Even good home seamstresses often shy away from making formal dresses out of delicate fabric. Fabric is expensive, and these are more expensive than most. When made correctly however, the results can be spectacular. If you are considering impressing your friends at the next party by showing up in sparkles from head to toe, there are some simple tips that will make sewing sparkle fabrics easier and more successful.
It all starts with the pattern, and the simpler the design, the easier it will be to work with. A lot of these types of materials are stretchy, so you will need a pattern that calls for it. Sequin fabric also tends to be bulkier than other kinds of material. The simpler the shape the better. Try to avoid patterns that call for darts and involve small pieces.
It's important to line a dress made of sequined material. Even if the pattern doesn't call for it, you should still take the time and spend the extra money to add lining. You will notice the difference in the way the dress hangs. The sequins will scratch your skin too, when you haven't included a lining, and sitting down in it for any length of time will make you miserable.
Top stitching is a popular detail, but it won't work with sequined material. When you are looking at patterns, you should find one that doesn't use top stitching to create necklines or hemlines. You can slip stitch the lining to the sequined material.
Experienced seamstresses always iron as they work because it eliminates a lot of simple mistakes. Unfortunately, ironing isn't an option when you are working with sequin fabric. The sequins could melt or become deformed when you try it. Removing the sequins from the seams is the best idea, but if you don't want to do that, you might try flattening seams with a rolling pin.
You can have machine problems working with this kind of fabric is you don't watch out. Leather needles work well. They are tough enough to pierce the sequins. Your regular needles will break. You should use old scissors instead of your expensive shears when you are working with sequins. They will dull the blades no matter how sharp the scissors started out.
Above all you shouldn't sweat the small stuff. Working with these kinds of materials is messy and can be frustrating. You need to go slowly, because making a big mistake can be costly. There will be sequins everywhere, but that's okay. Perfectionists might insist the sequins must be removed from the inside seams, but if you don't do it, nobody but you will know.
You could always start small and make an easy, sleeveless, sequined top. Once you've completed it successfully you might be ready to move on to something more complicated. Everyone will wonder how you can afford your designer clothes.
It all starts with the pattern, and the simpler the design, the easier it will be to work with. A lot of these types of materials are stretchy, so you will need a pattern that calls for it. Sequin fabric also tends to be bulkier than other kinds of material. The simpler the shape the better. Try to avoid patterns that call for darts and involve small pieces.
It's important to line a dress made of sequined material. Even if the pattern doesn't call for it, you should still take the time and spend the extra money to add lining. You will notice the difference in the way the dress hangs. The sequins will scratch your skin too, when you haven't included a lining, and sitting down in it for any length of time will make you miserable.
Top stitching is a popular detail, but it won't work with sequined material. When you are looking at patterns, you should find one that doesn't use top stitching to create necklines or hemlines. You can slip stitch the lining to the sequined material.
Experienced seamstresses always iron as they work because it eliminates a lot of simple mistakes. Unfortunately, ironing isn't an option when you are working with sequin fabric. The sequins could melt or become deformed when you try it. Removing the sequins from the seams is the best idea, but if you don't want to do that, you might try flattening seams with a rolling pin.
You can have machine problems working with this kind of fabric is you don't watch out. Leather needles work well. They are tough enough to pierce the sequins. Your regular needles will break. You should use old scissors instead of your expensive shears when you are working with sequins. They will dull the blades no matter how sharp the scissors started out.
Above all you shouldn't sweat the small stuff. Working with these kinds of materials is messy and can be frustrating. You need to go slowly, because making a big mistake can be costly. There will be sequins everywhere, but that's okay. Perfectionists might insist the sequins must be removed from the inside seams, but if you don't do it, nobody but you will know.
You could always start small and make an easy, sleeveless, sequined top. Once you've completed it successfully you might be ready to move on to something more complicated. Everyone will wonder how you can afford your designer clothes.
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