Polyester and pressing...

... do not mix.  At all.  I'm working on Simplicity 2153 and having a helluva of a time trying to press this shiny polyester quilted fabric.  This stuff is THE DEVIL.  Let me tell you.  I press and clap and press and steam and press.  The fabric just bounces back out of submission.

  

Pure.  Evil.

Pressing is a necessary step that I follow religiously when sewing.  This jacket is really testing my patience - so much so that I am considering abandoning it all together.  I don't have time to be foolin' with some unruly fabric!

I had such high hopes for this too.  I bought the fabric in NYC last summer with the sole intention of making this pattern.  I bought all of the hardware, matching zipper, and everything.  Bah! 

Working with difficult fabric is a sure-fire way to send my sewjo packing.  This coat is happening, but in cotton denim instead.  

How do you handle difficult fabric?  Would you keep going?

L 

 

 

KLM Jacket Update & Pressing

I've been a bit under the weather lately and had no energy to sew.  Somehow, though, I managed to find some motivation to continue working on my KLM jacket.  Actually, I'm almost done.  I need to re-do the notched collar on the right, sew the lining to the bottom and sleeve hems, and topstitch the front.

I have *not* completely pressed everything because, like I said, I need to rework the right side notched collar among other things.  However, I took this picture anyway to show how much pressing the garment as its sewn is well worth the effort and time.  I spend just as much time at the iron as I do at the sewing machine.  I press every seam - not always immediately after I sew it, though.  I like to sew and press in groups.  For example, I will sew the CB and side back seams at once, then go to the iron and press those seams open or to one side.  Then I'll construct the front, press; shoulders, press; sides, press etc.

 

The close-ups show that more work is needed on the right (left-facing).  But look how much nicer the other side is once it's been properly pressed with the facing rolled to the outside.

Why am I talking about this?  I recently saw a garment that, in my opinion, lacked pressing pretty much everywhere.  This garment would hang so much more nicely and look more polished if just a few minutes were spent with an iron.  I am by no means an expert nor do I strive to be the perfect sewer.  If you knew the shortcuts I took and saw the insides of some of my garments (I'm talking to you Burda knit dress), you would certainly agree!  I just know that there are some things we need to do whilst sewing so as to produce something comparable to RTW at the very least - hopefully even better.

What are your thoughts?  Are you a pressaholic too?  

That's all for now.  Hopefully I'll be back to normal speed in a few days.  Until next time, peace!

L