Re: Finishing question


<janesire@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1186758428.646138.146850@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have a couple of basic questions regarding finishing.

1. I'm hemming a sheer curtain. It's slippery and frays
quite a bit. I
zig zagged the ends so that it doesn't fray. I'm not happy
with the
look. How do you hem a sheer curtain? Do you slip stitch
after you zig
zag it?

Since a zig-zag finish would probably show through sheer
fabric, I would recommend folding a deep *double* hem (i.e
for a 3" hem fold three inches, then fold three inches a
second time) so that the raw edge is completely enclosed,
then either hand or machine sew a blind-stitch hem. Of
course you have to plan for enough fabric to allow the
double hem allowance.

2. While applying bias tape (store-bought tape) to arm
holes do you
cut the bias tape at an angle? For the arm hole I finished
I found
that the length of the tape is enough for the arm hole
opening but it
falls short when I turn it over and slip stitch on the
inside. If I'm
not saying this right, please let me know and I'll
explain.

Did you ease the curve? It helps to double fold the bias
tape, and then press it with *lots* of steam to the same
curve as the garment opening *before* sewing the first line
of stitching. You can then turn and then either
stitch-in-the-ditch from the right side or hand sew the
inside edge down. There are some good instructions here:
http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/html/el_biasbinding.html

NAYY, HTH,

Beverly


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