Apparel Construction Skills

Apparel Construction Skills

Apparel Development 2Objective 3.02

Standard Sewing Machine

Used For:• Regular stitching• Machine basting• Reinforcement stitching

Serger• A Specialized type of sewing machine that can stitch, trim, and finish all in one simple step.

• Sometimes called “Overlockers”

Embroidery Machine

Used for:• Monogramming• Personalizing• Special Designs

Problems and Solutions• Skipped stitches- needle comes unthreaded, be sure to

take up lever is at the highest point when beginning to stitch thread knots up on the underside of fabric, hold thread ends

under and to the back of the presser foot

• Stitch length – When joining 2 heavy fabrics. Keeps them from joining unevenly.

• Tension- Check tension of upper thread if the topstitch seams loose.

• Special fabrics – Different fabrics require different types of presser foots, Thread, and a change of settings on the sewing machine.

Parts and their uses• Needles- Hold the upper thread on the sewing machine, comes in many

types and sizes, you must always replace when it becomes dull, bent, or rough.

• Presser Feet- holds fabric against the feed dogs which moves the fabric forward.

• Feed regulator- Feeds fabric thru the machine while stitching. Changes direction when the reverse stitch button is pressed.

Stitches• Types – Three-thread serger, four- thread, two-thread, two-thread

stitch, five-thread, rolled hemstitch, flatlock, and cover stitch.

• Sizes and length- Basting is temporary stitching. Large stitches that can be removed. May be done by hand or with a long stitch length on sewing machine.– Reinforced stitching is typically seen in crotches of pants. Use stitch length 1 on

sewing machine for reinforced stitching.– Standard stitching is used most often. Stitch length 2/3 can be used.

• Tension - the heavier the thread, the looser the tension should be balance stitch, adjust the tension whenever you change fabrics

Special Situations

• Corners - Trim edges to reduce bulk. When you push out corner it should be to a point.

• Curves – Make sure seam allowance is the same even when you have a curve. Reduce bulk to make seam lie flat.

• The bent handles on these shears allow fabric to lie flat on the table as you cut.

• Blades are usually 7 to 8 inches in length.

• Also know as Bent-handled shears.

• These scissors have small round handles.

• Blades are 4 to 6 inches in length (the blades are different in widths).

• Use the to trim seams, clip curves, and cut into corners.

• With these shears, you can finish a seam edge or other raw edge on firmly woven fabric.

• The zigzag design helps to prevent raveling.

• 3 to 4 inches in length, with very pointed blades.

• Use for cutting buttonholes & Trimming close to the embroidery hoop.

• Resembles a pizza cutter.

• Can make straight clean cuts through multiple layers of fabric.

• Cutter must be used with a mat.

•Can remove stitches with the blades on one end of this pen-shaped gadget.

• Be careful not to cut the fabric.

• This tool ha spring-action blades for clipping thread ends or stitches.

• Are manipulated by hand along outlines of the pattern pieces of the marker.

• They cut multiples layers of fabric.

• A device that generates an intense, powerful beam of light.

• Cut one garment a piece at a time.

• They’re economical because they fast and accurate.

Pressing: Equipment

•Press Cloth- A press cloth is a layer of fabric placed between the fabric and the iron toprotect the fabric from scorching or shining.

• Tailor’s Ham- is convenient for shaping the fabric when

making dressmaker suits or coat.

• Sleeve Board- A sleeve board is a small ironing board that is

narrow enough to fit into a sleeve.

• Seam Roll- A seam roll is atwo-sided cylinder, one side covered with wool and the other side covered with cotton.

• Point Presser- section for pressing narrow, hard to reach seams of collars; belts; cuffs; corners; points, etc.

• Pounding Block-Also known as a tailors clapper.

A clapper/pounding block is used to flatten a seam, pleat, dart, lapel, buttonhole, etc.

• Needle Board- A board that holds needles in a loom.

• Ironing Board- A long, narrow padded board, often with collapsible supporting legs,

used as a working surface for ironing.

• Iron- A metal appliance with ahandle and a weighted flat bottom, used when heated to press wrinkles from fabric.

*Make sure to keep iron clean!

Pressing: Techniques• Specialized Fabrics- When pressing

corduroy or pile fabrics, like velvet, if you don’t press on the wrong side of the fabric, the iron’s impression will be left on the fabric.

• Placing these fabrics right side down on a needle board will help preserve texture.

VELVET

CORDUROY

Use of Pressing Equipment• The iron is the most important

pressing tool.• Avoid pressing over pins, sippers,

and other metal objects that will scratch the bottom of the iron.

• Most pressing equipment,like the tailors ham, sleeve board, point presser, etc., serve a certain purpose.

Types of Seams• Plain seams should be serged and

trimmed, or stitched with a seam allowance of 5/8 of an inch.

• Perfect for beginner projects from pillows to pants.

Types of Seams• A Flat-felled seam is self-enclosed

and requires no additional seam finishing technique.

• Used where durability is needed or a tailored appearance is desired.

Types of Seams

• Welt seams give the garment a tailored look.

• They are used as a decorative accent.

Types of Seams• A Double-Stitched is mostly used for

sheer fabrics or lightweight knits. • Used on things such as sheer fabrics and

lightweight knits.

Types of Seams• A French seam is a durable self

enclosed seam that is used to conceal seam allowances.

• Used on sheer fabric to prevent raveling.

Types of Seams• The Lapped seam is a strong

smooth seam that should lie perfectly flat. It gets its strength because its sewn with two rows of stitching.

• Used on fabrics such as leather or fleece.

Types of Seams• A bound seam has both of the raw

edges enclosed in a strip of fabric or double fold bias tape.

• Used mostly on lightweight fabrics such as silk or chiffon.

Standards for Seams• The standard seam allowance

when sewing at home is 5/8 of an inch.

Standards for Seams• The standard seam allowance for

Industrial sewing is ¼ of an inch.

Serged Seam

Sergers stitch seams, trim off seam allowances, and finish edges all in one step.

Sometimes used just to finish and other times you use it as a plain finish.

Clean Finish “aka” Turned and Stitched • A clean finish is

turned under 1/8 to ¼ of the raw edge of fabric and then stitched close to the folded edge. • If you want a smooth

edge on the inside of the garment you would do a clean finish.

Pinked Finish

Most firmly woven fabrics can be trimmed with pinking shears.

Pinking the fabric doesn’t completely prevent raveling.

Pinking shears give an attractive edge.

• For more protection, stitch ¼ inch from each edge before pinking.

Bound Finish• A bound finish is

used frequently on unlined coats and jackets. Also in dresses and other items that have a tendency to ravel. • Appropriate fabrics

are medium/medium heavy and heavyweight woven fabrics.

Zigzag FinishThis finish is

used on a plain seam on woven fabric.

This finish is used on medium- to heavyweight fabrics.

The zigzag stitch length must be adjusted to accommodate and prevent raveling.

Piped Finish • Piping is a narrow

band of fabric stitched into the seam to accent the seam line or outer edge of a garment.

• Piping can be inserted into a seam while it is stitched.

Thread Types• Embroidery is the art or

handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn using a needle or an embroidery machine.

Rayon Thread• A soft thread, available in

great colors, and suitable for all forms of machine embroidery.

• It holds up well with high-speed stitching without breaking or fraying and it also consistently performs well.

Pearl Crown Rayon Thread• The fibers used in this

thread are continuous filament which is virtually hairless.

• The fibers are twisted to add to the sheen and make the thread stronger and less prone to fraying and more durable then some other heavy rayons.

Metallic Thread• Used for decoration.• Adds luminous accents

to machine embroidery.

• Some offer nylon cores, rice paper construction, or outer coating.

Fusible Thread

• Used for fuse basting, quilt bindings, appliqué and more. Sew into your fabric, iron, and set your hem or appliqué in place.

Invisible Thread• Also known as

monofilament thread.• Very lightweight

thread used on drapery hems on shear or light materials.

• Can also be used on a serger on the looper thread.

Crochet Thread• Made from

mercerized cotton for crafting decorated crochet items.

• May be stiffed with starch.

Textured Nylon Thread

• Can be used wherever silk can be used.

• Not as fragile as silk.• Stretches much less

than silk.• Doesn’t rot when wet.

Ribbon Thread• Embroidery is done

with ribbon thread, rather than standard six-thread string.

• Silk ribbon or a silk and organza blend ribbon are commonly used for this type of embroidery.

General purpose threads

Polyester• This is all purpose thread that can be used for sewing

most fabrics• It is strong and flexible, it shrinks less than most other

threads• The thread stretches slightly, it is recommended for

knits and stretch fabrics

Cotton/Quilting • It Is great for machine quilting, hand quilting, or

decorative stitching

Cotton covered polyester thread• Cotton covered polyester thread is good for for

hand and machine sewing on all natural fabrics, synthetics, woven and knits

• It is strong and durable.

Upholstery• This thread can be used in your sewing machine or by

hand• It is usually used for home décor projects

Button Craft• Has great elasticity and strength• It can be permanently stretched in sewing, and is good

for silks and wools• Button whole twist is a strong, lustrous silk about three

times the diameter of normal sewing silk, and can be used for sewing buttons with various decorative effects

Sizing Patterns• In order to determine what your pattern size is you must take your body measurements.

•After you have figured your figure type the next step is to find your pattern size. Check your measurements and line them up with what’s on the chart located at the back of the patter envelope.

Pinning Patterns• Pin the grain line first, if you don’t pin the grain line

correctly your finished garment will not hang correctly.

• Pin perpendicular to the bold line.

Pinning Continued• Silk pins are the best pins to use in order to prevent ripping

the pattern pieces.

• DON’T OVER PIN IT!

• Place pins diagonally in corners.

Cutting Out Patterns• Use long strokes with your scissors.

• Cut on the bold line.

• Cut out the required number called for by the pattern.

Cutting Out Patterns Continued.

• Cut all your notches away from the seam.

• Make required marks to fabric before removing your pattern piece.

Marking• Transfer all your marks to the

WRONG side of the fabric before removing pattern piece.

• Don’t iron over your markings, marks may become permanent.

• You may use tailor’s chalk, a marking pen, or tracing wheel and tracing paper.

Hems•MachineRolledBlindTopstitchedBoundShirt Tail

•Hand• Blind stitch• Catch stitch• Slip stitch

Rolled

• Used on more formal attire at bottom of garment.

• Uses special foot to roll the fabric while it stitches.

Blind

• Invisible machine-worked hem• Used on dress pants• Different type of presser foot is used

Topstitched

• To sew a row of stitching close to the seam or edge of (a garment) on the outer side of the fabric.

Bound

• THE BOUND HEM This kind of hem is used especially for finishing skirts and pants. It is a sturdy kind of hem.

Shirt Tail

• Used on Medium to heavy weight fabrics that ravel easily.

Hand

•Blind stitch- Looks professional and cannot see stitching on the right side of garment.

•Slip stitch- Used on the hem of a turned in stitch or a bias binding finish.

•Catch stitch- a large cross-stitch used in finishing seams and in hemming

Closures

Zippers• Come in different colors

• Choose the right one for the job (look at the back of the pattern envelope

Buttons• Sew Through- have 2-4 holes

on the face of the button for attaching with thread

• Shank- is a loop on the back of the button that allows the

button to lay loosely.

Buttonholes

hand / Machine stitched

Hook and Loop Tape

• Two Nylon Strips, one with tiny loops and the other with a

looped pile.

Hook & Eye / Bar

• They are used on edges that just meet like a neck or collar line. Also they can be used at the top of a zipper for further support.

SNAPS• They are all different

sizes.• Smaller snaps hold

edges together where the strain or pull is minimal.

• Larger sizes are good for heavy duty use.

• Snaps pre-attached to fabric tapes are ideal for sportswear and children’s wear.

Interfacing

• Used to add shape and give stiffness to a garment.

• Non-Fusible– Baste stitch in.

• Fusible– Apply with heat