Why are my 1 inch strips bowing after being sewn? They are smiling at me.
#21
Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 95
Check your strips before you sew. Unfold them and see if there is a bow near the fold. If there is you are not cutting straight of grain. I tear (yes, tear!) my ends first and get straight of grain. Starching is very very helpful when sewing. Don't sew too fast.
#22
[QUOTE=AngelinaMaria;5497701]I am sewing a large number of 10 inch long by 1 inch wide 2 and 3 strip sets. The background strip is a regular cotton and the other strips are Hoffman batiks. When I sew 2 strips together, they come out of the sewing machine slightly bowed. The center spot is bowed down (so it looks like a smile when placed on the cutting board the same side up and was sewn) by 1/8 of an inch. I am wonder if there is something I should be doing or changing that would prevent that.
Do not sew from the same side every time. Switch sides it will fix it right up - if your strips are all even. I have found some of my earlier strips were not cut as well as I do now.
Judi
Do not sew from the same side every time. Switch sides it will fix it right up - if your strips are all even. I have found some of my earlier strips were not cut as well as I do now.
Judi
#26
I've found that what makes a fabric "bow" is not so much the cutting or sewing, as the pressing. I drew a straight line on my cutting board so when I press strip sets, I can be sure the seam stays perfectly straight. Also, I have found that if it is possible to do with the pattern you are working with, I piece just half the width of fabric strips, not the full width. They seem to be easier to handle and don't stretch as much. Easier to keep pressed straight, too. Sometimes this is not possible because of your pattern, or because you don't have enough fabric, but if you can do it this way, it's worth a try!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
craftybear
Links and Resources
1
08-10-2011 12:37 PM