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Technical Help / Re: How to hem a circle skirt (stretch fabric)
« on: December 19, 2017, 16:17:52 PM »I always run a line of gathering stitches ( hand or machine) about 5/6mm from the finished edge and then draw this up gently to absorb the excess fabric into the hem. This method ensures that there aren't any unsightly pleats/lumps etc.
I responded to your comment but doesn’t look like it posted! I’m not sure how to get this working. Do you add the gathering stitch before folding the fabric to make the hem? Do you have an example so I can figure out the steps?
If your machine is stretching the fabric out it may be that the presser foot tension needs to be reduced.
The Knit 'n' Stable tape helps; just iron it on all around the edge of the fabric.
Depending on what stitches you have on your machine, overcast or zig-zag over the Knit 'n' Stable tape, close to the edge and trim neatly if necessary (this is where an overlocker makes it a doddle!) and turn the hem. Then depending on personal preference and the fabric being used either use a twin needle to sew a double row of topstitching or fold the hem back do that you can use the blind stitch option with the 3 or 4 stitches going into the overcast or zig-zag and the stitch which swings to the left just going into the main fabric.
The machine doesn’t stretch the fabric when adding regular stitches. I stretch it a little when adding the hem, otherwise it ‘catches’ more fabric than needed and that results in the ruffles.
Is that tape the same idea as biasband? I have a bunch of that laying around and it kind of sounds like the same idea. I’m still figuring out how to get good zig zag stitches on the machine. If I do it close to the edge with this stretch fabric, the needles pushes the fabric away and will get knotted in itself.
Any tips?