A question for the more experienced sewing people

[cupcake_goth]

It would be the height of foolishness for me to attempt making a princess-seamed, full-skirted, strappy sundress dress (Kwik-Sew #3294) in stretch velvet, wouldn't it? I would end up in tears of frustration, and probably waste the very nice bubblegum pink stretch velvet I have?

I NEED (yes, really!) a full-skirted sundress out of bubblegum pink stretch velvet, I really do. I would wear it with black lace overdresses, or with fitted boleros. I have the fabric already. I'm just afraid to attempt the dress on my own, because I KNOW I will muck it up. Stretch velvet is difficult to work with, and I'm still a bit wobbly on princess seams.

::sigh::

Comments

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I've never worked with stretch velvet, just the regular kind. If I were in your pointy shoes, I'd go rushing in where angels fear to tread, but that's just me. The worst that can happen is that you'll waste fabric. Do you have a walking foot?

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

If you haven't sewn with it before..it might be entirely too frustrating. I bet Donna would sew it up for you and she has the expertise working with skating costumes. :0 )

Counter-pointy

[mme-moonpie.livejournal.com]

Do it!
Just practice a bit first, so you get the feel for how much to stretch the fabric as you sew it. I have to respectfully disagree with the other comment if the commentress is indeed suggesting that you might want to use a walking foot. Why? If you are using stretch velvet, you'll want the seams to stretch a bit, too, and thus should stretch the fabric just a bit as you are sewing it, and should use the slightest zig-zag stitch (for example, if you have a 0-10 zig-zag scale, use a 2).
If you're afraid of wasting your pink fabric, go buy a big remnant of some other piece of stretch velvet and try your hand at a simple princess-seamed shirt (with pointy sleeve ends and loops for around your middle fingers?).
(PS recently added you to my LJ list b/c love the GCS and costume society stuff I found years ago when sewing my own corset)

[cherryheavy.livejournal.com]

stretch velvet is a pain in the ass, you're right.

I reccomend buying 1/8 of a yard of it, bringing it home, cuting it into sections, and experimenting with it. Depending on how old your machine is, or what kind of attachments you have, your machine might not be able to handle it.

A tip to sewing with that bastards stuff: Instead of pinning along the edge (with the pins going up or down the seam), pin across the edge, with the pin pointing out. And use a LOT more pins. It holds everything in place, and your maching will sew right over them and you don't have to take them out.

Make sure and give yourself a good 1/2 inch seam allowance when you cut, and MEASURE your seam allowance on your machine to make sure you are sewing enough. Once the seam is finished, clip it down to 1/4.

If you have a walking foot, it will be a lot easier.

[savannarama.livejournal.com]

If the pink stretch velvet is rare, perhaps you could make a 1st draft in the same velvet of a different, more common color (hey--two velvet sundresses) or with a fabric possessing the same amount of stretch (2-way or 4-way, and the same degree of stretchiness). Or just this time, entrust the pink velvet to Spaceling or BlueJay or someone, if the possible heartbreak of fabric waste would be worse than the possible satisfaction at a successful outcome.

I haven't seen a lot of sundresses made out of stretchy fabric or velvet, now that I think about it--I think because of the usual attention to non-stretch structure near the bosom and shoulder straps, and because of the heat velvet retains.

[faeredelune.livejournal.com]

Can you spare enough of the lovely fabric to make yourself a sort of eccentrically shaped handbag to practice with the fabric?

[leenerella]

Don't go buy stretch velvet to practice with - I've got a bunch of it at home that you can play with. Like... I have enough that you can make a practice dress if you want. It's panne, though, if you don't mind that.

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I'd just go for it personally. I may be in the minority, since I pretty much learned to sew on velvets, silks, sandwashed fabrics, etc..., but the stretch of the fabric can actually make curved seams easier. Depending on how thick the pile of the velvet is, and how much it moves when sewing, you may want to baste the curved parts by hand after you pin them just to be on the safe side.

[pvcdiva.livejournal.com]

I'm with kambriel...

or go buy a serger - ha ha!

seriously though, don't use a straight stitch. Straight stitches don't stretch, so seams will pop and that's bad. My old sewing machine does an imitation overlock, and that's just lovely for dealing with this kind of fabric, but a three step zigzag is fairly standard as well. I find it gives a stronger finish than a single stich zigzag.

Try to slacken off the presser foot tension - that is the amount of force pushing down on the foot rather than the amount of tension on the thread, as velvet does love to creep upon itself. I also always work with the pile, which means you will always be running seams from should to hem, not a mix of the two.

It's at times like this that I wish you were closer as I use a lot of heavyweight stretch velvet so could show you how to master the beast

[its-crabapple.livejournal.com]

Okay, I realise that our knowing each other is not like huge or anything... But I will say this. I will pay a dressmaker who works with the stuff if I have to. Call it insanity, but you in a pink stretch velvet dress is one of those things that must happen. Largely because I think it might be a sign of the Apocalypse.

That was my being half serious half silly. Don't hurt me too much okay?

[its-crabapple.livejournal.com]

I'm so whacky, I went online, ordered the pattern and I am going to go look into some dark green stretch velvet so I can put my wife in one of these dresses... -I've been wanting to see her in one for years but I am a dope and with never finding one I liked, the thought of having it made never occured to me.

You're a genius. Keep up the good work.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

After all the years of knowing me, it has only *just* occured to you to look for similar dresses for your wife? You are a silly, silly creature.

[its-crabapple.livejournal.com]

I... Uh... Um...

Bah!

...

Have a wetnap!

[anzu.livejournal.com]

How heavy is the velvet and how long is the dress going to be? If it's going to be ankle length, it will probably stretch funny due to the weight. That said, it's best to use a serger with stretch velvet, but a zig-zag stitch works as well to accomodate the give of the fabric. I would recommend cutting the dress bigger than needed and taking it in so it will fit right. I've made princess seamed dresses out of stretch velvet and it's not ungodly difficult. I would recommend modifying the pattern so that the lines fall where you want them to (which I can explain how to do at great length after this weekend).

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

The dress will be knee-length. I think I am going to be very brave, and try making it on my own. (Zig-zag stitch! Must remember that!)

I've realized that the very worst that can happen is that it doesn't work quite right, and then I could just salvage the skirt portion.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

There are all sorts of reasons I wish you were closer, but yes, asking for sewing help is one of them. :)

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

As I said below to anzu, I've decided to attempt making the dress. If it all goes wonky, I can cut the dress apart at the waist to salvage a knee-length skirt from the whole thing. Either way, bubblegum pink velvet item of clothing!

[heartsease.livejournal.com]

Like you, I am beginning to make dresses (instead of just skirts) for myself and I adore princess seams. You'll never know until you try... but maybe you can buy some stretch velvet in another color to try it out first. I've done that a couple of times and learned volumes from the first round. Those rejects turn into my "house dresses".

[pvcdiva.livejournal.com]

I'm coming to the States in Spetember for Dragon*Con in Atlanta, although will be staying over in Washington for a few days beforehand, and possibly eslewhere after...I realise I have no clue of where abouts you actually are (and my sense of American geography is pretty woeful anyway; all I really know is that it's big) but if it is at all feasible, I would be lovely to have tea.*

*I will of course be bringing my own teabags, and possibly teapot, as previous experience tells me one does have to keep educating the damn Colonials on how to make a decent brew.

[pvcdiva.livejournal.com]

Not just zigzag, but check if you machine has a three step zigzag - much stronger!

Actually have a look at how the elastic on your knickers has been sewn on, chances are that's a three step zigzag

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

!!!

You'll be in Washington state?! Splendid! I live in Seattle, which, conveniently, is in Washington. Oh, if it's at all possible, YES, we must have tea.

[pvcdiva.livejournal.com]

I'm flying into Washington, DC to stay with lovely people before heading down to Atlanta. As said, my understanding of American geog is crap, but Washington DC and Washington state are differnt, aren't they?