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Post by anneinwa on Feb 18, 2015 16:51:49 GMT
My 11 year is making a dress in her sewing class. We started cutting out the pattern at last week's class and for some reason could not fit all the piece on the recommended yardage. This was with the teacher's assistance.
More fabric was bought and washed and today we are trying to finish, before class tomorrow. We are down to the last pieces to cut out - 2 for the back and I realize that the pattern won't fit the way the grainline shows to lay it.
How big of an issue is this?
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Post by lbp on Feb 18, 2015 16:55:12 GMT
It can be a pretty big issue unless it is something like facings. The garment will not "give" properly and will be uncomfortable to wear. Also, depending on the fabric there could be a color/shading issue.
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Feb 18, 2015 17:12:19 GMT
what kind of fabric is it? DD#2 used flannel to make pajamas for 4-H once and even though we bought extra, it shrank so much that we barely had enough.
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Post by anneinwa on Feb 18, 2015 17:18:58 GMT
It can be a pretty big issue unless it is something like facings. The garment will not "give" properly and will be uncomfortable to wear. Also, depending on the fabric there could be a color/shading issue. Shoot. I was afraid of that. I did realize that it is not cut down to her size yet, so there is a slight chance it might fit, but it is going to be tight. Color/shading shouldn't be an issue. If it does fit, I am going to be thankful I went with 1/3 yd extra, rather than the 1/4 her teacher told me to get. So, for further/future learning, if the pattern on the fabric is directional we will need to make sure the grain line will work. I do know that directional will most likely require additional fabric depending on what she is making. Thinking ahead because the store is getting Doctor Who fabric in May lol. |
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Post by hennybutton on Feb 18, 2015 18:01:54 GMT
It has been a long time since I made any clothing, so some of the markings might have changed. You need to be sure to line up the grainlines correctly. If the piece can go either lengthwise or crosswise, it will be marked with crossed grainline markers. Make sure to follow the layout diagram for her size on the instruction sheet. They have those down to a science. If you deviate from the diagram, you will run out of fabric. Pin down all your pieces before you pick up your scissors. Make sure you measure from both ends of the grainline marking to the selvedge to keep it parallel. Squeeze the pattern pieces as closely together as you can. It should be a close fit to avoid wasting fabric.
Good luck.
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Post by Basket1lady on Feb 18, 2015 18:14:02 GMT
It can be a pretty big issue unless it is something like facings. The garment will not "give" properly and will be uncomfortable to wear. Also, depending on the fabric there could be a color/shading issue. Shoot. I was afraid of that. I did realize that it is not cut down to her size yet, so there is a slight chance it might fit, but it is going to be tight. Color/shading shouldn't be an issue. If it does fit, I am going to be thankful I went with 1/3 yd extra, rather than the 1/4 her teacher told me to get. So, for further/future learning, if the pattern on the fabric is directional we will need to make sure the grain line will work. I do know that directional will most likely require additional fabric depending on what she is making. Thinking ahead because the store is getting Doctor Who fabric in May lol.  ?If you are fitting the pattern without cutting it down first and it's not fitting, I would take the time to cut the paper pattern down, first. You can be careful and cut right on the line, or just wack off the big chunks of paper. But that's probably your problem. I find that I usually have too much fabric if I follow the suggested yardage to buy. But there have been those rare times when I think they goofed. You can butt fabric pieces right up to each other on the cut lines. Follow the correct grain lines and all that. There is a time to fudge it, but not when you are first learning. Your DD should first learn the right way to sew, then she can go off on her own. I think that's why so many people get frustrated with sewing. They don't quite know what they are doing and go off into the weeds and then it doesn't work. Good luck! |
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Post by anneinwa on Feb 18, 2015 21:13:18 GMT
I can try to post pictures later. There is a jumbled mess left of the original piece. I did look closer at the pieces we need for the back and and at the additional piece I bought and looks like it will fit with the Grain with like 1/4-1/2" left over. I am still glad I asked becuase I am learning a lot. Thanks  . I am just glad I don't have to go buy more fabric. I have sewn some over the years, but kind of did it on my own, and can remember if I worried about the grain line aside from lining the pattern up the way I was shown. I want her learning correctly. I am not sure what the teacher discussed with my daughter. I was in and out of the room. I try to stay out so my daughter is accountable more to the teacher than me, but the teacher wanted me there to see the issue with the fabric. I do know she stood there for a good 15 mins trying to get things lined up like it showed on the pattern and from my eye, there was no way that was happening. I am trying to have her cut it all out at home since she only meets every other week for two hours and I know this is going to end a lot of instruction. Up until now she has made a quilt, various types/sizes of bags, a couple skirts, and a lot of pillowcases. Introducing darts and zippers with this project. There are 6 kids she is working with, with my daughter the most advanced. $10 for two hours so I am not going to complain, I will learn when I can (like today) and fill in at home. |
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scrappinghappy
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Post by scrappinghappy on Feb 18, 2015 21:46:51 GMT
Grainline is very important because all fabric stretches and most fabric stretches more in one direction than another. If you sew seams together that have grain lines at 90 degrees to each other your garment won't hang correctly and the fit will be horrible. Even a few degrees off can make a difference.
Do remember that if you are laying your pattern pieces on folded fabric, which is most common, you can turn the pieces both head to tail and over to get it all to fit.
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Peamac
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Post by Peamac on Feb 18, 2015 22:10:49 GMT
Wait, do you mean that you didn't cut out the paper pattern to your DD's size before pinning the pieces to the fabric? That would make a big difference!
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Deleted
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May 8, 2024 18:12:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 23:00:17 GMT
Did she make sure the grain is also straight? The teacher should have shown her and taught her how to correct this if it wasn't. If the grain isn't straight to start with no amount of following the direction on the pattern will make it sit/fit correctly.
Snip through the selvedge, find one crosswise thread and pull it, like a gathering thread, until you reach the opposite selvedge. If the fabric is loosely woven, you might be able to pull the thread completely out of the fabric. If it is tightly woven, you will need to pull the threads every few inches or pull it slightly so it puckers, then slide the thread and push the fabric repeatedly until you reach the opposite selvedge then pull the thread out. Cut the fabric along the pulled thread line and then fold it over selvedge to selvedge.
I know it's too late for this garment but just a tip for the next one.
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Post by anneinwa on Feb 18, 2015 23:19:50 GMT
Wait, do you mean that you didn't cut out the paper pattern to your DD's size before pinning the pieces to the fabric? That would make a big difference! She had her rough cut them and pin them on, while pointing out that she would be cutting on her size, so parts of the pattern were off the fabric. Wasn't like she pinned it on wasted a lot of fabric. |
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Post by anneinwa on Feb 18, 2015 23:21:56 GMT
Did she make sure the grain is also straight? The teacher should have shown her and taught her how to correct this if it wasn't. If the grain isn't straight to start with no amount of following the direction on the pattern will make it sit/fit correctly. Snip through the selvedge, find one crosswise thread and pull it, like a gathering thread, until you reach the opposite selvedge. If the fabric is loosely woven, you might be able to pull the thread completely out of the fabric. If it is tightly woven, you will need to pull the threads every few inches or pull it slightly so it puckers, then slide the thread and push the fabric repeatedly until you reach the opposite selvedge then pull the thread out. Cut the fabric along the pulled thread line and then fold it over selvedge to selvedge. I know it's too late for this garment but just a tip for the next one. I am positive this was not done. Something else I learned today. Have a feeling once this thread has finished, I will be printing it out and sticking it with my sewing stuff. I want to start again and there is a lot of knowledge here for me too. |
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Post by anneinwa on Feb 18, 2015 23:26:37 GMT
Thank you! We will be watching these. |
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. I am just glad I don't have to go buy more fabric. I have sewn some over the years, but kind of did it on my own, and can remember if I worried about the grain line aside from lining the pattern up the way I was shown. I want her learning correctly.
