About Sarah Expertise Pattern making, fitting, fabric choices, garment construction, design choices - all aspects of making a garment! I'm a professional in the fashion industry. I'm responsible for fitting garments on live models, making garment construction choices that make sense for the fabrics, approving wash care instructions, patternmaking and draping on the form. I work with wovens and knits. My garments have won numerous awards (both design and construction) throughout my college career.
Experience Graduated BFA in fashion design; Currently work as a technical designer/pattern make/fitter for a large contemporary fashion company for 2+ years.
Organizations Philadelphia Sewing Collective - www.phillysewing.org
Education/Credentials BFA in Fashion Design from Moore College of Art & Design; Summa Cum Laude
Sewing - neckline heming of stretchy nylon material
Expert: Sarah - 6/5/2009
Question Thank you for your help. I am trying to hem the neckline of a stretchy nylon material..(remember the silky, stretchy material of the 80's)..it may be polyester material...not sure. However, it stretches so much and I don't know how to make a hem at the neckline without it stretching out of shape. It is NOT double knit stretch.
Thank you soooo much for any help you can give me.
Answer Hi Myrna,
The first thing that comes to mind is that you are using too many stitches per inch. You can try increasing your stitch width, to increase the distance between stitches. The less stitches there are, the less disturbed the fabric will be.
Also, be sure you're not holding the fabric as it is sewn. This can be very subtle, but if you're stretching at all, it will start to ripple very quickly! The way the machine pushes the fabric through, it is very easy to sew along and not notice. Ideally, you want the fabric to run through the machine effortlessly. All you want to be doing is guiding it through so it doesn't go off course. Don't hold it down, and don't pull it out at the other end.
If you have checked the above, and the style calls for it, I would advise using a clear elastic tape while sewing - depending on what you're making. Set the elastic on top of the two layers, sew the seam through all layers, but while sewing pull on the elastic just a LITTLE BIT! Keep an even tension on the elastic the entire way through. In situations when knit material won't behave, clear elastic tape can give you the tension control you need. The key here is to not pull the elastic too much - you don't want gathers, you just want control.
Last, I can't tell you how much of a difference a good ironing can have on the look of a finished garment! Press the seam well.
