Does which way really matter?

Le 14/01/2011 06:02, Polly Esther a écrit :

I have never thought that it matters, however I do sew all side seams on a garment in the same direction as each other. Claire in Montréal France.

I do this as much as possible. I sew velvet and other piled fabrics in the direction of the pile.

It is MOST important to sew the two bits in the same direction (usually top down) on zips, concealed zips in particular.

When I was taught to sew over 40 years ago, in the ninth grade, we were told something like this. That is, that seams should be sewn in a certain direction. I paid no attention then, and I pay no attention now, so I can't say if we were told the same thing you read. However, I did recently read that it makes more difference, if the sides are not quite equal (as in sleeves, inseams, etc.), to have the larger side on the bottom to allow the feed dogs to help ease the larger side in. This is something I always tried to do anyway, so I was glad to be validated in that!

I do agree with Kate that zippers are a whole different animal and I always am sure to sew both sides in the same direction. However, I always seem to go bottom up, because that works better for me. Disclaimer: I have never put in an invisible zipper, although I recently bought the special foot for my machine, so I may try one next time. I haven't worked with either velvet or corduroy in years, so I don't remember if I made a point of the sewing in the same direction, or not. I will if I ever use them again though!

I mostly do quilts now, but before I retired five years ago I made almost all of my clothes, which tended toward lined, tailored jackets and pants, tops and occasionally skirts. I own two dresses, one old black T-shirt dress that I found in my cedar chest and which should probably be tossed, and a dress I made last year for a cruise, which I didn't like and didn't wear. (Ended up wearing black pants, white top, and a quickie short unlined jacket I made.)

I have a wedding to attend at the end of March and I am again thinking of trying for a dress, as I bought a bunch of dress patterns. I used to make and wear dresses all the time when I was just out of school, but I feel weird in them now!

Iris

I was taught to sew all side seams in the same direction, so the garment would hang correctly. Right or wrong, I've done this for over 65-years now, and never thought about doing it any other way.

Emily

I read that you should sew from the bottom up so on pants so that they are even at the hem line. That was so if your cutting was a little of you could straighten it out at the waist line with less problems and the hem line and leg would hang better. So I do the same thing on all clothing. Juno

I was taught to sew always from the inside out, but later found out that , the more i combined seams into one long seam the better, thus when sewing pants i join the upper crotch first from front to back, if their is a zip i sew thiis first than sew further to back, than i turn the pants over and sew from one leg`s lower part yo other leg lower part , this goves a much stronger crotch. in skirts i sew always from the waist down , easier to adjust the hem than the belt waist part . mirjam

That's interesting. I seem to remember learning in "domestic science" that you sew down the zip, across at the bottom and then up - making a continuous U shape. It makes far more sense to sew each side in the same direction so I will try this in future.

The difference between the home ecc/home made method and the professional method... If you sew the two halves in the same direction, having fixed top and bottom equally, they are going to behave the same way and are much less likely to twist and ruckle...