Replies

1. 
   Palady | Mar 23, 2009 10:30pm | #1

   When you say " iron it"  my hope is this was done using a ham to shape the seam after clipping.    My approach is to press to the side.  A carry back to mother's teaching that front waist seams went away from center front.  Back was likewise.

   And pressed rather than ironed.  In my sewing world ironing means moving the appliance over and in any direction over the fashion/fabric.  Sometimes the requisite calls for back & forth or up & down direction.  Whereas pressing is laying down the iron for X moments, lifting it, and placing it down again elsewhere in the area.

   Other members will surely offer you their thought.

   nepa

    

1. 
   catnet | Mar 24, 2009 12:31pm | #2

   Thanks. I mean "Press".

   I am making my dress for my sons wedding and have finished the toile.

   I pressed it to the side but just wanted to check what others do.

   Once again thanks.

    

1. 
   Palady | Mar 25, 2009 12:36am | #3

   Delight in your upcoming role as mother-of-the-groom!!

   Other members will chime in I'm sure.

   nepa

2. 
   PASDENOM | Mar 27, 2009 12:06am | #4

   I press seams open to avoid uneven bulk.

3. 
   Teaf5 | Mar 30, 2009 01:07am | #5

   If the fabric is sheer and lightweight,  I'll clip, then trim the seam to 1/4" and finish the two seam allowances together before pressing to the side on a rolled towel/ham.  Sometimes I topstitch along the edge of that 1/4" so that the seam allowance lies flat and the princess line is accentuated, either along the front panel or along the side panel.  On sheers, it's important for the seam allowance to be narrow and consistent.

   If the fabric is stiffer and heavier, I'll trim the seam allowances to 1/4", finish each separately, then press open to avoid bulk, as already mentioned.  If the style allows it, topstitching on both sides of the princess seam helps the allowance lie flat and adds a nice finish.

2. 
   sewslow67 | Apr 04, 2009 08:26pm | #6

   When working with princess seams, I first stay stitch 1/8 inch into the seam allowance from the stitching line, being very careful not to stretch this area.  I then use lots of pins to help ease the fuller piece into the lessor one and sew with the fabric to be eased on the bottom while sewing.

   Next, I trim and clip (esp. the rounded part of the seams - graduating seam width into the straight part) and press them open, to minimize bulk.  As another poster suggested, carefully press over a ham, using steam and, just to be safe, I put paper between the seam and the body of the garment ...large enough so that there will be no press marks from the edge of the iron.  Do it once, and you will find that "it is a piece of cake"!  No problems.