Waistcoat Collar Results - Was 'A little help please'

Thought I would send an update on my stripey collared waistcoats. Managed to finish everything ( last bit of trimming was done at 11:30am on the day we were packing to leave at 3pm). Learnt an awful lot doing it and now know what padstitching is plus quite a few other important details ( thanks for the guidance ). I have since purchased a couple of tailoring books to help with future projects. The collar I had in mind would have never fitted to the neckline I had already cut - not enough planning, too much dive in head first me thinks.

Kate - I think 'experimental' is the best description ever applied to my sewing :-)

I have uploaded a couple of pix of the finished outfits here

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of the pix is our Saturday night outfit, and I will apologise nowto anybody who does accurate costuming - these outfits were neverintended to be accurate - just fun :-)

Cygnus - Like the swan - trying to present a calm serene exterior whilst paddling like fury beneath

Reply to
cygnus
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cygnus skrev:

Wow! They look fantastic! :-)

Erin

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Reply to
Museumbitch

Sometimes things that are 'flavour of' rather than faithful copies to the very last stitch are more fun and a lot more interesting! :)

These outfits look fabulous! :)

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Simply smashing! Thanks ever so much for sharing the pics. Way cool. :)

Reply to
Phaedrine

Wow! Really fantastic!! Great job!

Reply to
Pogonip

Thanks for the comments everybody. I've already started thinking about the next adventure and who knows it might be a little better planned this time.

One question to ask - The hardest part of the last lot was gathering fabric evenly, the shirts on Saturday night were very full in the sleeves and body and I found it very difficult to sort out the gathers and get it all stitched down tidily. I must have had about 50 pins in at one point. Is there a particular method anybody can recomend.

Thanks

Cygnus - Like the swan - trying to present a calm serene exterior whilst paddling like fury beneath

Reply to
cygnus

The method I still prefer (and yes, I know many like short-cut methods) is the one I learned in the 50s: Sew two parallel lines of gathering stitches, with the stitch length *lengthened* to about

6/inch and the needle thread tension *quite loose*. For something very full, being gathered to another piece, *quarter* the two: Mark the half/way point and then the half-way between each of those, and pin together. Pull up the bobbin thread slowly, and ease the gathering between each set of pins. You can put the pins every "eighth" if necessary. See how I applied gathered ruffles to DD's wedding petticoat here:
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That was 10s-of-yards of tulle gathered to taffeta.By having a 1/4" space between the two rows of gathering stitches, you have a flat(ish) area in which to sew. For gathers for a shirt sleeve, I would place one row or stitches *at* or a *scant bit inside* the seam allowance, then the second row 1/4" away in the seam allowance. If the fabric would not retain stitching marks, I'd probably put the first row at 3/4", and the second at 3/8", and then remove the ones at 3/4" but *only* if it didn't damage the fashion fabric.

If you are gathering *yards* of fabric into a small amount, it helps to use upholstery or buttonhole thread in the bobbin.

HTH,

Beverly

Reply to
BEI Design

I normally divide both the fabrics into 4ths or even 8ths if it is very large as in a skirt; then I gather it by sections and only have to pin at the end of each section. Go slow toward the end of each and slide a few gathers overlapping so as not to leave gapsbetween the sections where it's pinned. HTH. Am I making sense tonight? I am tired and have an ear ache for some strange reason, something I have very seldom suffered in my 75 years. Emily

Reply to
CypSew

Several rows of hand made gathering stitches - like mini cartridge pleating. Looks a bit like you're gathering it up for smocking.

Reply to
Kate Dicey

Exactly. That is what I do as well. Even with set in puffy sleeves, I generally split the gathering in half and it comes out much more even.

Reply to
Phaedrine

I think I've spotted the flaw in what I'm doing. I've only been stitching a single row and pulling the gathers up on that. Now I need to find an excuse to make something with gathers in to test your advice.

thanks for the help everybody :)

Cygnus - Like the swan - trying to present a calm serene exterior whilst paddling like fury beneath

Reply to
cygnus

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