Sewing....... need answers .... dang it!! *lol* (pleeeease)

[Mato Winyan]

I usually don't do this but not getting any response in jingle and need some answers now....

Sewing questions.......

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Ok..... a couple quick questions. First off..... I need this done in less than two weeks............... HOW THE HECK AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT?????

Got that out of my system....... so here's the other ones...

I'm doin this dress in crepe satin so I'm lining it with a cotton..... when you all do that I figure it's best to work it as one. How do you keep the layers together...... just pin or do you heat and bond certain places?

Then how do you get and keep your lines straight and designs where everything matches up? I'm doing some veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy intricate designs. I'm afraid my designs will be lower on one arm than the other or my jingle rows.... I know........ I worry too much. But I was wondering....... how do you measure and mark to make sure that does not happen. Eyeballin it won't get it with these designs!!!

Thanks gals....... I knew ya all would come through for me

[ndngirl73]

if the end result is for it to act as a lining and not an underdress then you might want to do some baste stitching with some big stitches so that when you go to sew everything its all in the right place. also i mark everythin off and do the sleeves first measuring the seam allowance in and all that. it helps me on the sleeves to iron in a crease so that i can mark from there. i think thats what you're asking.

[Mato Winyan]

yup...yup.......... that's what I was asking. Any hints on the line placement for the jingles......... I'm going to do these angled with a design in the line......... not just a straight angled line........ that make sense?

Either this dress is going to be the bomb or a expensive dust rag......

[wyo_rose]

If your satin is thin and stretches a lot on the bias, fuse it to the lining fabric with wonderunder. No heat and bond. If it's thick like bridal satin, you can just pin it and it will be ok. A couple wrinkles in the lining won't hurt it.

When you cut your fabric for the dress or designs, be SUPER accurate. Make sure your layers are right there together, or you'll get off a little, which can multiply to a lot! l like to do an extra set of designs (like 3 sleeves designs) in case one messes up.

Measure EVERYWHERE! When marking a row for jingles I usually pick a spot like the corner under the arm and measure both front and back pieces so your lines will line up. Measure from the bottom as well. (Measure twice, mark once )

I like to make creases down the center of the main pieces and sleeves for placement of designs, zippers, etc..., but test your fabric first. Satin doesn't always let go of the creases. Test a scrap piece first. Make a crease, then try to iron it out.

Use a fabric marking pen and a straight edge to mark your lines for jingles. Once on a particularly hard design, I even used a Sharpie to mark the lines. It was covered by ribbon, and yeah, now she wants to move the rows around. Oh well....

If you can't mark on your fabric, use pins to mark placement for designs, even jingles, depending on how you're attaching them.

Make a template for jingle placement. Especially good for scallops. But even for straight lines of jingles, mark on your ruler where each jingle should go and transfer that to the dress.

As for getting it done it two weeks??? You can do it. Don't stress out. Make this your sewing weekend and deligate errands/cooking/cleaning to ANYONE else. Or order in. Send the family to the movies. Send kids out for sleepovers.

More tips: Pink, serge or zigzag your raw satin edges if it is unraveling after cutting. Attach designs first. I like to get the whole design sewn together, then attach it to the dress. Do the top of the dress first (neckline, zipper or other fastener, attach sleeves) and work down, leaving the side seams totally open. The last dress I made, I even did the cuffs, but left most of the sleeve seam open as well as the side seams.

GOOD LUCK!!

[Mato Winyan]

Thanks wyo ..... I just knew you would come thru....on this! It's a crepe backed satin so it's pretty thick.

So do you put designs on after the dress is sewed or put them on the pieces before...... The way I'm taking it and thinking of doing it..... is sewing the shoulders.... facing etc up there........ then placing the design on .......then finishing it up. This is a two piece, dress..... then jacket with designs. The one hip will have a design ....then of course the jingle rows.

Yeah...... I'm starting to freak....just a little. Hubby has to pull a double tonight.... the works tomorrow too ..... so I imagine he'll be sleeping the rest of the weekend. No little ones here.... My baby is going to be 22 on the 22nd of Aug so this is her birthday present.

Thanks again...... HUGS~~

[Eagle Plumes]

Mato, I hope the dress is comming along for you, you have to post apic K! sorry I have no tips for you, but I do know any time I do applique I put it on the material before Its put together, and like said before measure! IM sure your doing great! the your young lady has a great momma who would do this and make it as a surprise is awesom! ive done the very same thing myself for friends and family. keep up the good work!!!!

[Mato Winyan]

Thanks EP! Sure will post pics......... that way everyone can see it and know I did it......... if they see someone that copied ya all can bust their hump!!


Ok........problems here!!! My materials are slipping...... yes.....I said it........... I HAVE SLIPPAGE!! I'm so ashamed...

Anyway.........have the satin inside out with the cotton (blend) on the outside.......have it pinned on selvage...... well where the fold is where it would be the middle of the dress....... it separates .......grrrrrr.......... how can I fix it so I can get this done?????? I need it out of here at least by the 8th!! And I have all the stitching to do on the applique's yet.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

[Czechy]

Oh poo.... I was in the Jingle Forum before I came over here....
Check over there for my answer.

For the slippage problem, read my note on using freezer paper.

[MrzDancerMom]

a little off topic...
but I am all the way here in Cali (I am sicangu lakota) and have been keeping up with the Bear Butte news. I seen your pictures there and am wondering if you made it to the protect recently?

Also, about the lakota hotdog. My 23mo daughter was eating some lunchmeat and said to her dad (who is cali-ndn)...mmmmm puppy! ha ha ha! My husband looked at me and said....IT MUST BE HER LAKOTA SIDE. :P

On to the sewing: I havent used the satan material yet for my daughter's dress yet. I know I will eventually. But with the lines of ribbon and such. I put the dress together and keep the 'skirt' part unsewn. Then I add the ribbon and jingles and so they are lined up and even. Also for the designs....add them on to the sections of the dress before you sew it together. but use backing (sticky) and iron them down. Pin the dress together and see if they are all lined up and in the right places. Then sew them down and then put the dress together. that is from my expiereince. Some may have more 'easier' ways...and so I continue to read here and get ideas or ask other relatives who are more experienced then me. ;) Good luck!

[LeannB]

Have you thought about putting the crepe and cotton pieces together, and zig-zaging the edges, then sewing them as one unit?
Leann

[darkwaterlum]

I agree with the zigzagging it, it tends to hold the fabric, especially when its satin that tends to slip when sewing, versus a regular beam line or straight line in sewing, however it gets tricky if you are trying to match the stiching with pattern.. This is what I use as far as sewing with satin. Yeah, yeah, thats right ladies, this is a Native man, who knows how to sew...gotten pretty good too...

[between2worlds]

You're not the only one who can sew, darkwaterlum... but all the sewing I was taught to do was either be hand or on my Gramma's treadle powered Singer.

I got an old electric machine (about a 1970's Brother) but the tension settings don't work right anymore so unless it's heavy fabric I have to sew it by hand. When you're hand sewing, pattern matching and slipping isn't as big of an issue (at least for me).

[LeannB]

I agree with the zigzagging it, it tends to hold the fabric, especially when its satin that tends to slip when sewing, versus a regular beam line or straight line in sewing, however it gets tricky if you are trying to match the stiching with pattern.. This is what I use as far as sewing with satin. Yeah, yeah, thats right ladies, this is a Native man, who knows how to sew...gotten pretty good too...

Hey, nuthin' wrong with a guy knowing how to sew. And if you are sewing satin, you're a far braver sewer than I am. I usually stick to cotton, linen and wool...
Leann

[darkwaterlum]

Between2Worlds....I have a monster too, I dont even know how old it is, my grandma made many blankets and quilts with it, its bolted down to this big ol desk, I have another one its a singer, I would say an 1980's model, thats for the hard ones, and the other is for the heavy or thick ones.....but I agree there are just times when you got to hand sew it....point blank and period....