Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems
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! Hand-sewing really is the best a lot of the time. I was applying a beaded ribbon trim to a belt recently, and tried to do it three times with the machine, before I gave up. And there's no other way to finish the interior seams of a GFD. The hand-sewing is just the only way for a lot of things like this. (I call it my Laurel's Object Lesson.) BTW - don't know if anyone mentioned it, but using silk thread on a silk organza really works best, and you don't have problems with the thread sawing through delicate organza fibers. The only problem I've found is that the available colors of silk thread are somewhat limited. Melanie / Lijsbet [1] I was working on Harry Potter costumes at an SCA business meeting once. People were worried! ;-) -- Original message -- From: Catherine Kinsey [EMAIL PROTECTED] I sent a file with illustrations to the original poster privately, since this list doesn't take attachments. It also helps to use a sewing clamp as a third hand to keep the fabric taut. Melusine May I also request a copy? This thread came up at a very good time for me, I already have the cursing part down :). Thanks, Catherine [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems
I use a nice hard square pillow; have used the pin method, but also picked up a modern (and cheap) Third hand gadget that I pin to one corner and have lots of room to manipulate the piece at hand. This winter, I found a repro sewing bird that attaches to a table edge (ie. a wooden tray stand) and do such jobs in style. One handsewing tool I would not be without! kathleen - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Historical Costume [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 11:46 AM Subject: Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems 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! Hand-sewing really is the best a lot of the time. I was applying a beaded ribbon trim to a belt recently, and tried to do it three times with the machine, before I gave up. And there's no other way to finish the interior seams of a GFD. The hand-sewing is just the only way for a lot of things like this. (I call it my Laurel's Object Lesson.) BTW - don't know if anyone mentioned it, but using silk thread on a silk organza really works best, and you don't have problems with the thread sawing through delicate organza fibers. The only problem I've found is that the available colors of silk thread are somewhat limited. Melanie / Lijsbet [1] I was working on Harry Potter costumes at an SCA business meeting once. People were worried! ;-) -- Original message -- From: Catherine Kinsey [EMAIL PROTECTED] I sent a file with illustrations to the original poster privately, since this list doesn't take attachments. It also helps to use a sewing clamp as a third hand to keep the fabric taut. Melusine May I also request a copy? This thread came up at a very good time for me, I already have the cursing part down :). Thanks, Catherine [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems
How right you are! Kathleen - Original Message - From: Carmen Beaudry [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Historical Costume [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 12:14 PM Subject: Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems 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 ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems
Sewing birds? Anyone have a pic they would like to share? :-) Arlys On Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:42:27 -0400 LLOYD MITCHELL [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: How right you are! Kathleen - Original Message - From: Carmen Beaudry [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Historical Costume [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 12:14 PM Subject: Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems 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 ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems
At 22:46 30/04/2007, you wrote: Sewing birds? Anyone have a pic they would like to share? :-) There is one on E-Bay http://cgi.ebay.com/SEWING-BIRD-1853-Replica-Pin-Cushion-Gold-Plated-Brass_W0QQitemZ320107288625QQihZ011QQcategoryZ114QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Mine is identical, but came from a U.S. catalogue of pretty things, ages ago, so I don't remember the name of it - sorry. Suzi ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
RE: [h-cost] hand rolled hems
May I also get a copy, please? Anne -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Catherine Kinsey Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 9:31 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [h-cost] hand rolled hems I sent a file with illustrations to the original poster privately, since this list doesn't take attachments. It also helps to use a sewing clamp as a third hand to keep the fabric taut. Melusine May I also request a copy? This thread came up at a very good time for me, I already have the cursing part down :). Thanks, Catherine [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/781 - Release Date: 4/30/2007 9:14 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.2/781 - Release Date: 4/30/2007 9:14 AM ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
Re: [h-cost] hand rolled hems
Sewing birds? Anyone have a pic they would like to share? :-) Arlys Here's the one(s) I have.2 different people gave them to me for Yule. http://www.lacis.com/catalog/search.php Melusine ___ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
