Understitch?

Would somebody be so kind as to explain what "understitching" is? I am using an easy pattern to make a little girl's sun dress and the definition they give for understitch is as follows:

UNDERSTITCH: Open out facing or underside of garment; stitch to seam allowance close to seam.

I have read this sentence about 20 times yet I'm still not processing. I am at a step where I have just sewn the bodice lining to the bodice. Then it says "understitch lining as far as possible" Forgive my ignorance, but can somebody clarify this for me? In case it wasn't obvious, I'm a beginner when it comes to making clothing.

Thanks!

Reply to
Peggy
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I recommend you get or borrow a copy of "Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing", but in the meantime this illustration is pretty good:

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that picture, the facing and seam allowance are to the right, and the stitching line is very close to the seam allowance on the *facing* side. Beverly, headed to the shower after sitting in the sun for 9 hours today (garage sale)

Reply to
BEI Design

Thank you!

Reply to
Peggy

Dear Peggy,

Understitching is done to assure that the facing does not roll out after it is pressed to the inside. First, you should trim the seam allowance to about 1/4 inch, and then clip the seam allowance so that it doesn't pucker. To understitch, first press the seam allowance towards the facing. Then zigzag or straight stitch through all layers of the facing and seam allowances, but not through the garment. Then give the facing a press, rolling it to the inside of the dress so that no part of it shows from the outside. I always tack the facings to the shoulder seam as well.

Teri

Reply to
gjones2938

Everybody here is so helpful! Thank you very much. I wanted to say that I went out and got the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing and it is wonderful! Great illustrations and simple explanations. I hope I will complete many projects in the future.

Peggy

Reply to
Peggy

We hope so too. In any case we are here, willing to help and willing to listen to what you have to offer.

Juno

Reply to
Juno

Here you go: >

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Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

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Kate, well done! Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

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Nice website and good lesson!

Reply to
Sparafucile

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> Nice website and good lesson! Thank you.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

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> Lovely, Kate, well done!>

Thanks. It's a neat solution to the old problem, isn't it.

Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

When I line to the edge, as I do for the velvet dance vests, I still understitch as far along each edge as possible. It keeps the lining rolled nicely to the inside. YMMV

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

Peggy This advisory board is open 24 hours a day ,,,, there is always somebody awake at some part of the world !!!!

Reply to
mirjam

Very true. In fact one of the reasons why I particularly like this list is that it has a true international feel to it and all who post here regularly know that and take notice of it when they post by not assuming that we all live in the one country. I've not come across any such other newsgroup yet.

Reply to
FarmI

Hhahahahha sorry that i laugh ,,,, i always am a bit amuzed when people in other places assumes we all have the same kinds of shops , materials etc,,, As to a nice ng , i find RCTY an extremely nice group. You also are right about the feeling , that the more international a ng is the nicer people are!!!! I am a newcomer to this ng , but surely feel great , to learn from all of you . mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

We love having people from all sorts of other countries here because it brings us new information, new ideas, and news about what is happening in the sewing world in other places. We have so much more in common based on our mutual interests than differences due to our different national cultures. We learn from each other. It's all good!

Reply to
Pogonip

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Joane !! Was Bernard Schopen close to you ?

Speaking of the Common thread of sewing people .... i had some nice words written by Bachelard ,,, wait a moment have to look it up

Here it is , sorry i can`t remember the source ,,,,, but wrote it down

Any Hand That works a material loses Little by little It`s greediness , it`s agressiveness.

To Gain Little by little Fibre after fibre The muscles of Generosity

Gaston Bachelard

-------------- mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

Bernie Schopen is my husband of over 30 years now. ;-)

That is a lovely quote. I hope that it is true.

Reply to
Pogonip

.com/~bernardschopen/- Hide quoted text -

Joanne How nice , i hope you didn`t mind me asking ? i went to the site and read it all with great interest, but couldn`t find the connection , Thank you so much ..

As to the quote , i hope /think/ wish it is true. For me sewing /knitting embroidering all textiles and threads were always my life line. mirjam

Reply to
mirjam

Of course I don't mind at all! Sometimes someone follows the link and reads one of his books. That is great when that happens, especially if they like the book.

Reply to
Pogonip

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