabric to make a single fold, not enough to allow rthe foot to fold the edge double.

   The basic idea of the felling foot is that you cut two different seam allowances on the fabrics to be seamed together, one that's the same width as the slot in the foot (usually 1/8" or 1/4"), and one that's twice that. The twice-width layer goes on the bottom as they go into the machine, and the foot folds that layer's seam allowance in half, covering the upper layer's raw edge, and stitches thru all layers on the seam line, just barely catching the raw edge of the wider seam allowance.

   That's the first step.

   Next, you open the seam, press the allowances to one side, covering the raw edge, and send the seam thru the foot again. This time the foot stitches the folded edge down exactly parallel to the first seamline, and at a distance determined by the width of the foot.

   Hope that helps!

   David Coffin

1. 
   Michelle | Mar 23, 2004 08:55pm | #2

   THANK-YOU!!!

   I don't know what I would do without you guys :)

   Best Regards from Jerusalem,

   Shelly

1. 
   enidshapiro | Mar 26, 2004 06:10pm | #3

   I have a flat-felled foot and I am not happy with it.  I found that cutting the seam widths correctly, folding, ironing, and THEN sewing without the special foot was much better.  Does take some practice though.

1. 
   Michelle | Mar 28, 2004 11:21am | #4

   Thanks for the info, did you try using it  according to David Coffin's method?  (as demonstrated in his shirtmaking book?)

   Regards,

   Shelly

1. 
   enidshapiro | Mar 29, 2004 05:48pm | #5

   Yes, and it drove me nuts.  In fact I decided that the whole shirt-making deal was an exercise in disappointment.  They have special sewing machines to make shirts.  I don't think results will ever be the same at home . . . but I am willing to be proven wrong.

2. 
   Michelle | Mar 29, 2004 06:36pm | #6

   I'm still willing to give it a try :)  (after I've gotten through the mountains of 'pesach cleaning!')

   Warmly,

   Shelly

3. 
   enidshapiro | Mar 29, 2004 06:54pm | #7

   Let me know how it goes.  Good luck!