sewing strips
05-18-2011, 04:01 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: South central Nebraska, US
Posts: 5,367
Alternate the ends when you are sewing. Once you stitch 2 strips together, start the next strip from the end you just finished.
OOps, do you mean thin,thin strips? No majic, just be very careful and perhaps use a guide for seam allowance. Also, a straight stitch throat plate.
OOps, do you mean thin,thin strips? No majic, just be very careful and perhaps use a guide for seam allowance. Also, a straight stitch throat plate.
05-18-2011, 04:14 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 988
If possible, start with the middle and sew from both ends alternately. Place a strip of blue painters tape to the right of the needle marking where you will line up the fabric each time to sew will also help.
05-18-2011, 04:18 PM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
Did a TON of 1" strips. Not all of them were perfect, but it was not bad.
Use a walking foot - it keeps the top fabric from shifting.
If your sewing several together alternate the direction. I always leave the threads at the beginning long and trim the end thread close so I know which end I started at last.
Try a glue stick to match the pieces instead of pins.
Make sure your 1/4" is accurate all the way down. Lay it on your cutting mat to make sure it's still straight edge to edge. Measure the seam with your ruler to make sure the 1/4" is in the same place all the way down.
When you iron it make sure you don't stretch it. You can cut it perfect, sew it perfect and ruin it all when you iron it. First set the seams flat (I set on both sides), then open it at the center and press (just lay the iron on it), then just to the right of center, then to the left of center, back to the right - etc - until you've pressed it end to end.
When done ironing, measure it again.
Use a walking foot - it keeps the top fabric from shifting.
If your sewing several together alternate the direction. I always leave the threads at the beginning long and trim the end thread close so I know which end I started at last.
Try a glue stick to match the pieces instead of pins.
Make sure your 1/4" is accurate all the way down. Lay it on your cutting mat to make sure it's still straight edge to edge. Measure the seam with your ruler to make sure the 1/4" is in the same place all the way down.
When you iron it make sure you don't stretch it. You can cut it perfect, sew it perfect and ruin it all when you iron it. First set the seams flat (I set on both sides), then open it at the center and press (just lay the iron on it), then just to the right of center, then to the left of center, back to the right - etc - until you've pressed it end to end.
When done ironing, measure it again.
05-18-2011, 04:39 PM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4,039
Originally Posted by dakotamaid
Alternate the ends when you are sewing. Once you stitch 2 strips together, start the next strip from the end you just finished.
OOps, do you mean thin,thin strips? No majic, just be very careful and perhaps use a guide for seam allowance. Also, a straight stitch throat plate.
OOps, do you mean thin,thin strips? No majic, just be very careful and perhaps use a guide for seam allowance. Also, a straight stitch throat plate.
05-19-2011, 03:23 AM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bellmore, NY
Posts: 505
Wow ... thanks I'm going to try all of your tips. I knew I would get help here.
Now I just need to get my hands on an alto cutter. I had a lead on a used one but that seems to have fizzled :(
Now I just need to get my hands on an alto cutter. I had a lead on a used one but that seems to have fizzled :(
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