Need Tips for Trimming Seam Allowances

Hello everyone. I am wondering if there are any tips/tricks for trimming seam allowances on necklines and armholes. I made a lycra bodysuit, added contrast trim to the neckline and armholes. I am now trying to trim the excess seam allowance on the inside. I'm terrified of cutting the bodysuit by mistake. I find my cutting line looks uneven.

Any suggestions?

Tx.!

Reply to
Fabric Addict
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Relax?

No, seriously. Go get a factory-made stretch knit garment out of your closet and look closely at it. Feel better?

Now, to neaten up your seam allowance the first thing I'd suggest is making sure your scissors are nice and sharp. I have several pairs of scissors that I rotate. Freshly sharpened razor shears are reserved for fine work. If you need to, go buy a new pair to use while the current ones are being sharpened.

Work on a flat surface. Turn your garment inside out. If you're right-handed lay the garment out so that the seam allowance is projecting to your right and the garment and contrast trim are folded smoothly back to your left. Trim.

You could also use a lycra wrapped edge to add contrast and cover seam allowances.

Kathleen

Reply to
Kathleen

Dear Tx,

I guess I don't understand. If you've finished the armholes and neckline, why do you still have raw edges? Or, have you not completed the edging? This is how I had my students do it. Use a zigzag stitch--the multiple zigzag is best for this. Sew the inside first; fold the trim to the outside, then turn it under, and stitch it again. If any trimming needs to be done, it should be before you finish the second side.

When I use trim for the edge, I cut the seam allowances to the exact width I want the trim to be when finished. This makes it easy to fold over the edge and get it even all the way around.

Teri

P.S. Duck-bill scissors are great for trimming. They're razor sharp, and you can use the bill next to the fabric so you can't cut the garment.

Reply to
gjones2938

But, Duck-bill scissors are not for lefties, as I found out when I received a pair as a gift. I was never able to use them, so passed them to a friend who sews. Emily

Reply to
CypSew

Dear Emily,

I'm left-handed, and never have a problem using duck-bill scissors. When I'm cutting appliques, I use them with the bill up; when I trim as in this thread, I use the bill down. These scissors are treasured, and I keep them hidden. I didn't even let my students use them. They were MINE!!

The only right-handed cutting implement I can't seem to master is pinking shears. But now there's a rotary cutter to take their place, so I can pink if I want. I even tried using left-handed pinkers, and couldn't get used to them. I think that's because I watch the opposite of the blade, and couldn't cut accurately.

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

I don't have raw edges, just excess lycra from where I folded the contrast trim over the elastic, to the inside of the leotard. My contrast strips are 1.5 inches wide. I serge them to the leotard necklines/armholes (right sides together), stitch the elastic on top of the wrong side of the contrast, then fold the contrast over the elastic and to the inside of the bodysuit. Next I topstitch the right side of the contrast (in the seam line). Once finished, I have about .5" of seam allowance on the inside of the neck and arms which I try to trim. I'm going to give the duck bill scissors a try. I suppose I could try cutting the contrast strips narrower to begin with but risk not being able to topstich them down properly (without the edge slipping out)...

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Reply to
Fabric Addict

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