Dear Threads:
I love your magazine and greatly look forward to each new issue. I just completed making your ripply scarf from the July issue and have a comment and a question. First, since there was no yardage indicated I experimented with a yard of silk. The yard produced a lovely scarf that can go around my neck with a coordinating jacket. I plan to make some of these for Christmas. I was pleased to read in your September letters section that yardage was now provided. I will use the 2 1/4 yards if I desire to make a stole.
I have a question about sewing with silk. I found that my silk was slipping on my serger. The slippage resulted in blank spots with no serging. As a remedy, I serged twice. The second time of serging produced a thicker edge which is acceptable, but not the quality I truly desire. I then used a 2mm narrow hemmer straight stitch to sew around the neck edge and lower edge of the scarf. Again, I had difficulty with the silk slipping. It looks okay for a first scarf and no one other than myself and my mother, who has been a seamstress for 50+ years will notice the errors. Quality is important to me, so I would greatly appreciate your advice. Thanks again.
Elise Hazel
Replies
Elise,
Did you use organza, or a softer silk? The organza seemed to work fine for me, but I know that serging the edges of a softer fabric like georgette or chiffon can be tricky. There are a few solutions.
First, be sure your serger is set for a cutting width that leaves a wide allowance; this leaves more fabric to be rolled up in the rolled hem, and thus gives the stitching something to grab onto.
Next, you can try slipping strips of water-soluble or heat-away stabilizer along the seam as you serge. This, too gives the stitches more to hold onto, and then you can simply remove the stabilizer.
If you're using chiffon, you can try starching the fabric before serging. A stiffer edge will go through the serger blade without caving in.
Remember that the scarf instructions were really just suggestions--you can make these any way you like. I suggest cutting a few extra bias strips to test your stitches on, or to replace a strip if you don't like the way it looks.
Carol
Dear Carol:
I just returned from vacation so found your response on my e-mail. Thank you so much for your suggestion. I did use the softer silk. I will plan to use some of the washable stabilizer and see how it works. Thank you again.
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