Sewing in one direction causes bows?
05-01-2011, 10:42 AM
#72
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Some where in way out West Texas
Posts: 3,041
Originally Posted by PatriceJ
i do three things when strip-piecing for tube-quilting and similar methods.
1. i prewash the fabs (just a personal preference.)
2. i starch the heck out of the fabs.
3. i do not cut my strips across the width of fabric. i cut them "up", starting half an inch in from the selvadges.
by changing to the non-traditional direction when i cut the strips, i'm left with strips that don't stretch along the seam line. no fabric rainbows ... even if i don't remember to alternate the beginning between tops and bottoms.
the bonus: when i cut up the strips and start using them together, i do have that little bit of stretch between seams. it comes in very handy when patches are slightly off-size and i need to ease them to fit. :-)
1. i prewash the fabs (just a personal preference.)
2. i starch the heck out of the fabs.
3. i do not cut my strips across the width of fabric. i cut them "up", starting half an inch in from the selvadges.
by changing to the non-traditional direction when i cut the strips, i'm left with strips that don't stretch along the seam line. no fabric rainbows ... even if i don't remember to alternate the beginning between tops and bottoms.
the bonus: when i cut up the strips and start using them together, i do have that little bit of stretch between seams. it comes in very handy when patches are slightly off-size and i need to ease them to fit. :-)
05-01-2011, 01:09 PM
#74
Administrator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southeast Georgia, USA
Posts: 9,097
Originally Posted by Gerbie
Patrice what do you mean you cut yours up? When I do mine I fold the fab. selvages together and cut from the selvages to the fold. Is that what you are doing as well? Just wanted to know. Gerbie
i make my first cut using my left hand to trim away the selvage (or to square it off if the selvage is already gone.) i watch the line going across the ruler at the bottom fold in order to make it straight.
when cutting my strips, i check to make sure it's lined up both up and down the ruler and across the ruler line at the bottom.
trim away excess to the left.
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then, measure and cut along right edge of ruler.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]191660[/ATTACH]
05-02-2011, 01:11 AM
#78
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Queensland Australia
Posts: 1,388
Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
Sew two strips of fabric together. Sew the third strip on starting from the end you just finished with.
It is said that sewing multiple strips in one direction will bow the fabric.
It is said that sewing multiple strips in one direction will bow the fabric.
05-02-2011, 08:51 AM
#80
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 160
Have you ever had your top fabric slide ever so slightly when sewing a long seam? I think the bowing is because the top foot tends to push/stretch the grain of the top fabric a little and so it causes a bow after many repetitions.
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