1、Couture Sewing TechniqueClaire B.ShaefferPrinted in the United States of America,2001The book was originally published in hardcover in 1993 by The Taunton Press,Inc.Chapter4.Edge FinishesHems,Facings and BindingsUnless finished in some way, the edges of a garment ravel and look incomplete. These edg
2、esthe neckline; the vertical front edges of jackets, coats and many blouses; jackets and coatscan be finished in conspicuously or they can become distinctive, decorative elements of the design.Three finishes are used extensively in couture:hems, facings and bindings.The choice of edge finish depends
3、 on many thingsthe shape of the edge being finished; its position on the garment; the type, design and fabric of the garment; current fashion trends; and the preferences of the individual wearer and the designer. For example, if the bottom edge of a dress is straight, it might be completed with a he
4、m, a facing or a binding. But if this edges is asymmetrical, curved, scalloped or otherwise unusually shaped, it will need to be finished with a facing. Even when the edge is visually the same on the neckline and hem, the two different edges are likely to require slightly different finishes to accom
5、modate the curve at the neckline and the weight of the fabric at the hem. And although its obvious that a tailored garment would require very different finishing from an evening gown, even similar designs vorked in dissimilar fabrics would dictate finishes suitable for each fabric.Although hems, fac
6、ings and bindings are all edge finishes, each has a slightly different function. Hems are generally used on the lower edges of a garment or garment section (for example, a sleeve) and many help the garment hang attractively by adding weight to the edge. Facings, on the other hand, are applied to the
7、 upper and vertical edges of a garments. Bindings can be used on upper, lower or vertical edges, but theyre used most often to replace facings rather than hems.Facings can be cut as separate sections and sewn to the garment to finish curved or shaped edges. Or, when used on edges that are straight o
8、r only slightly curved, they can be nothing more than a wide hem allowance, in which case theyre called extended facings. Both hems and facings are visible on only one sideusually the undersideof the garment. Bindings, by contrast, are separate strips of fabric that encase the garment edge and finis
9、h both sides of the garment attractively.Because in couture the cost of labor and materials takes a back seat to the desired results, edges are not always finished with the simplest method or the one most often used in ready-to-wear construction or home sewing. Whatever the finishing method, hems, f
10、acings and bindings can be sewn entirely by hand or machine work. The hand work visible on the finished product, however, is only a fraction of the hand work used to finish the edges of the traditional couture garment. FACINGSFacings, like hems, are designed to finish the edge of the garment. Unlike
11、 hems, which hang free of the body and affect the garments hang more than its overall shape, faced edges frequently fit the bodys curves and subtly affect the garments silhouette. Used on garment openings, curved edges and shaped edges like jacket lapels, facings contribute significantly to an overa
12、ll impression of a well-constructed garment.There are three types of facings: extended, shaped and bias. Two of theseshaped and bias facingsare cut separately from the garment and can be sewn from self-fabric or lightweight lining fabrics. The extended facing is cut as an extension of the garment se
13、ction like a plain hem and is, of course, self-fabric.The extended facing is nothing more than a 1/2-in. to 2-in. hem and is sewn exactly like a plain hem (see pp. 63-64). When the garment edge is on the length-wise grain, the extended facing duplicates the shape and grain of the edge it faces. But
14、when the edge is slanted on a bias or has a slight curve, the facing cant duplicate the grain and may have to be eased, stretched or clipped to fit the edge smoothly.The extended facing is used extensively in couture because the folded edge of this facing is flatter and more supple than the seamed e
15、dges of shaped and bias facings and consequently drapes better. Edges with extended facings are generally interfaced and stabilized so that they maintain their original shape for the life of the garment.As its name suggests, the shaped facing is cut to duplicate the shape of the edge it faces and us
16、uslly duplicates the grain as well. This facing is often used on necklines and on edges intended to have a crisp, constructed look, and its always used on intricately shaped edges like a scalloped hem.The bias facing is a strip cut on the true bias. Because it doesnt duplicate the grain of the edge
17、it faces, this facing must itself be shaped to fit the edge. Bias facings are made from lightweight fabrics and produce narrow, inconspicuous facings.In cousture, more than one type of facing is often used on a single garment or even on a single edge. The pink gazar dress shown above, for example, h
18、as extended facings on the front neckline and back opening with shaped facings on the front neckline and back opening with shaped facings on the back neckline. Similarly, the jacker on p.60 has a shaped facing on the upper half of the front edge and an extended facing on the lower half of this edge.
19、Before applying any kind of facing, examine the garments fit to determine whether the edge needs to be help in or stabilized with a stay tape (see pp. 49-50) or interfaced (see p. 68). Once youve handled the edge as required, then you can proceed to apply the facing youve chosen.SHAPED FACINGSShaped
20、 facings can be applied by hand or by machine. Both types of applications are used in couture, while only machine applications are used in resdy-to-wear. The machine application is, of course, faster, but its sometimes more difficult to shape the facing so that it fits smoothly, and the seamline is
21、sometimes visible at the garment edge. The instructions below are for applying the facing by hand. (For directions on applying shaped facings by machine, refer to your favorite sewing manual.)These directions focus on neckline facings because theyre most frequently used in couture workrooms. However
22、, the directions can be applied to other edges such as waistbands, armholes, applied pockets, collars and cuffs, and they can be adapted for garment linings. The facing can be made any time after the neck edge is established, the seamline or foldline is thread-traced, and the edge is interfaced or s
23、tabilized appropriately for the design.Facings can be cut from the original garment pattern if the edge wasnt changed during the fitting process, or the garment itself can serve as a pattern. When the garment is used as a pattern, the thread-traced neckline can be used to establish a corresponding s
24、titching line on the facing. A finished neckline can also be used as a guide when youre applying the facing by hand.Neck facings can be cut in several shapes. Two of the most popular are the traditional circlular shape, which measures an even distance all around from the edge, and a rectangular shap
25、e, which extends into the armscye seams. When the larger shape is used, the facing edges can be anchored in the seamlines, holding them smooth and in place. The facing shadow may also be less obtrusive with the larger shape, depending on the design. The obvious disadvantage of this facing is the add
26、itional fabric introduced into the shoulder area, which may give the garment a bulky appearance.One solution for reducing some of this bulk is to relocate the seamlines 1/2 in. to 1 in. from their original positions. In couture, the seams on facings are not always aligned with the corresponding garm
27、ent seamlines, as they are in ready-to-wear and home sewing.The directions that follow are for cutting and applying the less familiar rectangular facing. They can easily be adapted for a circular facing, Start by selecting some scraps from your garment fabric for the front and back facings unless th
28、e fabric is bulky or heavy, in which case use a lighter, firmly woven material for the facings. Rectangular pieces of cloth are preferable because they make it easier to identify the grainlines. If youre cutting a rectangular facing for a garment with a high, round neckline with a closre in the back
29、, begin with one large rectangle about 16 in. wide by 7 in. long for the front facing and two smaller ones about 8 in. wide by 6 in. long for the back facings.When applying the facing by hand, its easier to finish the garment edge before making the facing so that you can use the finished, do so befo
30、re starting the facing and clip the free edge of the interfacing as needed, to make it lie flat. Trim the seam allowance around the garment neck to 3/4 in. andfold it to the wrong side. Baste a generous 1/5 in. from the edge. To minimize the seam allowances tendency to curl around the neck, snip sha
31、llow cuts into the raw edge every inch or so as needed to make the neckline seam allowance lie flat(as shown on p.74).With the wrong side up, place the neckline over a pressing cushion and press just the neckline edge. With your fingers, gently try to flatten the raw edge. If necessary, trim the edg
32、e further to 3/8 in. for firmly woven fabrics and 1/2 in. for less stabble fabrics. If the seam allowance still doesnt lie flat, clip the raw edge with short, closely spaced snips up to, but not through the basting stitches around the neck edge. Use a loose catchstitch to sew the edge of the seam al
33、lowance to the underlining or interfacing. If the garment has neither, sew carefully so the stitches do not show on the right side of the garment.Cut a rectangle for each section to be faced. Before proceeding, decide whether relacating the shoulder seams will redistribute the bulk. After relacating
34、 the seam, if you decide to do so, begin with wrong sides together, and match and pin the grainlines together at the center front of the garment and its facing. Then, holding the garment neckline curved, as it will be when worn, smooth the facing in place, pinning as you go. When you get to the shou
35、lder seams, smooth the front facing over the seams so that the seam allowances are flat. Pin and then trim away the excess at the shoulder seams and at the neck edgd, leaving 1/2-in. seam allowances on the facing, as shown above.Pin the back facing(s) in place. At the shoulder seams,trim and then tu
36、rn the raw edges under, then pin and slip-baste, as shown above. At this point, you can machine-stitch the shoulder seams. At the neckline, trim away the excess, leaving a 1/2-in. seam allowance.Turn under the raw edge so the facing is 1/16 in. to 1/4 in. below the edge of the neckline and does not
37、expose the clips on the garments seam allowance. If necessary, clip the edge of the facing at intervals as needed to make it turn under smoothly and pin it in place. On edges with shallow curves, you can turn back the neck edge of the facing in place and press lightly. Using a fell stitch or slipsti
38、tch, sew the facing to the neck edge and join the shoulder seams if they werent machine-stitched. Remove the bastings and press lightly.BIAS FACINGSA bias facing is a narrow strip of fabric cut on the true bias thats shaped, rather than cut, to duplicate the edge it faces. Well adapted to garments w
39、ith soft edges, this facing is frequently used on blouses and dresses and on lightweight silk and cotton fabrics. In couture work-rooms, most bias facings are applied by hand. Generally, self-fabric is used if the garment is sewn from light-weight fabric, but if the fabric is heavy, lining material
40、can be used instead.Bias facings are narrower and less conspicuous than shaped facings, and since they require less fabric, theyre both more comfortable to wear next to the skin and more economical to sew. There are two disadvantages to these facings, however. When a bias facing is applied, the garm
41、ent edge is rarely interfaced and may not be as smooth. And since the bias facing is usually slipstitched to the garment, its sometimes difficult to prevent the stitches from showing on the outside of the garment.Most bias facings are finished so theyre about 1/2 in. wide, but they can be as narrow
42、as 1/4 in. on a jewel neckline and as wide as 2 in. at the waist of a skirt. Generally, the wider the bias facing, the more difficult it is to shape it to a curved edge.Before applying a bias facing, finish the garment edge. Fold the seam allowance to the wrong side and baste 1/8 in. to 1/4 in. from
43、 the edge. Clip as needed to make the edge lie flat. With the wrong side up, press the edge.Measure the garment edge to be faced and cut a bias strip several inches longer, or join several strips for the length you need. For a 11/2-in. wide facing, the strip should be 1 in. wide for straight edges a
44、nd 11/2 in.wide for curved edges. Fold one of the long edges under 1/4 in. This is best accomplished by folding 6 in. at one time and pleating the folded edge with your hands into 1-in. pleats so the edge will stay folded without pressing, which might stretch it.Begin with the wrong side up and matc
45、h the wrong side of the bias strip to the wrong side of the folded garment edge, aligning the bias edge with the basting, 1/8 in. to 1/4 in. below the garment edge. Pin the bias, easing or stretching the strip until it fits the edge smoothly, and baste.Place the edge over a pressing cushion with the
46、 right side up. Cover the edge with a press cloth and carefully press just the edge and the bias strip. The facing shoule lie smoothly against the wrong side of the garment. If it doesnt, release the basting and try again.Using a slipstitch or fell stitch, sew the facing to the seam allowance. Trim
47、the bias so its an even 3/4 in. wide. To finish the free edge, fole it under 1/4 in., pin and baste. Using a very fine needle, sew the edge to the garment with a loose slipstitch or fell stitch. If the garment is backed, catch the backing but not the garment. Remove the bastings and press lightly.Wh
48、en applying a bias facing to a neckline without an opening, begin at the left shoulder seam and work toward the front neckline(this is the most difficult part of the neckline to face and, in couture, is therefore tackled first). For a bias facing at the armscye, begin at the underarm. Finish by fold
49、ing one end of the bias wrong sides together on the lengthwise grain. Lightly crease the fold with your thumbnail. Fold the other end under so the folded edges match. Then slipstitch the folds together.BINDINGSAn elegant finish suitable for nearly every edge,a binding can be unobtrusive or, in a contrasting fabiric or texture, add dash to your garment. Bindings are made by stitch
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