Rayon Batik Sew Along

Carole · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:36 am Post subject:

Yahoo! Fini! Complete! I just finished. I'll try and get pictures posted soon.

Nata, thank you for your tip on the zipper. I'm a little gun-shy about inserting another one right now, but will archive your tip for my next skirt. Good luck with everything. I find that if I'm bogged down with other aspects of life, I usually like the control and creativity I can find in my sewing room, if only for a short time.

Lois · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:36 am Post subject:

Nata - My method is very similar to yours for inserting a zipper. I once heard it referred to as "keying the zipper". After stitching in the first side of the zipper, I make a hand basted stitch or two on the zipper tape that is still free, where the horizontal seam hits the zipper. I use colored thread which for me is easy to see, and to match up with the horizontal seam. When I begin to sew the second side of the zipper I sew past the horizontal seam and stop....take garment out of machine and check the line-up. My machine stitches are quite large at this point (3.5) so they can easily be removed if necessary. If the position is perfect, I go back and stitch over the first line of stitching with shorter stitches.....and continue to the zipper bottom.

I'll be waiting to see pictures of your blouse Carole.

Janee - let us know how the dress is going

Nata - I'm glad to hear you are back in the sewing room, and hopefully your car shopping will be coming to an end soon. Smart idea on the landscaping......of course you can "do it yourself" but we must pick priorities and I think your sewing will give you some serenity amidst all your responsibilities......Enjoy!!! And good luck on the Green Card paperwork.

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

Carole, awesome! Congratulations! Make sure to show it to us.

I have put together my upper bodice last night. I also starting fusing the interfacing only to realize I fused it to the wrong piece. I decided to stop there before making any more damage. I “peeled” the interfacing off. I don’t think I’ll need to re-cut the piece.

So, tonight: I will do the interfacing right, and maybe do the gathers on bodice and put the whole shell together.

Carole · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

My daughter just took a picture of me in my new shirt. Here it is!

Lois · Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:

Wow Carole- that is so nice looking! It fits great and is very flattering. Remind me again....what pattern did you use?

Lois

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

Carole, It's beautiful. It's very flattering on you. Color is breathtaking. I absolutely love it!

I had a set back working on my blouse yesterday. It’s coming out too big. I have figured out the alterations needed and unpicked the horizontal seam. I also had to unpick the sleeves. Well, anyway, I am going to take in the side seams, re-do the horizontal seam, and re-set the sleeves. I could get it done tonight or maybe tonight and tomorrow night. That’s the plan.

Natalia

Janee · Sawyer Brook Staff Joined: 05 Apr 2007 Posts: 76

Carole,

That is so beautiful - and I agree with Lois and Nata, so flattering! It looks so comfortable, I'm sure you'll get tons of wear out of it!

Candy · 8-19-08 batik body.jpg

I haven't been posting on the salon, but I work with Carole and got caught up in the batik talk.
I bought Bramble in 2006 (out of stock now, of course) and finally got around to making it up. Wore my little sundress to work and we all compared notes. Rayon batiks are so comfortable and the designs make any wrinkles less apparent. Vogue 2412, an Easy Options pattern, is apparently out of print. There are times when a waistband on a skirt or pants is uncomfortable. Dresses are a comfortable solution. I also find them the coolest garment to wear in warm weather. This dress has shaped side seams. It can be made with four or eight darts. I chose to use eight for the maximum amount of flattering shaping without feeling constricted. Using a technique I've noticed in ready-to-wear, after pressing the darts, I topstitched them. This is a decorative detail, but can also be very functional in difficult to press fabrics.

Candy

Barb · 8-19-08 Batik top Barb.jpg

We had a lot of fun the day Carole brought in her newly finished blouse and Candy just happened to be wearing her batik dress! Is rayon batik not the perfect summer fabrication??
Since Carole's blouse was a perfect color for me and I love the styling, we had a girls day and shared clothes for a bit so I could try it out!
I've already ordered the pattern and have it on my "to sew" list for sure!

Barb · 8-19-08 Batik Buttons.jpg

Colleen took a few details pictures for us of each garment. I thought you'd enjoy seeing them.

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

I wish I lived closer: I want to try it too Smile

I re-did the seams, an they are close to acceptable. Not perfect, but OK. I am going to take a little in in the waist and call it a day. I'll need to re-set the sleeves next.

zigzagger · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Massachusetts

The shirt and the dress both look lovely! It sounds like everyone has had fun making and sewing their garments.

I've been away at camp but now that I'm back and saw Carole's awesome shirt, I'm considering making one for myself instead of the skirt I planned We'll see how it works out- I hope to get some sewing done this week!

Carole · Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:42 pm Post subject:

Nata, I wish I lived closer to help you fit your blouse. I think it's alway useful to have another eye and another pair of hands to help with fitting. I have to enlist my hubby and daughter if I need help but sometimes those problems are really complex. It sounds hard with that horizontal seam and the sleeves too. Is the horizontal seam too low on your body? Sending good fitting thoughts your way . . .

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

Carole, thanks for the offer. An extra pair of hands is certainly very helpful when fitting. My DD is too young. Hubby is not home on the evenings, which is when I sew most of the time.

I think I got fairly good fit. Horizontal seam was too high on the front, kind of creeping onto the bust. It was good at the back. And there was just enough ease immediately under the armhole. 3" down (where the horizontal seam hits) it was bulging out, so I needed to take in 3/4" (3" total), and then taper to 1/2" all through the side seams. After that I basted it to see the fit. It was almost good, just a little too wide through the waist. I took 1/4" in in 6 panel seams (total of 1.5"). It seems good now Smile

I set the sleeves in and started attaching cuffs. Baby steps Smile

Nata · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 86

Quick update: I made some progress despite of a very stressful week. I have to whine a little to get all the self-pity out of my system. My DD got almost run over by a lady backing out in the grocery parking lot, who wasn't looking where she was going. DD just froze in place. Car stopped about a foot from her because she heard me screaming.

Few days later my 3 yo son locked me out of the house. I stepped out into the garden for herbs for lunch, and he locked the door. It took long time for him to realize he need to come to the door when door bell is ringing. It took some more time to explain to him how to unlock it.

Next day DD fell down the stairs. Thankfully she plowed into a bucket full of laundry, which cushioned her fall.

And to top it all: DS walked out of the library while I was checking books. By the time we searched the whole library, he crossed the street and walked one block down the street before somebody stopped him and called 911. He told me later that he decided to wait for me in the car, but button didn’t work (car was locked), and then I left him and I should never do that again because that scared him. I nearly had a coronary by the time we found him.

Next day, he figured how to dismantle child look off the handle of the door that leads to stairs where DD fell.

I really needed sanity check yesterday, so I sewed. I made a very good progress. My blouse looks nice on the dressform. I have jus a couple of things left. I need to attach collar band, hem, and make buttonholes. Barb is matching buttons for me. I think I might go with the choice I would have not thought of if it wasn’t for Barb. I am excited to see how it works out.