Hi Everyone,
I desperately need someones help and I KNOW someone out there can help me. this is my dilemma: I recently started sewing for two interior designers. i got an order for a window seat(which I have never done before) and the designer gave me cord with a lip instead of me having to make welting. the problen is this cording is HUGE. Its about 3/8-1/2″. So with the help of my mom-in-law who has done seat cushions before we made a beautiful window seat with one glich the stupid cording. the cording is acutually 3 smaller cords covered with embroidery thread and twisted together. I cannot sew this with my machine. We have met the two ends at the corner but I cannot connect them or sew the corner shut. This cording also ravels, the embriodery thread that encases the three seperate cords ravels!!! the only thought I have come up with is to some how meet the two raw ends and glue them with something and whip stitch over the raw end to cover it. PLEASE HELP!!! Any suggestions out there??? I am at a stand still and a redo is out of the question. i have already put in 12 or more hours on this! the designer picked out this cording b/c it was the only thing she could find to match.
Thanks,
Debbie
Replies
One thing that is suggested is to unravel both sides about an inch or so and then overlap the cords a little and retwist so that it looks continuous and then tacking them. You cut the lip so that it butts, but the cords are left longer in order to twist in opposite directions, etc.,I'm probably not explaining it very well, but there are several books that have good illustrations of this. I'm sure there are other options, but I've used this successfully. I found it in books on cushions, pillows, etc. at the library. Maybe someone else can explain it better or knows of a website. Hang in there, it can be done.
I really need help!! I dont want to lose this designer! the cord just unravels and unravels the thread wrapping!!
Is it possible to remove the inside cording from an inch or two of both ends and then enclose those ends in (maybe) a back corner where it would be unobtrusive. Inside, only the ends that have been reduced are overlapped so most of the bulk will be gone and it will be possible to sew the corner closed. On the outside each of the ends will have their original bulk but will appear to disappear into the seam.
Hi,
This is the problem.. first of all it is on a back corner. the cording is not fabric covered.
It is 3 cords each cord is rapped with embriodery thread and the three cords are twisted together. So if you remove the cord the thread unravels and you have nothing. It is not possible to machine sew the ends together at all.
Thanks,
Maybe the manufacturer has some ideas for you. And maybe the designer who chose this cording has chosen it for an inappropriate application.
Edited 11/23/2009 12:18 pm ET by starzoe
The manufacturer i have no idea it was in a remnant in a plastic bag at hobby lobby it was the only cord she could find to match after scouting the internet etc, So no help there. but the fabric is all cut and sewn i think too late to change trim now
Oh, Ouch!!!So, your trim ends meet at a back corner, correct? Is this cushion liable to be 'flipped', so that the trim meeting point is ever in the front? If not, perhaps you could hand stitch the ends of the trim together, butted, and then add a narrow-as-possible band over the join. Use a fabric that comes as close as possible, color-wise, to 'disappearing' over the trim - that might be the fashion fabric, or a scrap of something else from your stash. The covering strip would probably also need to be hand-stitched. Good luck to you and Happy Improvising!Kharmin (who is just 'down the road' (Barrington Road, that is), if "live-in-person brainstorming" might help!)
Is there some kind of fray glue i could but them together with and then try to hide it?
The problem is in the back on the top and the bottom so its actually there twice!!!!!
How did you know i lived close to you??
Ummmm - looked at your profile!
If it's going to be hidden, you could do almost anything to hold the 2 ends together - almost any kind of glue, plus whip-stitching, even duct-tape! (*mostly* kidding, but it would work...) K
its not going to be hidden really its just in the back corner of a window seat so you will see it.
Debbie
Can you practice on a leftover piece of trim? What I was trying to describe was to butt the inner cords together with glue or thread and then re-wrap it with the thread you say comes off. If you do it that way you don't have a noticeable "dimple" where they meet. With really thick cord I find that having the ends tucked into the seam instead of butted really draws attention to the problem. If you have left-over trim you could salvage additional thread from it to help wrap and cover the junction.
That is kind of what i was thinking too but what kind of glue?? the ends definately have to be butted no doubt about that. I was looking at the extra trim and decided thats what I would have to do. Now there of course are 3 different shades of thread covering three different cords. I guess the only way of doing it would just be to wrap it in a small section covering the butt ends as a whole?? Or someone suggested covering it with a small piece of fabric?? what a pain this is turning out to be if it wasnt for the trim I would be done 15 hours ago!! It is so hard to judge a job when your just a novice. I am an expert sewer in apparell but kind of fell into this by accident and my husband cant find a job so i take any and all jobs and "make them work". I never made a window seat before so I really thought this trim thing would be easier than welting!! was i wrong!!
debbie
I can really identify with your problem. There have been SO many times that I got almost done and then a petty little thing took almost as much time as the entire project. But, each time I knew that I would be able to do the job a lot faster the next time because of what I learned. I would suggest any kind of fabric glue and maybe if you look in your stash you have a scrap of fabric, ribbon, etc. that is the same color as that thread you are going to rewind. You could glue the scrap around the splice to brace it and hold it in place and then wind the thread over it. Experiment with whatever glue you can find on a scrap and see what happens. Years ago I'd done lots of fashion sewing but very few cushions and agreed to do a window seat with big cord for an office. So, I know exactly how you are feeling. It took me much longer than I expected because I learned all the things NOT to do, by doing them that first time! You can make it work.
You've gotten some good advice so far--use the fabric glue before cutting, and when it is dried, use clear cello tape on the area before you will. Glue the cut ends together, and when that has dried completely, carefully remove the clear tape. The tape holds the wrap while you are manipulating the cords.
Also, try cutting the cord with a very sharp knife, a chisel, or rose pruning clipper--not a pair of shears, which will push the threads around.
Hi,
I am not quite following...put glue on the area first then let it dry and then glue the ends together and tape them??..Explain it again please. then what would you cover the but ends with?? this is in a childs room which I forgot to mention so it has to be secure. thanks for the advice somehow i will piece everyones advice together and hopefully it will work!
Debbie
Sorry I wasn't clear; it's
Sorry I wasn't clear; it's hard to verbalize something so visual. The glue saturates the uncut cord, and the clear tape just holds it all together so that you can make a clean cut. Then butt the two clean ends together and wrap the join with some matching thread. You can find great how-to's on sites that explain "splicing ropes," which is what you are doing. Sailors, climbers, lumberjacks, anyone who has to use ropes has to know how to splice them.
Perhaps something like this will help. A Turk's Head Knot. It is a decorative binding used on ropes and other objects for security. It would bind and hold the ends together securely and safely, and be an added attrative detail. http://www.2020site.org/knots/turksheadknot.html This is just one site with some directions. Perhaps if you Google it further, you may find other, better ideas. Cathy
I realize this is late and I hope you have fixed the problem. This is something I came up against while doing formal cushions! In the end I used 2 pieces of sticky tape around the cord and then cut the cord in between them. I left the tape on and but glued them together. The I covered the join with a small turned fabric tube. It covered the join and wasnt noticable as it matched the fabric. I hand whiped all the cord to the edges of the cushions as I could not get close enough to it with my domestic machine ( all 9 HUGE cushions! )
Hope this helps in any future jobs!
cheers
Jan
Hi,
Really not too late as I was telling the designer the problem she may have me rip it all out (UGGGGGGHHHHHHH) and do welting. I cant believe it!! I double sewed and sewed close to the trim this project is a night mare!! That will be hours of ripping out.
I have done this many times. First calm down and hopefully the designer will do the same. What I have done is use Fray Check to bind the twist together. if you have left them long enough, an inch or 2, you criss cross them and tuck them in the seam . With a large needle hand stitch. also you can hammer the cord to flatten it out a bit. if it is already cut short and you want to but them together, after using fray check let it dry. then glue the ends together with some Fabri Tac. it is a fast drying glue. just use sparingly. test these methods on scrap fabric and cord to get the technic down. I work with many designers, and communication is key. Good luck, Susan
I bought fray check yesterday and originally i was going to criss cross them and tuck them in but they are so big I would never be able to close the seam thats what part of the problem is...I left them in the corner i sure wish you were here to show me!!
debbie
She is thinking of ripping it all out and doing welting i would like to salvage it b/c i spent so much time on it. how do you tuck them in when they are so bulky??I know you can help me I am just not visuallizing it. Also would you mind looking at my post on the balloon shade?? Thanks!
on the balloon shade are you including pleats? you should. is it an inside mount? bay window? I sew rings spaced 6 or 8 in apart up thru the center of the box peats in the back. and tie them all together,thats what makes your scalloped bottom.the pleats help it from pulling towards the center at the sides.You need a book to look at. its hard to explain on here. As for the seam on the seat some hand stitching is enough thru the cords. because its bulky its ok to leave the stitching a little loose at that point. when you turn it right side out the seam will be tucked in over the bump anyway. have you cut your foam and batting?it should all blend in ok after you stuff it.Just a hint when stuffing , a drycleaner bag over your fill will help you slide it into place, then pull the bag out.on my web site you can see some of these projects finished.http://www.homedecsewing.com the corner is a good place to disguise.Practice , it will get easier
This post is archived.