The April challenge for The Monthly Stitch WAS “put a bird on it”!
Well it is too late for that now … my cats chased after them and they all flew away – all that’s left is the feathers!
Guilty as charged! Just look at them!
Beginning of April, I purposefully went to my fabric shop to buy fabric with a “bird on it”. Nothing was to be found. I did, however, find a lovely light polyester chiffon with a colourful feather print. Luckily, I already had a solid white polyester in my stash. I used my Butterick pattern, B5988, tried ‘n true. It is such a TNT that I left the pattern pieces and instructions in the envelope and just used my traced pieces.
I wasn’t too sure how the fragile fabric would hold a seam so I French seamed all the chiffon, including the arm holes, like this:
Sew the wrong sides together!
Fold the seam over, iron, trim, and sew again, sewing the right sides together this time. As an added precaution, I zig zagged the seams too.
Finished French seam!
At the neckline, I sewed together both layers – the see-through chiffon and the solid white polyester. The only other place I attached the two layers was a couple of stitches under both arms. Then I bound the neckline edge with single fold bias tape.
Sewing single fold bias tape on the right side.
Folding it over the edge and sewing it on the inside.
I then realized after flipping and turning and sewing and some more flapping, the edges of my sleeves and hem were fraying. I spent a few days staring at my top trying to decide the best thing to do. I didn’t want a large hem. I would prefer to have no hem at all! Wonder Tape to the rescue!
So I trimmed the mess off. I applied the Wonder tape to the wrong side at the very edge, folded the hem up twice and sewed the narrow hem down. The Wonder tape gave my narrow hem some body, but was not stiff at all.
Just right! Now I have a lovely white top. This is probably the last time you will see it really white though, after I get through a day wearing it, who knows what colour it will be…. spaghetti sauce anyone?
Lovely shot of my big elbow.
Lovely shot of my big veined hand.
Does anyone else have any hints on sewing polyester chiffon?
Happy Sewing!
Cute top and what a great solution for the hem!
Thanks. I figure even if the Wonder tape inside wears off or washes out, I already have the sewing neatly in place!
Lovely top. I hate sewing chiffon, but have been known to dunk it in a gelatin solution to give it body. This works a treat. BTW I thought of you yesterday because someone said “nice dress” and I said “thanks I made it”!!
Thanks for the tip! Haha.. Yes, would you believe it, when someone says Nice dress to me I usually bite my tongue and say “Thank you!” I guess I’ve typed it too much! 😀
Isn’t it nice to be that time of year when we can start wearing the brighter fun colours? No more grey. I have no idea how to sew polyester chiffon, but your blouse looks lovely.
Thank you! I am happy for our weather… And thank you for reading and commenting!
This blouse is so pretty and delicate! I have worked with this fabric only once before and it is very hard to manage, I stay stitched my openings to cut down on the stretching and fraying, and used a brand new needle in my machine to make sure I didn’t have snags in the fabric. I love the wonder tape tip though the hem is perfect! Beautiful job and it looks nice on you 🙂
Thanks for the tips. Actually this is the first time for me. As usual I just had an idea and ran with it, doing the research afterwards!
Lovely fabric & pattern – brava for overcoming chiffon’s difficulties!
del
Thank you!
That’s great fabric! I’ve only worked with chiffon once and thought I’d lose what’s left of my mind. The fraying was over the top. The wonder tape idea is genius! It looks so great on you – – lovely and light for Spring. I’m tempted to try again…..
Thank you! I never even considered the fraying until I got to the hemming. Then it was too late and it took me a while to proceed again. Putting things down and going back to them is always the charm!
Lovely, fresh-looking fabric! Looks really pretty. Great tip on the hem, thank you! Will remember this for future reference.
Thank you!
First of all, I love that fabric more than words are capable of expressing. Secondly, I’ve never attempted a French seam; I’ll have to follow your tutorial sometime. Lastly, your cat rocks my world ! 🙂
Thank you! The two cats together are quite a sight! Never quiet in this house!
Paramedics love hands like yours! The tops lovely too! 😃
I get it! Lots of veins to poke needles in! Haha. Thanks!
Linda, you had me worried with all that talk about cats and birds, but I pressed on and ta-da a very pretty top. Nicely done!
Thank you! Gotta open with a BANG! Huh?
I LOVE this, Linda! And I hate sewing with poly chiffon, but I choose to do it anyway, time and time again, so THANK YOU for the wonder tape tip. Sorry for shouting so much, but I feel very strongly about this adorable top and helpful post.
Thank you very much for the praise! It is such beautiful fabric! I figure the whole point of blogging is to exchange ideas. My husband certainly isn’t interested in Wonder tape, nor I in sprockets, etc. I don’t mind the ALL CAPS yelling neither! 😃 We were just trying to explain to him the other day that ALL CAPS means yelling on the computer. He still does it. I think the poor lad’s button is stuck! 😃
Lovely top and expert sewing on the chiffon!
Thank you ver much!
I LOVE that fabric! The blouse looks very cute on you. 🙂 I hate sewing with lightweight fabric like this, so I sympathize with your pain regarding the hem!
Thank you! I am glad it all worked out.
Just lovely! That feather print is so pretty and so versatile.
Thank you!
Your top is beautiful. I can’t remember if I ever did work with chiffon when I did sew. I probably saw it fraying on the bolt and took a fast turn in the other direction.
Yes, I completely understand that. I wasn’t thinking or I would have run too!
It’s very pretty! The fabric looks so lovely and drapey.
Thank you!
Oho! That fabric is just gorgeous! Glad you managed to save it! 😀
Thank you!
Enjoyed reading how you handled the chiffon and how you attached the lining to the fashion fabric. Gave me some ideas for future garments. Beautiful top!
Thank you! Good luck with your future projects. It’s lovely what can be accomplished with the right tools – needles, settings, Wonder tape….. Patience! 🙂
Your top is so fun to wear! I have only sewn with chiffon once and I made something very simple. And I didn’t think it was easy. I think that if I were to sew with chiffon again i will need to have a good few hours so that I can do the cutting and sewing and hemming all in one go. Otherwise, if the fraying and fabric distortion may get to be too cumbersome.
Thank you. I found the Wonder tape, or a similar product, completely fixed the fraying.