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How to Sew with Sheer Fabrics

comments (5) May 27th, 2011     

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Soft, floaty, delicate, fluid, and sumptuous—these are the words that come to mind when describing a garment made from a sheer fabric.
The key to making the most of these fabrics is to sew seams, edges, and hems that are lightweight, sturdy, and nearly invisible.
This double-stitched seam works well when navigating sharp curves or angles on necklines or armholes, and also as a straight seam.
Soft, floaty, delicate, fluid, and sumptuous—these are the words that come to mind when describing a garment made from a sheer fabric.

Soft, floaty, delicate, fluid, and sumptuous—these are the words that come to mind when describing a garment made from a sheer fabric.

Photo: Jack Deutsch
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Narrow chiffon hem
Even though there is a raw edge in the chiffon hem, the second stitching holds it close and prevents raveling. Use this technique to hem large, square scarves, as well as garments.
1) Mark the hemline.
2) Trim the hem allowance to 1⁄2 inch.
3) Stitch on the hemline all the way around the garment.
4) Press the hem allowance to the wrong side along the stitched hemline.



5) Edgestitch again through all layers, close to the original hemline.
6) Trim the excess hem allowance with appliqué scissors, close to the second row of stitching.

 

Excerpted from SewStylish Summer 2007, page 28. You can purchase the latest issue of SewStylish on newsstands now, or visit our online store.

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Comments (5)

TeenaGrace writes: Lacy 701:
Here's what I'd try:
Copy the design from the dress onto a piece of paper.
Un-thread your sewing machine and set it on a very long stitch length.
Stitch over the design, leaving holes in the paper.
Place the paper over the dress, then dust the stitching line lightly with either chalk dust or baby powder (any oil-free light colored powder will work).
Lift the paper straight up, off the dress, and little dots should remain where the powder went through the holes.
Carefully do your hand-beading along the stitching line.
Posted: 2:02 pm on July 3rd
patsy331 writes: I know how to sew but then again I don't remember hardly anything from my freshman class in high school. I dabbled in it when my daughter was little but then I had to go into the workforce. Now, I need to do something. I've had a stroke and I have other problems but my worst problem is having nothing to do. I have a sewing machine and I know the basics. I want to sew some pillows and other crafty things and then maybe some clothes. Baby steps first.
Posted: 6:29 pm on June 7th
Muria writes: Lacy701,
If you're looking for a design to put beads on sheer fabrics, there are lots of possibilities. Virtually any embroidery design can be used for this purpose, including the Aunt Martha iron on designs (there were more available a few years ago, when Sublime Stitching came out). You can also look at some of the fancier coloring books, and put the beads along the outlines. Dover Publishing is a good resource for that, though I can frequently find interesting designs in the coloring book rack in the kids section of Borders.

For copying the design that's already on your dress, it might work better to using some sturdy tracing paper, and do a rubbing over the beads (soft crayons, pastels, or even just pencil should work). If you're working on washable fabric, you can draw on the fabric itself with a sliver of white soap, for a design to follow. Good luck!
Posted: 11:37 am on May 28th
Lacy701 writes: Where can I find patterns for sewing beads on to sheer fabrics? I have a very pretty black dress, with sheer over the under dress,there are beads on the upper part of the dress,but there is also a run in the dress.I would like to add more beads to cover up the run.I would take the pattern from the top of the dress,and scan it ,but the dress is black,so the pattern is not showing up.I would go blind trying to figure it out.Any ideas would be great.Thank-You !!!
Posted: 1:50 am on May 28th
gurlzatwurk writes: A beautiful seam can also be created with a very narrow zig-zag sewn over a "filler" thread and then trimmed very close to the stitching. I used to sew my young daughters sheer blouses and used this method in the collars for a nearly invisible seam allowance.
Posted: 4:18 pm on May 27th
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