$*^@#X)&:" Rayon keeps sliding

Years ago when I was learning to sew with knits we were told to try spray starch if there was a problem with slipping and sliding. That's about the only suggestion I can think of offhand.

Judie

Juno wrote:

Thanks Judie and Elaine, I'll give both methods a try on small pieces and see what I'm most comfortable with. I told my DH I was having a problem and his answer was, Have you asked your sewing friends yet? You know they'll have answers for you. He thinks a highly of this group as I do. He knows how many times I've gotten help with problems here. Juno

Juno, When I cut out very slippery fabric, which is not often, I do what DM did, pin it between two sheets of tissue paper. I have very fine silk pins and use the least number possible, and cut the paper with the fabric, leaving it pinned together till it's time to sew. Yes, I know some people never want to cut paper with their sewing scissors; I use Fiskars, which aren't really expensive if they get damaged. Emily

Thanks Emily, I'll pick up some silk pins tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I have a ton of tissue paper in the house. I'll get another note off to you tomorrow. Juno

Juno, when I was cutting all the satin and chiffon for DD's wedding attendants' dresses, I used Kay L.'s method:

First, be sure the *grain is straight*, pull a thread and cut off *both ends*. Pin the selvedges together about every 5-6". Then pin the entire piece of fabric to paper, I used large sheets of tissue paper like you put in gift boxes, and re-pin along the selvedges, and pin a line 4" in from the fold (about every 5-6") and another line down the middle between those two lines of pins (add more if you think it is necessary). Be careful when you start cutting that you don't cut across any of those pins.

Then, when you pin your pattern pieces in place pin through the entire sandwich of paper and fabric. I also weighted each pattern piece with several tuna cans (as I recall, you can use others types of cans), to keep everything stable and prevent shifting. I used angle handle scissors (pinking shears, but that's just me) and was very careful to avoid lifting the fabric more than absolutely necessary as I cut, using looong even strokes. I left all pattern pieces on the cut sandwich of paper-fabric-patternpieces until I was ready to assemble each part.

It's a lot of pinning, but worth it in wear and tear on your vocabulary and prevents excessive tooth grinding. ;-)

HTH,

Beverly

Thanks Beverly. I'm off to Joann's tomorrow for lots of pins and even though I know I have a lot of tissue I think I'll buy more for my use in the sewing room.I knew it had more uses than stuffing gift bags. Juno

Good luck!

Beverly

This is the only time I use my rotary cutters for garment sewing - I normally prefer not to use something which cuts faster than my brain works. However, when my 24" x 36" cutting mat was showing signs of splitting, I bought a second one, and now when cutting something slippery like that I lay them next to each other on the cutting table, lay out my fabric VERY carefully then put on the paper pattern pieces and weight the whole thing down with pattern weights. I cut out one garment piece at a time, lift it very carefully from the table, pin the pattern piece to it and set it aside before I cut the next piece. I cut VERY slowly, to make sure I am not messing anything up.

It works for me, even on the most slippery silks. The secret is not to move the fabric AT ALL after you have laid it out and positioned it, I find that using pins invariably makes it shift slightly.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

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I usually do it exactly the same way you do. I also use my smallest diameter rotary cutter so I can achieve the most control.

Phae

Cut it on paper. Cut everything on paper. You'll be amazed at how much the apparent quality of your patterns and your sewing improves. When you cut fabric that is stablized and on grain when relaxed, when the fabric relaxes on you, it hangs correctly. Not to mention not having to deal with a back inseam that's an inch and a half longer than the front inseam because the fabric got a little stretched when cutting. Or a neckline that looks like late Picasso instead of a smooth curve.

Save your sanity! (well, at least it saves mine!)

is: FWIW, I use an endroll of newsprint. The backside of a roll of leftover wrapping paper works well, too. Just needs to be not polished-slick.

Kay

I forgot to mention in my earlier post, ALWAYS cut slippery fabrics in a single layer. If you have to make a mirror image of a pattern piece which was designed to be cut on the fold, go ahead and do it, it will still be easier and faster than trying to manipulate two layers of a slippery fabric.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

** Posted from **

That's how I ws taught too. It works.

But I'd love to hear the bad words :-)

Mary

And I forgot to say that it's better to sew the fabric with the tissue paper still in place. It tears of easily after you've finished.

Mary

Thank you all, again. I'll follow along with the paper route. I appreciate all the help.I wish I had asked sooner. It would have save me a lot of frustration. Again as my DH said yesterday. "You know the sewing group always helps you!" Juno