AboutSharon Vogel Expertise I can answer general sewing questions as well as tailoring, heirloom, menswear, children's wear, craft sewing, quilting and just about any fabric or notion. I can also help with some sewing machine repair and maintenance.
Experience I started sewing at the age of 3...thanks to my mom and grandmother, and I am now in my fifties. Home economics classes in junior high and high school helped me to finesse my skills.
Education/Credentials Palmer and Plesch tailoring class
Basically, self-taught...give me the instructions and I will figure it out and then make it better!
Awards and Honors A few blue ribbons at fairs along the way
I almost exclusively work with stretchy fabrics (knit fabric, jersey, spandex...) and I was wondering what's the best way to make a Mao collar using this kind of fabrics. I tried to interface the 2 parts of the collar but the fabric lost its stretchiness. But when I don't interface, the collar doesn't stand nicely.
Besides I'd like to know if you think it's possible to make a Peter pan collar as well, using stretchy fabrics.
Thank you very much and sorry for my bad English (I'm french) :)
Answer Dear Virginia,
You have discovered that knit fabrics do not work well when making garments that require sharper tailoring to look right. There are some knit interfacings on the market that you could try, but again your knit fabric which has been interfaced for a collar will not stretch as much as uninterfaced pieces. You will need to decide if those parts that you interface really need to be as stretchy in the finished garment. Collar bands that fit closely around the neck would need the stretch but the actual collar, as in a Peter Pan collar, does really not need the stretchiness. If you are concerned about the area where the collar meets the rest of the garment, then you may have a problem. Zig zag or use a stretch stitch to ease this part somewhat.
I hope I have helped you some with your question. Write back if you have a more particular discussion point.
