I'm entering unchartered territory
05-26-2009, 03:47 PM
#21
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 15,639
I didn't notice if Sharon Schamber's videos were on the tutorial list. In case they were not:
http://sharonschambernetwork.com/free_area/free.html
She has both needle-turn and raw edge on the site.
http://sharonschambernetwork.com/free_area/free.html
She has both needle-turn and raw edge on the site.
05-31-2009, 08:45 AM
#23
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
The thinner the bias strips, the easier it is to shape them into curves. A 1/4-inch wide stem can be shaped into tighter curves than a 1/2-inch wide stem.
I like the Clover tool also for bias strips.
When you sew down a curving stem, sew the inside part of the stem first. Because it is cut on the bias, the outside will stretch to fit the curve. If you sew the outside curve first, you can end up with little ripples on the inside curve. In other words, you can make a bias strip stretch into position but you can't make it shrink!
I like the Clover tool also for bias strips.
When you sew down a curving stem, sew the inside part of the stem first. Because it is cut on the bias, the outside will stretch to fit the curve. If you sew the outside curve first, you can end up with little ripples on the inside curve. In other words, you can make a bias strip stretch into position but you can't make it shrink!
05-31-2009, 12:47 PM
#25
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Oh, and I also starch fabric heavily before cutting into bias strips to pull through the Clover tool.
Here's my method for starching. I place the fabric on my kitchen island and prepare a 1:2 solution of Sta-Flo liquid laundry starch and water. I use a large painting brush (the kind you use to paint a house wall) to saturate the fabric with the starch solution. I throw the saturated fabric into the dryer and afterwards iron it with steam. This makes it about as stiff as a thin piece of cardboard! Makes the fabric very easy to cut accurately into bias strips and makes it easy to thread fabric through the Clover tool. The folds stay crisp as you work too.
Sta-Flo can be purchased in just about any store's laundry section (grocery, Walmart, Target).
Bias strips are easy to pre-shape, especially if you are working on tight curves. You can draw the curving stem shape on a piece of paper, pin the bias strip to the paper right into the ironing board, and use a steam iron to coax and fix the bias strip into the shape you want. This makes it even easier to hand stitch the strip to your foundation fabric.
Here's my method for starching. I place the fabric on my kitchen island and prepare a 1:2 solution of Sta-Flo liquid laundry starch and water. I use a large painting brush (the kind you use to paint a house wall) to saturate the fabric with the starch solution. I throw the saturated fabric into the dryer and afterwards iron it with steam. This makes it about as stiff as a thin piece of cardboard! Makes the fabric very easy to cut accurately into bias strips and makes it easy to thread fabric through the Clover tool. The folds stay crisp as you work too.
Sta-Flo can be purchased in just about any store's laundry section (grocery, Walmart, Target).
Bias strips are easy to pre-shape, especially if you are working on tight curves. You can draw the curving stem shape on a piece of paper, pin the bias strip to the paper right into the ironing board, and use a steam iron to coax and fix the bias strip into the shape you want. This makes it even easier to hand stitch the strip to your foundation fabric.
05-31-2009, 07:05 PM
#27
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
I've never had a problem with bugs being attracted to starch. I don't see why they would be a problem unless someone is storing starched fabric for a long period of time, perhaps in a humid climate. I usually make quilts that will be washed rather than wall hangings, so perhaps that makes a difference.
I have tried both spray starch and sizing; they do not stiffen the fabric sufficiently for me. Maybe it's just me, but I also hate the overspray problem with sprays. With spray starch I always seem to scorch the starch too!
However, the biggest difference between my method and the sprays is the degree of stiffness.
I have tried both spray starch and sizing; they do not stiffen the fabric sufficiently for me. Maybe it's just me, but I also hate the overspray problem with sprays. With spray starch I always seem to scorch the starch too!
However, the biggest difference between my method and the sprays is the degree of stiffness.
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