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Burda 7977 Sideless Surcoat - Revisited

Started by Escarlata, September 03, 2008, 06:53:09 AM

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Escarlata

Long long ago and far far away .... oh wait, wrong fairy tale.

Anyway, back on the old boards, we had a thread for a group of us who were working with this pattern. I think the rest of you all got finished. I never did but am back on the project now, thanks to the Ranger who kept Prussia occupied and out of the middle of the pattern pieces. I need some advice please.

Here are a couple of key points before I ask questions:

  • I am NOT going for historical accuracy
  • I am using recycled material - cotton velvet upholstery grade, not stiff, almost no nap, limited quantity
  • I have cut the front and back pieces
  • I've had to narrow the godet and cut as four pieces rather than on the fold

Now for the questions:


  • What is the purpose of the front and back extensions? If it's just to add length to the hem, I did that by cutting the front and back longer. Do I still need the extensions?
  • They call for a hem facing that is almost a foot deep. Is it really necessary? I'll have to piece material to do it.
  • Other than restricting the length of my stride, what kind of problems am I going to run in to for having narrowed the godet and having to seam it?
Esc be no lady!
Bringing Good and Bad Dreams...as appropriate
FaireNews-spreading the Joy of Faire, one post at a time

Kate XXXXXX

Quote from: Escarlata on September 03, 2008, 06:53:09 AM
Long long ago and far far away .... oh wait, wrong fairy tale.

Anyway, back on the old boards, we had a thread for a group of us who were working with this pattern. I think the rest of you all got finished. I never did but am back on the project now, thanks to the Ranger who kept Prussia occupied and out of the middle of the pattern pieces. I need some advice please.

Here are a couple of key points before I ask questions:

  • I am NOT going for historical accuracy
  • I am using recycled material - cotton velvet upholstery grade, not stiff, almost no nap, limited quantity
  • I have cut the front and back pieces
  • I've had to narrow the godet and cut as four pieces rather than on the fold

Now for the questions:


  • What is the purpose of the front and back extensions? If it's just to add length to the hem, I did that by cutting the front and back longer. Do I still need the extensions?

I shouldn't think so.  If you look at the pattern envelope, the picture doesn't have a seam across it.  The extensions get added to the pattern before cutting.  They print it like this to save paper.

[quote/]
  • They call for a hem facing that is almost a foot deep. Is it really necessary? I'll have to piece material to do it.
[/quote]

Make the facing out of some lesser fabric.  The whole thing may need the width for weight...  Experiment a bit with something less grand than the velvet.

[quote/]
  • Other than restricting the length of my stride, what kind of problems am I going to run in to for having narrowed the godet and having to seam it?
[/quote]

None...  Just be careful when pressing the seam.

Escarlata

Thanks, Kate, I appreciate the answers. They were just what I was hoping to hear. Well, not the hem facing part, I was really hoping to do away with that part. I wondered if weight was the purpose.
Esc be no lady!
Bringing Good and Bad Dreams...as appropriate
FaireNews-spreading the Joy of Faire, one post at a time

Anna Iram

Esc, mine is made from a lightweight fabric and has no facing or trim at the hem at all.  I've noticed no problem with it needing more weight. I do wear it over an underskirt and I do have the side pieces (godets?) Mine are actually made a bit longer than the front or back as I was told that was how it was done. I then wear it knotted or tucked . I should think even with a narrowed godet you could still get that look.

Escarlata

Thanks, Anna. I've seen yours in person and couldn't remember you having the wide hem facing.

I'm planning on using a contrasting bias tape to bind the edges of the neck and side openings. I wonder if I could just run a zigzag stitch on the raw edge to prevent raveling and then put the tape on without the interfacing?

Curved seams are NOT my friends. I never seem to get them to lie smoothly.
Esc be no lady!
Bringing Good and Bad Dreams...as appropriate
FaireNews-spreading the Joy of Faire, one post at a time

Kate XXXXXX

That seams (giggle) like a perfect way to finish the edges to me.  The interfacing gets applied to the facings, and if you miss those out and bind the edges, there's no place for the interfacing in your construction.

Escarlata

YAY!!! I hoped it would work that way. Thanks, Kate, for the confirmation and the chuckle.

OK, the next phase of this project won't happen until sometime Friday when the seamstress who's making the underdress (strange fabric choice, my machine just won't handle it) brings it over for a fitting. We'll make the corresponding "adjustments" to the overdress and then I can begin sewing.

See, nothing is ever done just the way the pattern is designed with me. I have to tweak it to make it my own. Thus the NOT historically accurate disclaimer.
Esc be no lady!
Bringing Good and Bad Dreams...as appropriate
FaireNews-spreading the Joy of Faire, one post at a time

uhurainmi

 Escarlata,
I am thinking of making just such a garment. I think I know what you are talking about. Would you be so kind as to post a photo?

Good luck with your surcoat.

Cindy
Fortunately, ah keep mah feathers numbered...for just such an emergency.

Kate XXXXXX

Quote from: Escarlata on September 03, 2008, 03:31:00 PM
YAY!!! I hoped it would work that way. Thanks, Kate, for the confirmation and the chuckle.

OK, the next phase of this project won't happen until sometime Friday when the seamstress who's making the underdress (strange fabric choice, my machine just won't handle it) brings it over for a fitting. We'll make the corresponding "adjustments" to the overdress and then I can begin sewing.

See, nothing is ever done just the way the pattern is designed with me. I have to tweak it to make it my own. Thus the NOT historically accurate disclaimer.

OK, you'll have to tell me about this fabric and your machine?  Why won't they play nice together?  What is the fabric?  And which machine do you have?

And as for not following the pattern...  Well, WHO does THAT???   :o :o

;D ;D ;D

Escarlata

Cindy, the pattern I'm working with is the Burda 7977. There are quite a few members who made the outfit last fall but I never got around to getting mine done. I don't know if any of the pictures survived the hackattack. Maybe someone will post a picture of their completed dress or point us to the correct thread to see them.

Kate, you're getting all the confessions from me today. The poor machine in question is a Singer Student machine, very basic, but tough as nails. I love it but ... I'm not good to it or with it. If the material stretches at all, I end up with a huge mess. Plus I don't have the right needles for this material. The material I chose stretches ... a lot! Enough that we're not going to have the back lacing on it, it'll just go on over my head.
Esc be no lady!
Bringing Good and Bad Dreams...as appropriate
FaireNews-spreading the Joy of Faire, one post at a time

Kate XXXXXX

Darling, ya GOTTA be nice to your sewing machine!  Then it will play nice with you...  Give it a good clean every time you use it, check the manual for lubrication advice (it may not have any, in which case DO NOT OIL!  Leave lubrication to the service engineer), and use a new needle of the correct type and size for every project.  Tough fabrics may require more needles per project as they do get blunt.  If you hit a pin or otherwise damage the needle, change it right away.  Take the machine for servicing every year - more often if you use it lots!

For stretch fabric, you MUST use a stretch needle of the correct type for the fabric (well, that goes for ALL fabrics, really!).  Ball point/knit needles are for T shirt type knits, Stretch & Super Stretch for knits with Lycra/Spandex.  Use the right size needle for the weight of fabric.  For woven stretch fabrics, you might need a microtex needle.  ALWAYS use good quality needles.  I like Schmetz.

If you can, lessen the presser foot pressure for working with finer fabrics of all types, and get a walking foot (like this, for those who have never seen one: http://www.clotilde.com/images/products/closeups/4212_1.jpg)  A walking foot has built-in feed dogs that grip the upper layer of fabric that's traveling through the sewing machine and feed it through the machine at the same time as the machine's feed dogs, which grip the underside of the fabric. This helps keep the layers from shifting apart as they move through the sewing machine.  It's especially useful with stretch fabrics, things with pile, and multiple layers.  I also use it to help keep checks and stripes lined up...

For stretch fabrics and those that are inherently stretchy even without Lycra, and for bias cut things, I always use stretch seam techniques.  Ignore the stretch stitches on the machine: they tend to be slow, lumpy, thread-hungry, and not very stretchy!  Use a small stitch and a narrow zigzag, like this: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Learning/Bridesmaid_horror_story/stitchingjpg.jpg  Look at the RIGHT half of the picture, where I replaced the original paler stitching.  It's not easy to see as the thread is a really good match!  Use a 3 step zigzag to neaten the edges.

Never give up!  Never surrender!  It's fabric.  You REALLY gonna let something with fewer brain cells than an amoeba get the better of you?   :-* :-*

Escarlata

*chuckling* I'm not letting it win, just choosing the battles I want to fight. Kathleen, my seamstress, does some wonderful work for me at a very reasonable price. That leaves me time to do the simple straight line, easy fabric sewing and to work on FaireNews.

Went and looked, it's a Singer Graduate, model 6705. My Mom picked it up 20 some odd years ago at a school surplus auction. No manual, missing one foot which is compensated for by a block of wood in the sewing table, etc, but it does what I ask of it. It needs a good service badly but our only shop went out of business. I've not been able to find another less than an hour drive away and then they want to keep it for at least a week. So I blow it out with canned air and hope for the best.
Esc be no lady!
Bringing Good and Bad Dreams...as appropriate
FaireNews-spreading the Joy of Faire, one post at a time

Anna Iram

I hear the thud of half a dozen seamstresses hitting the floor in a dead faint from that canned air comment. ;D

Esc, it may be thata longer search will bring up an exact manual, but if not perhaps this will help you with the basics:


http://tinyurl.com/62d522

Kate XXXXXX

#13
 ;D ;D  Yeah, like someone once said, suck, don't blow!  ;D ;D

I use a gadget that fits the Dyson, like this: http://www.centralvacuumfactory.com/images/AT421-2.jpg

SweUSA has a 6704 manual you can buy...  Just scroll down.  http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine_Manuals/Singer_Sewing_Machine.htm  It may be worth it as they may not be all that different.  Yay!  Another site says that's the one to use, if you scroll through THEIR list!     :D :D

Nothing wrong with old sewing machines.  I got plenty of them!   ;D

uhurainmi

Thanks Escarlata,

Duh! I just looked it up. That is EXACTLY the kind of thing I want to make but had no pattern. I must be in tune with the universe at least a little bit, things have been coming TO ME like this, a lot lately.

Cindy
Fortunately, ah keep mah feathers numbered...for just such an emergency.