Advice on sewing lycra

I just finished my first project sewing lycra. I made a long sleeve shirt for my SO. out of this nifty fabric he found ages ago that was red with large (9inches by about a foot and a half) yellow and black dragons and it tured out pretty well considering I figured out the pattern by tracing a similarly styled lycra shirt he already had and making the alterations he wanted. The only problems were based around the fact that the stuff was shifting so much that it was all I could to to make an almost straight line of stitches. I have never worked on something that moves so much. Does anyone have any tips for how to do better next time? He loves it but I could see all the flaws. I also have some stretch velvet that I wanted to make into something for myself but I don't want to risk ruining it with crooked seams. Thank you so much!

Cynthia

Reply to
Winnie2463
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A walking or roller foot may help, as will a stretch stitch. For panne velvet I like to use a small stitch with a very narrow zigzag where I am not serging. If you don't have a serger and plan to do a lot of stretchy stuff, take a look at them as they are the biz for any knits or stretch fabrics (as well as having a host of other uses), and there are good used ones about for the budget conscious.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

I used a stretch stitch. I was actually really impressed with how stretchy the stretch stitch was if that makes sense. It didn't diminish th stretchyness of the the lycra at all. Honestly my main problem was keeping the line of stitching straight. It ended up being a bit wobbly. Will a walking foot help with that? And Where would I find one? I have looked before by never seem to come acros one.

I was thinking about making a clingy skirt with the panne (is this the name for all stretch velvet or just crushed stretch velvet?). Would I want to use the stretch stitch for the side seams? I think so because I don't want the fabric to sag from the seams but I'm not sure.

I've thought about getting a serger but honestly I just don't do enough that it would help with. most of the time the only reason I use knits is it make panties and those go really nicely and quickly with my machine.

I don't really have anyone around here to ask these questions because everyone I know who sews pretty much only does ren faire or dickens costumes.

Cynthia

Reply to
Winnie2463

Nancy's Notions sells generic ones, but if you have a good quality machine, buy the one for it from a dealer. They are a lot more expensive than the generic ones, but work far better.

As for keeping stuff in line, yes it will help with that as well as any piled fabrics, and anything with checks, or that you want the pattern to match exactly. The walking foot will grab the fabric on top and pull it through at the same rate as the bottom, where an ordinary foot can push the top fabric out of alignment.

Panne velvet is the knitted stretchy kind, crushed or not. There are also woven stretch velvets made with spandex/elastane/lycra in the weave.

Ok, leave a serger for now. Later, as we get you going, you may decide that investing a few shekels in one would make sense. They finish the seams off soooooo neatly...

Yes you do! You have us! :) We are right there in the living room/sewing room/study/wherever the puter is with you. That's the great thing about this group.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

I'm sure you are aware of the thread tension dial. There is probably a pressure foot tension dial, too. If you loosen the pressure foot tension then the upper cloth slide under the foot as easy as you want it. Depending on the cloth or circumstances the pressure foot tension can be adjusted to meet many needs. When I was making the back pockets on some trousers the foot tension was way to much, being several thickness and one part of the foot was on the high part, but wanted to slide off onto the thinner area, by adjusting the tension for the foot the problem went away and it was easy sewing. By adjusting the foot tension can make a big difference on what the cloth does under it. I've certainly adjusted it for one type of cloth and then tighter or looser for another - whatever makes it easy, but effective.

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