Replies

1. 
   stitchmd | Jan 29, 2003 04:49am | #1

   Look for a pattern with very simple lines where the side seams are along the lengthwise grain of the fabric. Lap the pattern side seams over each other and pin or tape. This creates one very wide pattern piece, hopefully it will fit on your fabric. It eliminates the bulk of the side seams.

   Use a needle for heavy, woven fabric, look for a sturdy thread intended for heavy fabrics.

   Instead of hemming you can bind the edges with bias or trimming. Instead of buttonholes you can use an alternative fastening that gets tacked on top of the fabric, such as a toggle or frog.

2. 
   carolfresia | Jan 29, 2003 05:41pm | #2

   If you choose to bind the edges, which is a good suggestion as otherwise you're likely to get a lot of bulk and stiffness, check out Threads, No. 100, which has an article by Mary Ray on binding notched collars. Even if you don't use a pattern with a notched collar, her tips are helpful for dealing with corners and so forth.

   Eliminating the sides seams would certainly help if you want to reduce the number of seams in the garment, but bear in mind that a heavy tapestry fabric will probably be stiff and stand away from the body, so the less shaping the garment has, the boxier it will be. If you prefer some shaping, why don't you take a swatch and see how a dart behaves, as well as a testing seams and seam finishes. you may be able to make a perfectly nice dart (if necessary, cut it open on the wrong side) or princess seam.

   For the back, you're right to think in terms of fabrics with a little more body than a silky or satiny fabric, but it doesn't have to be super-heavy, either. Maybe a brushed twill or velveteen or something like that, depending on the season and surface texture of the tapestry fabric? And if you love a lightweight fabric, you can always interface it or underline it to give it a little more heft.

   Carol