Hems and pleat pressing

[Scottish Chi]

[QUOTE=Pleater]
If you work on the inside of the hem to first flatten the fabric - go slowly and use minimum heat, turn the dial up little by little so you reach the point where the heat will take out the folds without melting any man made fibre in the fabric.

Then fold the hem, press it lightly and sew it in place, and then press the folds once the sewing is done.
QUOTE]

Thanks,
I will keep a damp cloth on the fabric when pressing with the steam iron in all steps and turn the iron up gradually as you suggest.

My knowledge of sewing is pretty much limited to whip stitch. Where would you suggest I look for instructions for sewing with different stitches for a hem?

Cheers, Bill

[bubba]

Check your public library for the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing.

[Pleater]

Try to pick a dark line in the tartan - if relevant, to sew along, and get a thread which is a good match to the colour. Go for a slightly darker shade rather than a lighter one as it will show far less.

A polyester thread is slightly elastic, so less likely to snap if pulled, but can be slippery and move in the seam. I prefer a polyester cotton mix if I can get it. Once sewn it seems to remain where it was put.

Don't be surprised of you quickly aquire quite a number of different spools of sewing thread, plus numerous needles of different types, the 'good' scissors you need for cutting cloth and the snips for the thread, tape measures, hem gauges, boxes of pins, and an amazing amount of other stuff.

My thread collection fills two large tins originally aquired full of chocolates for Christmases past, I have a large plastic tool box plus the boxes for the sewing machine accesories and all the bobbins with thread wound on them.

Once you get over a certain mass I think it acts as a black hole and sucks things in.

[Scottish Chi]

Check your public library for the Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing.

Just checked and it is not available. Next stop is the used book store and then online for a search. Sounds like a good book for the home library. Reader's Digest usually has a pretty good product.

Then a trip to the local fabric shop for thread and to browse.

Cheers! Bill

[way2fractious]

The Readers Digest Complete Guide to Sewing can be obtained at any Borders Books or Barnes & Noble or ordered through Amazon.