ASG Sewing Blog – Page 31

July 15, 2022

Pressing Matters: Choosing the Right Iron

Next to your sewing machine, your iron may be the most important item in your sewing room. Look for features that fit your sewing needs.

Auto shut-off

Some sewers love it, others loathe it—that “feature” that turns your iron off when it’s not used for a certain period of time. Shut-off times vary up to 15 minutes of non-use. Although designed as a safety feature, there are many irons without this option if you find it an annoyance.

Warming Ways

Some irons have dials, others have digital read-outs to tell you actual ironing temps, but still others list only fabric/fiber names, like cotton, silk or wool to indicate a safe temperature setting. A few brands offer only dots or arrowheads to indicate temperature ranges. Choose a brand with an indicator that works best for what you want to know.

Bottoms Up

Rowenta DW8270 Pro Master 1750 Watt X-CEL Steam Iron with 400 Hole HD Profile Soleplate available on Amazon.

You may never have given it a thought, but if you research irons, you’ll find aluminum, stainless and ceramic soleplates available. Some also offer a non-stick coating—ideal if you do a lot of fusing.

Depending on the type of sewing you do, the number of steam holes in the soleplate may be important. You can get more than 400, like in the Rowenta DW8270 Pro Master 1750 Watt X-CEL Steam Iron with 400 Hole HD Profile Soleplate pictured to the right, all the way down to less than 50, depending on the brand and model. If you do a lot of tailoring, look for a higher number of steam holes with many near the iron’s point.

The soleplate shape is also a consideration as some irons are very pointed with a space for detail pressing, while others are more rounded for more general use.

Hefty, Hefty, Hefty

Most home irons fall in the 1- to 5-pound range for weight. For tailoring, heavier is better as more pressure is applied to shape the fabric during construction.

Steamy Situations

Sewists (and most quilters) love steam, and it comes in various forms. Some irons offer only a single steam setting, others offer adjustable steam–from bursts to continuous—depending on your needs. Irons should also offer a dry setting for those fabrics that can be damaged by water or for use with some fusible products. Some irons steam only in a horizontal position, while others can also steam in a vertical position.

If you like convenience, look for a removable water tank to take directly to the faucet for filling. A transparent tank lets you keep tabs on the amount of water in the iron and know when a refill is needed. Check the size of the water tank, as smaller capacity reservoirs require more frequent filling, especially if you’re using a lot of steam.

In addition to steam, some irons offer a misting or spray feature to allow for a bit of extra moisture in certain pressing situations—especially helpful for shaping fabrics and removing wrinkles.

Fill ‘er Up!

Note what type of water the iron requires. Many simply take tap water, but others require distilled water. There may be regional differences, depending on the water where you live. Using hard water can lead to a build-up of residue in the tank (or on your sewing project) and clogged steam vents, so check for a self-cleaning feature.

It’s a good idea to empty the water in your iron if you’re not going to be using it for a while to help prevent mineral build-up in the tank.

Plugging In

Think about where you’ll be ironing and check the cord length—they can be up to 12 feet long. Some irons offer a retractable cord for easier storage. Iron cord positions can be fixed or they can pivot for convenience of both left- and right-handed users. Cordless models are also available with a charging base, but keep in mind that the head has to be returned to the base frequently to reheat itself.

Sit-ups

Most irons sit vertically on their heel when not in use, but one brand {Oliso photo) has “legs” that raise it off the ironing surface when not in use, so there’s no need to set it upright. When you hold the handle, it lowers itself for use.

Liking it Hot

It’s important to let any iron fully heat up before using it. If you don’t, it may spit water onto your project. Some irons fully heat in 30 seconds, other take as long as 10 minutes. There may be a beeper or a light to indicate when the desired temperature is reached.

~Linda Griepentrog
Linda is the owner of G Wiz Creative Services and she does writing, editing and designing for companies in the sewing, crafting and quilting industries. In addition, she escorts fabric shopping tours to Hong Kong. She lives at the Oregon Coast with her husband Keith, and two dogs, Yohnuh and Abby. Contact her at .

July 8, 2022

Sloper: Adding Darts to a Skirt (preview)

Secrets of Good Fit

Making your own clothing is fun, but making your own pattern makes it much more fun! Why make your own sewing patterns? For the same reason you sew — to get what you want, to be unique, to save or make money, for the fun of fit, and to get a good fit. Another good reason to learn patternmaking is to better understand and work with purchased patterns.

Patternmaking and fitting are closely related subjects. If you learn sloper drafting and patternmaking, you will greatly improve your fitting skills. There is no need to feel intimidated or overwhelmed though, patternmaking isn’t a complex skill. If you can sew without using a purchased pattern’s instruction sheet, you’re ready for patternmaking.

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July 1, 2022

Make-It: Faux-Leather Trimmed Canvas Beach Bag (preview)

Here’s a simple canvas bag to take you into summer, yet is versatile enough to use the rest of the year as well! The basic 16″ x 14″ canvas bag, trimmed with faux leather, can be customized to create a bag that perfectly suits you. Add an embroidered monogram, spell out a child’s name with colorful fabric paints, or stencil pastel sea shells on off-white canvas to personalize the bag. (A)

Faux leather trim adds a classy touch and is far easier to sew than real leather. It’s also durable, doesn’t crack easily, and is fade and stain resistant.

Sewing Q&A

Welcome to this edition of sewing questions and answers:

Lightbox

Q. How do I use a light box?

A. Light boxes are handy additions to a sewing room and they can be used to trace appliqué patterns onto fusible web, trace pattern pieces for altering, draw embroidery designs onto a garment, check placement of paper piecing components and anytime you need to see through your pattern or fabric. You can also use a light box to draw right onto the fabric surface allowing you to fill in the design with paint or crayons/colored pencils designed for use on fabric.

Light box from Amazon — Light box available from Amazon. We may earn a small referral fee if you make a purchase.

If you’re purchasing a light box, be sure to get one large enough for the kind of tasks you expect to do with it and check the brightness, as some come with multiple light settings. Also, note the cord length in relation to where you plan to use it and the closest outlet.

Elastic

Q. I have trouble threading elastic through casings, as it seems to get hung up on the seam allowances and then gets stalled. How can I fix this?

A. There are a few options to fix this hang-up. The easiest way is to trim the seam allowances to 1/8” within the casing area, that eliminates the excess seam allowance fabric blocking your elastic end coming through the casing. Another way is to be sure the seam allowances are pressed open within the casing area and then stitch them down. The stitching is hidden in the finished elasticized area. A quick third way to solve this dilemma is to fuse the seam allowances open within the casing area, eliminating any chance for a collision as elastic is being threaded through. All of these options also make for a flatter casing.

Buckram

Q. A friend told me about buckram for stiffening the bottom of some bags I’m making. What is it?

A. Buckram is a stiff, usually cotton, fabric that’s been soaked in sizing or glue to make it incredibly rigid. This woven fabric is available in different weights, depending on the intended use. It’s available in sew-in or fusible variations, and as yardage, as well as pre-cut bands. The pre-cut bands are used in the top of curtains and drapes to support rings or grommets. Buckram is often used in millinery work and for theater costuming when shaping is needed. Fashion sewers often use buckram in the bottom of handbags and totes as it’s the stiffest fabric available for support. Simply cut the shape of your bag bottom and sew or fuse the buckram in place for stability. If buckram isn’t available, substitute heavy/stiff craft interfacing or plastic canvas for the same purpose. One note–buckram is not machine washable and really shouldn’t be hand washed either, as moisture can cause it to soften and shrink.

Interfacing

Q. I have trouble fusing interfacing, as it sometimes shows the imprint of the iron steam holes. What am I doing wrong?

A. When you fuse interfacing to fabric, it’s important that the entire surface is evenly covered with heat, pressure and sometimes moisture. Be sure to read the instructions that come with your brand of interfacing. It’s important to fuse one area at a time, then pick up the iron, move to the next section and overlap the first area. Each section requires holding the iron in place for the requisite amount of time for proper fusing.

When steam hole imprints are visible on the fabric surface, the cause is often that the iron was held in one place too long without any overlap as you cover the remaining surface of the piece. Or, it could also be that the brand of interfacing you’re using requires a dry iron for fusing, not steam, and thus the imprinting can be avoided. Some interfacing directions recommend using a press cloth to protect the fabric surface as well.

June 17, 2022

Soft, Easy Dressing

Although the fashion industry keeps trying to dictate what we should be wearing, our lifestyle and our style of dressing has changed over the past 2 years. Comfy, flow-y clothing has dominated our stay-at-home and work-from-home wardrobe. Now, as we venture out again, we may enjoy keeping the loose and relaxed look with clothes that are roomy in the shoulders and arms, don’t bind at the hips and tummy, and may have elastic at the waist for a little bit of breathing room.Soft, easy dressing means wearing clothing that is not fitted or tailored, but certainly not sloppy either. They are clothes that are long enough to cover our knees when we cross our legs and are made from fabric that moves when we walk. To achieve this style without looking sloppy, there are a few rules to follow:

Patterns

Select a pattern for garments that are not tailored or structured and don’t require precise cutting or measuring. Choose patterns with few pattern pieces and lots of built-in ease. Some patterns you may find have ease that can be increased or decreased according to your personal taste and the fabric you choose. The amount of ease you may find comfortable will vary with each pattern company and pattern design. To hold to the soft, easy dressing style, choose patterns designed for comfort and room.

Fabric

When shopping for fabric, focus less on fiber content and more on how the fabric feels. Remember that it’s the weight and movement of the fabric that’s important, not the fiber content. If you are shopping in person (which will be very helpful), touch the fabric. Move it through your hands and over your arms and watch how it drapes and falls. Be realistic when making your selection. If the fabric doesn’t move and bounce, then it is probably too stiff, too heavy, or too crisp for this soft, easy, relaxes style of dressing. Make sure it feels good against your skin and will give you an “ahh” moment when you put it on.

Sewing

When sewing with soft fabrics, don’t put too much tension in the stitching. Soft fabrics need to move — if the seams are too tight, they will resist movement and you won’t get the flowing, comfortable look you are after. Finish the seams after sewing so they won’t ravel and cause the garment to wear out before its time. Basting is a help when working with soft, moving fabrics. Use twill tape where needed (such as in the shoulder seams, etc.) to prevent stretching and to help stabilize the seam.

Most soft fabrics don’t take a crease well and, therefore, the seams don’t always lay flat when pressed. To help control this, try top-stitching the seams. This also adds a little extra touch of detail to the garment. Try hemming your soft garment by machine and edge stitch for both extra control and a bit of extra weight.

Roomy, comfortable clothes do have fit and shape — they are just not a tight, tailored fit. The neck opening should not bee too large and the shoulders and sleeves should fit your body. Drop shoulders are a common design of this style; however, you don’t want the shoulder to hit you at the elbow so adjust as needed. Note that there is usually not a bust dart in this style of clothing. If you are larger than a “B” cup, consider adding bust darts to help the garment hang better. Hem length is also important with these comfortable designs. Adding length helps balance the look and design of a large, roomy garment.

Last but not least, wear shoulder pads. They don’t have to be large (we’re not revisiting “those” years)! However, they will give the garment some structure and something smooth to hang from while maintaining visual balance.

~Based upon an article from Mary Lou Rankin, Park Bench Patterns.