anyone have any helpful hints for making darts not pucker? i am not having much luck! thanks
maggie

Here's a link to a really good explanation:
>http://www.timmelfabrics.com/darts.htm

There are other helpful articles on the site; as well, the lady writes articles for a really good website called "sew-whats-new.com" (if you are interested). Good luck!

wow that is a great link! i think i just need to practice. i already see that i did 800 things wrong with the skirt i was working on.

thanks!

I am not a sewer, but for some reason I remember being told by my gramma and my mom that the top reasons for pucker in general are:

1) Too-tight thread tension.

2) Holding your fabric too tight when sewing.

And it sounds like that link is faboo.

Wish I had the courage to sew. Oh, and a sewing machine...

Many sewers (including myself) forget that ironing is their best friend. Remember to iron those things and your seams and your hems. Harumph. Kind of takes the fun out doesn't it.

Hi Robotgirl,
I just saw your post. I am really happy that you liked the link! I used to just follow the pattern directions when sewing, but now since I've discovered all these great, informative sites my technique (I don't mean to sound hoity toity here)has really improved. One thing that I have learned about commercial patterns (that is, if you are using one), is that they omit alot of important steps. They assume the home sewer is looking for a "quick and easy" way of creating garments. Which is kind of odd, since if I wanted to take the easy way out I'd just buy all of my clothes at the mall. Also, you might want to check out the Claire Shaeffer books. Most of her books are compilations of really helpful tips and techniques. At any rate, good luck!

ha ha, actually i never use patterns, which is probably part of my problem. i am always either reconstructing existing garments (which is what i was trying to do last night--take a dress and make it into a skirt) or just making it up as i go along. my dad's girlfriend always tries to help me and gets really exasperated when she asks me what the pattern says and i reply "uh...what pattern?" i have a hard time with patterns--they always fit wonky!

anyway, i wore the skirt today anyway. i sit at a desk all day, and with all the sitting wrinkles you can't even tell, ha ha.

Hi again,
Good to hear that everything worked out well! I myself am learning to draft my own patterns. Well, right now I am mainly reading up on it (to lazy to make a trip to the fabric store). I found some great reference books from, actually, 1970 at my local library and I am debating whether or not to drop $100 on a pattern drafting textbook which is supposed to really good. Just so you know, there are alot of books at the library and in the store which show you how to alter commercial patterns to fit your frame exactly. It takes alot of the frustration out of sewing, which is supposed to be relaxing anyway! It's funny because I had never thought of reconstructing clothing until I came across a few threads on this site. People come up with some awesome stuff, from looking at their pictures! :)

it is totally worth it to get the text book. ONLY because it goes in depth about patterns and show you how to create something from ANY design. i am actually trying to get more books on stuff like that. i have a text book i found at a thrift store for like 13 bux. worth every penny. i read it every weekend.

pattern fit wonky = learn to alter and fit patterns properly!

Seriously,this is the absolute most useful thing to learn how to do EVER. You'll learn how to alter exisiting patterns, which will help you to learn construction tecniques, which will help you desconstruct exisiting clothes, and get you started on learning how to draft.

Go to the library and take out some sewing books on how to fit clothes to yourself and alter patterns, and then make your designs out of crappy fabric first, and fit it to you. Short of drafting your own patterns (which for me requires way too much time thinking about the design of the garment in the first place), it's the best way to get a custom fit.

Jen

thanks for the tips. i am just now starting to want to learn how to really sew, rather than just doing everything the half-assed maggie way. but some of that stuff (like fitting) seems so daunting. i just need to practice i guess!

i recently acquired my own machine so now that my sewing time is not dependant on when i can borrow a machine, i hope to get a little more serious.

Robotgirl,

Haha.
But I totally know what you mean about being dependant! I recently acquired my mother's computerized sewing machine (again, not trying to act hoity toity or anything). It was so funny because she used it, like, twice but NEVER let me touch it. So it was either good old hand-sewing or borrowing someone else's (which is such a pain). So mostly, I knitted when I was feeling crafty...I have learned alot from my library books,though...it isn't hard at all. Anyways, have fun!