Hello Sewing Friends,
I have recently made a skirt – A-line, loose fit – the fabric is a silk/viscose(?)mixture and the weave is not particularly loose. Unfortunately, have only worn it once and the seams are splitting.
Is there a way of indentifying fabrics which will weaken at the seams?
Is there a sewing process/style which will prevent/minimise the problem?
Your advice is most appreciated.
Replies
Is the silk/viscose a sheer or semi-sheer? If so, the seams should be French seams, which are sewn once wrong sides together, trimmed, then sewn again with rights sides together. It looks much better but strengthens the seam too. Your fabric is silk/ viscose rayon--I avoid rayon except for lining. Some rayons are better than others but bascially all of them go limp after laundry or dry cleaning, most are difficult to work with as they fray excessively and are loosely woven. If I do sew them, I use lots of fusible knit interfacing to stabilize it. I'd guess maybe the skirt fits well and when you sit it strains the fabric a little and since it's not real stable anyway, it gives at the seams. Rayon also wrinkles BAD!
thank you for your advice.
the fabric is a semip-sheer. skirt is lined.
where do you apply the fusible knit interfacing and how much?
To repair your skirt, remove the stitching in the pulled seam area. Read and follow the directions for the fusible knit interfacing!--a must in order to get a good fuse. Fusible knit interfacing can be found at most any good fabric store. some brands names are: Fusi-knit, French Fuse. Fuse a 1/2 inch strip down the seamline with only 1/8" of the interfacing being on the skirt side of the seam. You'll need the 1/2" width just for ease of handling and fusing to the seamline. then re-sew the seam in the original stitching line. The fusible ought to stabilize the seam so that it doesn't pull anymore.
Hi! I am a new sewer and also not a very good computer user. I have never been to discussion room and I read in the beginning that I should introduce myself. However, I'm not quite sure how to get started.
My husband gave me a Husqvarna Viking 770 and I love every minute of sewing! I am eager to learn and Have had a few private lessons and also a beginning class at the store where we bought it. I sew WHENEVER I can, which is usually in the middle of the night because I have a one-year-old that keeps me very busy!
If possibly you could explain to me how the discussion room works and then I will be on my way to learning more and more about sewing!
Thank you so very much!!!
Hi, MattieMal. I'm no expert on the discussion group myself, but I believe your question might get lost in the stream of the discussion you replied to. Your comments will always be welcomed on existing topics, judging by my experience here, but when you have a new topic or discussion you want to introduce, as opposed to an existing topic you're reading, scroll back up to the top of the list of discussion topics on the left side of your screen, and click on "Post New."
You can ask any question you want, pertaining to sewing, patterns, machines, etc., then address the question to "all" or to particular individuals as you like. When you post a new message, you can choose to be notified by e-mail when you receive an answer. You can also "subscribe" to an existing discussion thread, which will enable notification by e-mail when any new message is posted in that thread. (You do this by clicking on "Subscribe to ..." at the top of the discussion thread on the right side of your screen.)
You can also e-mail to a friend or to yourself copies of messages that have been posted, when you want to keep information thus supplied (for example, web addresses you want to save, or descriptions of sewing techniques) by clicking on "Options" and then "E-mail" at the bottom of the particular message you want to save. Just explore the various "buttons" on the screen and you'll find your way around the discussion group. It's a terrific resource, as you've already seen.
thank you once again.
will try the fusible on the seam and let you know how I go.
You don't mention if it's lined or not but a lining may help as it would prevent additional abrasion against the seams when you sit and walk.
I underline any weak fabric with silk organza it takes the stress off the seams.
Nancy
I would use "Seams Great" in the seam allowance, it is a sheer bias that is one of my favorite products to keepon hand int he sewing room. Mary
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