And can she sew a fine seam? We'll know. One day. Really. August 17, 2008 19:52 5 Comments

Learning_to_sew_notches
I’ve been at it again. Reading about sewing rather than sewing. (But I have a good excuse. Really. I’m waiting for His Bertness to move my sewing machine cabinet into my Designated Sewing Area.) And, of course, I’m reading about the step I am stuck on: cutting and marking. Well, actually, I’m a bit — a wee, tiny bit — beyond that step. I am. But not much. Alas.
HowtomarkapatternSo, “How to Lay Out, Cut and Fit,” part of the Sears Illustrated Sewing Series, shows two different methods of cutting notches. I find this quite interesting. Not that there is anything earth-shatteringly different in this 1964 booklet. But one method is slightly different from what I’ve read before. (Or at least what I absorbed before. Could be a retention issue. I should, I suppose, allow the possibility that I read this elsewhere, and it just did not stick. So unlikely, though. Of course.) But, at any rate, this booklet shows an actual inside notch rather than a simple clip. I’m sure this is a bore to you learned and practiced dressmakers. But. You newbies may find it as fascinating as I did.
Also — this brings up a question for the skilled dressmakers out there — the uncredited writers (shame on you, Sears) of this booklet say “seamlines . . . should be transferred to the material.” Is this really necessary, she asked in an ever-so-whiny voice. Must I? Must I? Must I? I’m eagerly awaiting your answers, as I am sure my fellow students of the art and craft of sewing are as well. Share that knowledge, please. I want to know. Because it seems like a lot of work. Tedious work. And if it’s not really necessary, I have laundry to wash and roses to prune. But if it’s essential to a beautiful garment, of course, recovering perfectionist that I am, well, I’ll just procrastinate some more. I’m quite capable of it. Absolutely. As you know.