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I’m making a dress of a gorgeous lightweight wool challis (a paisley, not that that has any bearing on this question), & have realized as I’m beginning to sew that it doesn’t have enough body for me to zigzag the seam allowances without bunching up the fabric & otherwise behaving unsatisfactorily.
Before cutting, I machine-washed the fabric & hung it to dry, and it came out wonderfully. Since I plan to continue machine-washing it, I especially want to select a seam finish that will prevent raveling. I don’t have access to a serger, so that’s not an option, & I don’t trust my sewing machine to avoid wadding up the fabric if I were to use any of its overcast or zigzag stitches. What about pinking the seams? Or is there a better answer that hasn’t occurred to me?
Thanks in advance,
-Sarah
Replies
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In her book, "Fabric Savvy" Sandra Betzina recommends a flat felled seam if you cannot serge it. For the hem, she recommends enclosing the raw edge with Seams Great, turn up and hand stitch. Hope this helps.
*Hi Sarah, If you don't want the topstitching of a flat felled seam, another option might be French seaming.--lin
*Try bias tape - called a Hong Kong finish, I believe.
*Bind the seams with Seams Great--it's lighter than bias tape.
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