topic Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please in Community Spirit

Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

lurker172602 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 04:29:06 GMT

I have a skirt made from cotton/elastin fabric (I think, it hasn't got a label but it's a poplin sort of weight and a bit stretchy). The hem has gone all "frilly". It looked as if the sewing thread had shrunk and gathered the fabric. I have tried unpicking it, pressing the fabric and sewing it back up but it still looks the same.

What can I do to fix it, or is it irreparable?

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 04:43:59 GMT

Can you post a photo of the hem?

Has the hem pulled tighter or has it flared out like a frill?

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

2106greencat — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 04:50:13 GMT

You lost me at "I have a skirt"

good luck lurker

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

lurker172602 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 04:57:34 GMT

It has pulled it tighter, like gathering. It's almost as if the fabric has deformed. Do you think the elastin (or whatever it is) may have failed in some way?

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

creative*crisis — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:03:03 GMT

I've seen them sold that way. I think it happens when the fabric isn't sewn with the correct stretch stitch and deforms that area. I don't think you can actually fix it once that happens.

A complete new hem might be the answer with the old one cut off if the skirt is long enough but it would have to be stitched on a machine capable of stretch stitch.
All stretch fabrics react in this way if incorrectly sewn

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:06:49 GMT

@lurker172602 wrote:
It has pulled it tighter, like gathering. It's almost as if the fabric has deformed. Do you think the elastin (or whatever it is) may have failed in some way?

I want to see a photo 😄

Did you unpick the hem or trim it off?

It could be stretching of the fabric. Does it have a tightly rolled overlocked hem or is it turned under and stitched?

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:09:34 GMT

do you mean the frilly effect is between the stitch line and the fold line?

Is it like that all the way or only in patches, if yes?

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

kopenhagen5 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:18:41 GMT

Like cc says.

If it has elastin in it, I am guessing it's been stretched at some point.

Caught on something and now it won't return again.

You could perhaps try a hot iron on the area but I doubt anything can be done if it has been stretched to nearly breaking point.

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

lurker172602 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:27:26 GMT

Its the skirt part of a skort that I wear to golf so I can't cut any of the length off.

I just unpicked the hem, pressed it and sewed it back on the same stitching line.

The raw edge is overlooked but not turned under, and the hem is machine sewn with a regulat straight stitch.

Ummm, What other questions were there?

hey, what happened? I started that post by saying, I am trying to post a picture but it keeps turning itself upside down.

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:35:10 GMT

Don't use a hot iron. It will burn the elastane and leave shiny marks.

It sounds like a new hem would be better.

Either unpick all round then iron and fold or trim it off then start again.

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:45:42 GMT

@lurker172602 wrote:

Its the skirt part of a skort that I wear to golf so I can't cut any of the length off.
I just unpicked the hem, pressed it and sewed it back on the same stitching line.
The raw edge is overlooked but not turned under, and the hem is machine sewn with a regulat straight stitch.

Ummm, What other questions were there?

hey, what happened? I started that post by saying, I am trying to post a picture but it keeps turning itself upside down.

It won't matter if the photo is up side down. Ignore that last post as I started writing before you posted this 😄

It sounds like the fabric might be stretched above the hemline in which case there's not a lot to do. Or if it's the crinkles between the stitches and the fold it's a side effect of the cut and the only cure is ironing.

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

azureline** — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 06:13:47 GMT

Not sure if this might help. Ban-rol

http://www.burdastyle.com/techniques/how-to-sew-a-perfect-baby-hem

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

polksaladallie — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 06:18:21 GMT

What are you up to, Glee?

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 06:23:37 GMT

@lurker172602 wrote:
I have a skirt made from cotton/elastin fabric (I think, it hasn't got a label but it's a poplin sort of weight and a bit stretchy). The hem has gone all "frilly". It looked as if the sewing thread had shrunk and gathered the fabric. I have tried unpicking it, pressing the fabric and sewing it back up but it still looks the same.

What can I do to fix it, or is it irreparable?

I think its because there may be 3 different yarns all trying to work together - cotton, elastane and the polyester thread used in the hem.

It sounds as if the polyester has shrunk, pulling the elastane at the same time, causing the fabric to frill.

Sorry, and its not helpful, but apart from taking the hem up and cutting the 'frill' off, which I understand you dont want to do, theres not a lot of options..

Just out of interest, what did the care label state?

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 06:29:41 GMT

@polksaladallie wrote:
What are you up to, Glee?

I'm at work.

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

lurker172602 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 06:53:41 GMT

It was made in Vietnam for a friend who then didn't want it and gave it to me, so there is no care label unfortunately. That's why I'm not exactly sure what the fabric is.

it might be heading for the rag bag I think

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 06:55:12 GMT

@lurker172602 wrote:
It was made in Vietnam for a friend who then didn't want it and gave it to me, so there is no care label unfortunately. That's why I'm not exactly sure what the fabric is.

it might be heading for the rag bag I think

Not without a photo first 😄

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

lurker172602 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 06:58:38 GMT

This is strange obsession you have there glee

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

gleee58 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 07:36:47 GMT

@lurker172602 wrote:
This is strange obsession you have there glee

Just a healthy level of curiosity. 😄

You've got me puzzled :D:D

Re: Sewing/Fabric knowledgable people. Help please

lurker172602 — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 08:02:40 GMT

Ok then. This is is obviously a photo of me standing on my head wearing said skirt