And can she sew a fine seam? We'll know. One day. Really. August 17, 2008 19:52 5 Comments
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.
So, “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.
Comments
Mary in FL on May 20, 2015 12:10
I cut notches IN on the pattern pieces, but straight across on the fabric. That’s so I can put a mark on the fabric like this: http://www.andsewitis.net/images/processc.jpg
Pretty Jane on May 20, 2015 12:10
Can’t be bothered to mark seamlines—never have, too much to do. Can barely form a complete sentence, let alone draw all those lines when there’s a perfectly good seam guide on the machine, for heaven’s sake!
When I cut notches, I cut OUT rather than in, a little tiny triangle going the opposite direction from the image on the pattern—does that make sense? They’re much easier to match up than clips into the seam allowance, and you’re assured that if you screw it up you won’t cut into the garment itself.
Dawn on May 20, 2015 12:10
I agree with Beth. If you cut your fabric straight on the paper pattern line, you can rest assured that following those handy markings will give you an even seam allowance. Of course, I am too impatient to cut straight or mark the allowance, so….
Beth from Upstate NY on May 20, 2015 12:10
I seldom mark the seam line. I just use the seam guide on my machine as a guide. If you were thinking of doing additional adjustment to the pattern after it had been cut out, then maybe you would want to know where the original seam lines were. Some of those older patterns and instructions are really obsessed.
Petunia on May 20, 2015 12:10
I never mark seam lines.