The Sewing Place
The Emporia => Fun with Fabric => Topic started by: elisep on May 02, 2017, 13:33:40 PM
-
Hi all,
Does anyone have any tips or tricks for getting a seams to stay pressed in an unruly fabric? I've just made up a softly structured blazer (Butterick 5928 (https://butterick.mccall.com/b5928)) in what I was told was a silk/wool blend. I bought it at a warehouse sale, so can only go on the seller's word, and no idea what the various percentages are. It's a light suiting weight, gorgeous fabric and very silky. I just can't get the seams to stay pressed, they keep softening. The hem particularly is a nightmare. It's not a standard jacket hem, I think it's what they call a bagged hem? and it just won't stay neatly pressed. In my experience silk and wool normally press very nicely... maybe it's actually a polyester blend? I should do a burn test.
Any ideas? Spray starch maybe? I've never had to use anything like that before. Help!
-
I think I would try topstitching down the seamline either with both seam allowances stitched down in that side or laid open and twin lines of topstitching either side of the seamline.
Hope that helps.
-
I would say it isn't silk and wool. I would be pretty annoyed at being fobbed off with what appears to be mostly polyester.
Something I wouldn't normally suggest.....could you use something like steam a seam to fuse it before finishing off?
-
A clapper should do it
-
Thanks all. Unfortunately it's completely finished so I can't use steam a seam. I'd prefer not to topstitch - I don't really think it will look very good on the vertical seams, but if I can't get a clapper to work I'll do that for the collar and hem.
I don't own a clapper at present but I've been needing one for ages... just a good excuse to go and buy one 0_0 of course I can't wear it till the seams look good!
I need to go for a hunt for some leftover fabric - I'm sure I had some - to do a burn test. That should remove any doubts about the content!
-
I have used a [new] scrubbing brush, wrapped in a tea towel to protect my hands from bristles, instead of a real clapper. Worked well!
-
'Professional' finishing at a drycleaners?
-
Could you invisibly hand stitch the seam allowances/ hem allowance down? A lot of work but I find it works quite nicely. I did this on the sleeve seams of my jacket where I couldn't get in to top stitch.
-
A clapper should do it
Just what I was going to suggest.
Failing that, you may need to redo the hem and catchstitch it to the main body and then sew the lining by hand.