why fabrics can't match evenly

2 replies [Last post]
Wed, 01/11/2012 - 21:18
sewsewmom
User offline. Last seen 6 years 38 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 01/11/2012
Posts: 19

Hi,

I'm  sewsewmom .I am very happy to join this site.

Whenever I sew two pieces of fabric together. I match up nicely to begin with, but always end up the top piece or lower piece is longer? Why and how to solve the problem? Thanks.

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Thu, 01/12/2012 - 16:08
#1
Nehzat
User offline. Last seen 39 weeks 1 day ago. Offline
Instructor
Joined: 10/27/2007
Posts: 1026
Re: Why Same Length Fabric Pieces Don't Join Evenly

Dear sewsewmom,

Welcome to our site. Before you sew the fabric pieces together make sure that they are pinned right. What you need to do is pin at a straight angle to the edges of the fabric with the pin facing inwards. All the pins should be in the same direction and evenly spaced out. Pin the ends first then the middle and then in between again. On a straight seam the pins can be about 6 cm apart, on a curved seam about 3 cm apart.

Once you start sewing, remove the pins just before they go under the presser foot. As you guide the fabric be careful that you don't place the weight of your hands on the fabric layers. Doing this will cause the upper layer to slide or stretch, making it longer than the lower layer at the end of the seam.

To make double sure that the fabric won't slide you can also baste the two layers by hand before sewing by machine.

Hope this helps.

Happy sewing,

Nehzat

 

 

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Sun, 06/07/2015 - 19:30
#2
whitelove2007
User offline. Last seen 3 years 15 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 03/24/2015
Posts: 1
Why Same Length Fabric Pieces Don't Join Evenly

Hi! 
Thanks for pinning.  I always pins a lot too.

One day, I was looking for other kinds of foot by curiosity and  I found on the web a foot called: a walking foot.

(look on you tube for / sewing walking foot).  It is saving to pin (need less of pins, so time as well)

What a walking foot do:  
When sewing, the walking foot keeps the fabric over the other one, moving in the same time of the lower one. Very interesting using it as well to sew knit fabrics.

Note: This foot does not always come with a sewing machine, but it can be bought separetely.  You will find also on the web how to choose the right one for your machine. 

I read on the web that quilter people like to use it a lot.

The explanation given to end with a longer lenght of fabrics on top is when sewing without a walking foot is  :
1- the fabric under is moving by the  grips under the foot, but not the fabric on top of the other one.

Have a good day !

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