Replies

1. 
   Palady | Aug 26, 2009 10:57pm | #1

   The page failed to display for me.  I'm guessing crucshed taffeta has a slipperiness to it as does the fabric as I know it. 

   If you'll be using scissors to cut out, make certain you keep them flat to your cutting table lest you find your edges going askew.  Using a rotary might present a challenge to a degree.  Either way use as many weights as you can along the seam lines to keep the pattern pieces in place.

   Controlling it as you stitch takes care.  If your machine is a console, you can pin a large terry bath towel around the apron to help give the pieces same drag.

   A portable being used on a table will have a bit of a "drop" which can affect fabric control.  Doable of course, providing you recognize the happening.

   Taffeta per se will hold needle holes.  This means if you have to take out stitches, the holes will be visible.  It's nearly impossible to stitch in the exact same spots.  So accurate first seaming is the need.

   If you need to pin or hand needle baste, best to do so in the space between the cut edge & seam line.  The needle hole issue again.

   It's been many years since I used taffeta, but I'm remembering it as fraying.  If what you plan to use does so, Franch seaming might be in order.  I'm away from my system & have limited insight to the one I'm using to offer you URL's.  Should the French seaming technique be new to you, a search will take you to very descritive &/or pictorial sites.

   Hhmmm - maybe a search using the bytes - sewing crushed taffeta - will give you information.

   Please post the results of your project. 

   nepa

   ETA - A taflon presser foot would be a help.  Again, a search will give you information on this.

    

    

   Edited 8/26/2009 3:59 pm ET by Palady

2. 
   ThreadKoe | Aug 27, 2009 02:10am | #2

   With many synthetic or slippery fabrics, it is actually better to tear the fabric into lengths rather than cut them, and more accurate. Except sheers, then you need to pull a thread to cut along.
   Start at one end, and straighten your cut end first. Snip as straight as you can about one inch into the fabric through one selvedge edge. Grab both sides of the snipped fabric securely, and pull quickly and firmly apart. The fabric will tear fairly easily apart, almost all the way across. Finish tearing, by gripping near where the tear ended, and do it again, to the other selvedge. Snip through the other selvedge edge. Your curtain lengths will all be straight on grain this way. You will find they hang much nicer.
   You may find a small slightly curled edge on the fabric. These will press out easily. They will also be hidden in your hems, and headers. Then just measure up each cut length that you will need, and place a pin where you expect to need to cut. Pin all your cuts before you cut!!!! When you are sure you are correct. Go back and tear all your lengths. Mark the top of each length with a safety pin, as taffeta often has a different sheen in each direction. If the fabric is really ravelly, or tends to pull a bit if you tear the fabric, if it has slubs in the fabric, add a bit of extra length to account for that if you have enough fabric to do that with. Good luck and happy sewing! Cathy