Sorry for the late reply myself, but.....
I'm doing some silk organza scarves (not historic, before anyone panics
[1]). The fabric is 60" wide, so the hand rolled hem is very long - and I
hate hand-sewing with a red passion, so I'm always trying to figure out
how to make it easier and faster. And I hit on something this weekend. As
long as the finished part is longer than my forearm, I can pin the edge
under my right elbow (I'm right-handed) on a table, and hold the
unfinished part of the hem in my left hand, rolling the hem toward me with
the left hand's fingers. This keeps the hem taut, while rolling at the
same time. I can then use my right hand to stitch what the left hand is
preparing. Make sure that the table-chair setup puts your elbow no lower
than normal height, or you'll be bending your back, which is Not Good.
This goes fast!
(snip)
Melanie / Lijsbet
This is pretty much how a sewing clamp/bird works. It makes pretty much all
hand sewing Much faster. I have two reproduction sewing birds. One stays
clamped next to my sewing machine for handwork in the sewing room, the other
travels with me, since I found out I can clamp it to the edge of my travel
sewing box. I do about 1/3 of my sewing by hand, so this has really speeded
things up for m.
Melusine
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