Sewing with Power Net?

I am planning on making younger DD more hospital scrubs. She asked me today if I could insert "one of those stretchy panels" like they are putting in the front of many RTW pants. I said, "Sure!". ;-) Stopped at the Mill End Store on my way home, they had beige Power Net at $11.99/yard, so I bought a (very generously cut) yard. The clerk didn't know anything about sewing with it. :-O

Has anyone here used it? I don't know whether the raw edges should be serged, turned and coverstitched, edged with narrow elastic, 5-step-zig-zagged, left alone, or.... ???

The panels will be cut side seam (under the pocket) to CF, with the CF edge sewn under the fly. Yes, she wants a zipper front, she is "tired of all-around-elastic, Mom." ;-} She is so grateful when I make her custom scrubs!

I know I could probably just do some experimenting, but at $12.00/yard I don't want to waste a lot of it.

Thanks,

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design
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It's used inside swimsuits as well. Great stuff. It doesn't fray, but serge the edges to the fabric... What I would do for rhis application is to forget the fly front altogether and just replace the whole front of the trousers body from the top of the crotch curve to the waist with a single panel of powernet. There should be enough give in it to pull them on, especially if the back is elasticated.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

I can't serge the (bottom) edge to the fabric, this is a panel inside the pants. These are not going to be maternity wear. :-(

The scrubs I have made for her in the past had all-around elasticized waist. She now wants more fitted pants. So, I may make the back waist with an elastic casing, but the front of the pants will be shaped, have pockets, a zipper, and be sewn to a waistband. The Power Net will be fastened (inside) to the side seams and CF, and sewn into the waistband, but the bottom edge will be free. That's the section I am wondering how to finish.

I don't want the free bottom edge to curl. I'll try a couple of samples to see what works best.

Thanks,

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Just a thought. Could you serge the bottom edge to something very lightweight like seam binding? You might even cut the bindiing in half lengthwise to make it narrow.

Emily

Reply to
Emily Bengston

Thanks, I'll play around with several techniques. I have noticed that when stretched, the raw edges tend to curl, and I want to be sure the finished garment doesn't show a ridge on the outside.

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

OK. Go to walmart/kmart/whatever-mart. You want to look at jeans. Find some Riders brand jeans that have a tag on them that says "instantly slims you!" These have powernet, or something very similar in them. They are constructed basically the way you are describing the pants for your DD. The powernet stuff goes from side seam to fly on both sides, over the pocket bag. Basically the same length as the pocket bag. It's serged at the sides and bottom just to keep its shape. It's sewn down over the side seams. The underlap and the turn under on the fly are stitched over the top of it. Then it isn't stitched to anything at the lower edge. Caught in the waistband at the top of course.

But I really think you should go look at a pair of these jeans. If you can't find a pair, let me know. I have one pair in my closet. I can take pics and email them to you. (Since we do have electricity and all today! yay!!!)

Sharon

Reply to
Sharon Hays

Thanks Sharon, that's the information I was hoping for. DD is going to bring a pair of the slacks she likes which have this feature. I was pretty sure about how to attach the panel side-to-side and in the waistband, I have been making my own slacks this way for years to keep the pockets from gaping, but I use a lightweight lining fabric, never stretch. I was concerned about how the loose bottom edge should be treated. I was suspecting that the cut edge would have to be finished in some way, I just wasn't sure what the best way was. Serger it is!

Yay!!!, I'm glad you have power. Did the storm prove to be less menacing then forecast?

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Oh good. I'm glad she is going to bring you some pants to look at. That's really all you will need. It's pretty easy to figure stuff like that out once you can really look one over well. :)

Yes! Thank goodness!!!! We got about 5 or 6 inches of snow, over the top of 3/8" maybe of ice. I know it was more than 1/4" but less than 1/2". And it was not as.... all encompassing as last year. Last year, the trees had ice all the way around each limb. Like a sleeve for each branch of the tree. This year, the ice was only on one side. So, it didn't weight the trees down as heavily. Nowhere near the damage as last year either. The storm slowed down a little getting here, and that allowed the cold front from the north to get here about the same time. That made the switch over to all snow happen a lot quicker. The roads are a mess. There's no going anywhere quickly. Tomorrow that will be worse. The sun came out a little this afternoon so melted some stuff. Will be down to single digit temps tonight, so it will all refreeze. Snow we can handle. Ice is just horrible.

BUT!!!! We have electricity, and way less tree damage this time!

I really feel for the folks in Oklahoma. It looks like they really got pounded by it.

Sharon

Reply to
Sharon Hays

Yuppers! In additional that should provide a pretty good gauge of how much narrower to cut the Power Net panel than the width of the scrub fabric (if any).

I see on the news that the storms in the mid-part of the country are raising havoc. I'm sorry for others, but happy you are safe and sound!

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

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