Replies

1. 
   AndreaSews | Sep 05, 2006 12:24am | #1

   Welcome, Evanthia.  Could I invite you to share your 2 cents on a thread in the fitting section?  It's called Flower Girl Dress Design, or something like that.  Sounds right up your alley.

2. 
   MaryinColorado | Sep 05, 2006 01:26am | #2

   Hi! Welcome to the forum!  It sounds like you have alot to contribute!  I sure wish I had a sewing buddy like you! 

    I would love to make art to wear to sell but my knowledge base is just not that extensive.  I do dabble in it for myself and really enjoy it.  Would love to be able to draft my own patterns some day. 

   I really enjoy playing with the fabrics and fabric collage and art quilts right now.

   Look forward to your ideas!  Mary

1. 
   lizkate1234 | Sep 06, 2006 10:58pm | #3

   Hi!  I'm new to the forum.  I've done a lot of counted cross stitch, quilting, and now machine embroidery on a Babylock EMP6.  I have a Pfaff Grand Hobby quilt machine and an Inspira quilting frame, as well as a Babylock 6-thread serger.

   What is giving me fits now is putting lace on socks-pre gathered lace that shows when you turn down the cuff.  I'm having problems getting the sock stretched out while pinning, so the lace won't bind when you pull on the socks.  Any suggestions?

    

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Sep 06, 2006 11:08pm | #4

   Wow!  You are really blessed!  Sounds like you are really loaded for bear!  I consider myself really blessed too.

   I have a different serger but that is what I would use.  I would use the gathering/attatching foot and overlock them.  Instead of pinning, I would either hand tack or pin four quarters of the sock to the matching lace segments.  While serging, I would hold the sock in front and behind the foot while stretching it.  Hope this helps. 

   I wonder if Martha Pullen has instructions on her website, I had the instructions ons how she made these socks, if I find them, will let you know. Mary

   Edited 9/6/2006 4:12 pm ET by MaryinColorado

1. 
   lizkate1234 | Sep 07, 2006 12:20am | #5

   thanks for the ideas!  I'll check out my serger book and see what that says.  If you do find any info on that other site, I'd appreciate it!

   Kate

    

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Sep 07, 2006 01:58am | #7

   I have been cruising the internet on and off today looking for the info.  I emailed marthapullen.com and told them I lost the instructions and am waiting on a response.  Will let you know if I get them.

   also went to yahoo groups but you have to be a member to read any of the information

   martha has a forum also at her website, I think I got the info from her newsletter way back whenever.....

2. 
   lizkate1234 | Sep 07, 2006 02:18am | #8

   thanks for all the extra effort-I really appreciate it!

   Kate

2. 
   Sooz | Sep 07, 2006 01:57am | #6

   I loved these little socks on my little girl (not so little now - over 6' tall and built like an Amazon) and I used to attach regular flat lace using my basic zigzag sewing machine which had a 3-stitch setting (ordinary zigzag will do) .

   Try this with an old sock and scraps of lace initially.

   First decide where you want the lace to show - totally on top of the sock cuff or with the made edge of the cuff on top.

   Stretch the sock top over the sleeve bed of the machine and position the lace on top.  (feed the lace in from around your neck or over the left shoulder to help you see better). Make a small stitch by turning the handwheel and with the needle down, pull gently with the right hand on the sock top and feed in the lace with the left hand held slightly high to keep the position neat on the join. The sock will stretch with the movement of the feed dogs - the greater the resistance, the more it will stretch and the fuller the ruffles will be. Be careful not to break the needle by pulling too hard.

   You could also attach wider lace down the centre to give two rows of ruffles at the same time.

    

   If you only have a limited amount of lace try this method. Measure the ankle but going over the widest part of the heel (try pulling the tape measure over the foot as if you were putting on a sock and mark the widest point) You will need at least this amount to get the sock on without breaking the stitching ;   join the ends of the lace to form a ring, neaten and mark into 4 equal portions. Mark the sock cuff into 4 equal sections, and pin the lace , matching each quarter mark. You should end up with 4 'loops' of lace bigger than the sock. When you sew bring the needle down close to the first pin, lower the presser foot and remove the pin. Then pull the sock in both directions (one hand at the front and one behind the presser foot) until the lace is flat to the stretched sock.  Maintain this tension and without pulling or dragging, sew to the next pin and continue the process.   This should give a fairly even result and is also a useful technique for applying elastic to fabric without making a casing and the gathers stay where they are put .

   Well worth the effort of practising - I have even used the elastic method to make quick gathers for layered petticoats and tutus, if you leave the elastic edge well inside the seam allowance when the petticoat ruffle is sewn onto a waistband or yoke it can be cut off to reduce bulk and even re-used for the same method without being unpicked!

   I hope this is of some use to you

   Sue

    

    

1. 
   lizkate1234 | Sep 07, 2006 02:21am | #9

   thank you!

   Kate

3. 
   thehat | Sep 07, 2006 10:31pm | #10

   I found that if you get a peice of heavy cardeboard about the size you want the streach to be and pin this works for me

1. 
   lizkate1234 | Sep 07, 2006 10:47pm | #11

   what a great idea!  I'll give it a try!

   Thanks-Kate