Hi all. I am truly new to reconstructing clothing, but I love the idea. My hubbie has been doing it for years, before we met. He uses old curtains for all kinds of coats and interesting clothing.
My question here is with sweaters.
First, to say we got a serger recently and I have seen some reconstructed sweater pictures with serged edges. From start to finish, how does a person take two sweaters and make them into one? There was a picture on here or on someone's profile of a gorgeous dress made out of I think 3 sweaters all in a red/pink color range. Wow, I want to do stuff like THAT! Plus the adorable little sweater/shrug picture on here.
Can you just cut and serge or do you need to bind off the edges of the knitting first? Can you cut pieces out of a sweater in any direction or just one?
I had heard that with a regular sewing machine, you sew behind the edge you want to detach from the original piece (like a sleeve) then cut it off and go back and bind those edges, but it seems with serging, the serger would be doing the binding by holding it all in place?
THANKS!
My question here is with sweaters.
First, to say we got a serger recently and I have seen some reconstructed sweater pictures with serged edges. From start to finish, how does a person take two sweaters and make them into one? There was a picture on here or on someone's profile of a gorgeous dress made out of I think 3 sweaters all in a red/pink color range. Wow, I want to do stuff like THAT! Plus the adorable little sweater/shrug picture on here.
Can you just cut and serge or do you need to bind off the edges of the knitting first? Can you cut pieces out of a sweater in any direction or just one?
I had heard that with a regular sewing machine, you sew behind the edge you want to detach from the original piece (like a sleeve) then cut it off and go back and bind those edges, but it seems with serging, the serger would be doing the binding by holding it all in place?
THANKS!
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Washington
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Re: sewing sweaters
Thu, October 25, 2007 - 3:26 PMI just cut and then sew with a zig zag stitch on a regular machine. The tricky part is to avoid creating waves in the fabric, you need to be really clear about feeding fabric steadily into the machine.
I tend to design as I go. The last one I did, I cut out the side seam and under arm seam in one sweater, cut lengths of fabric (along grain) to fit as strips running along those old seams, then added length to the bottom and the ends of the sleeves in the contrast fabric, a trim piece around the neck, and some appliqué type pieces to the front. I do one thing, try it on, leave it for a day, decide what else it needs, add that, let it sit again, etc. etc. until it feels complete. This last project took about a week from first cut to finished product.
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Re: sewing sweaters
Thu, October 25, 2007 - 10:40 PMwow, do you have any photos? (I checked out your page and photos but didn't see anything). I would love to see an example of your work.
Also, do you sew the zig zag to keep it from fraying/unraveling, then sew it together? -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Tue, October 30, 2007 - 9:50 PMFinally got the photo posted, in the photos album with the name heart sweater.
No, I don't zig zag first. But that green sweater could have used it. It shed everywhere. -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Wed, October 31, 2007 - 9:22 AMwow that is sooooo cool! Thanks!
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Re: sewing sweaters
Sat, October 27, 2007 - 11:44 AMi just did a big project with sweaters i've been collecting for a while...
i made sure all the sweaters were wool, then felted them all by running them through the washing machine and dryer on the hottest settings.
once they were all done, i cut off some arms to use for legwarmers, the zippers/buttons/necklines/hems for whatever else i'll use them for.
i basically ended up with a bunch of felted fabric that i cut into strips and serged together to make a new sweater, one that is super warm, long enough to let me move and keep me covered (don't you hate getting on your bike and getting wind on your back above your pants line?!?!), and with sleeves that don't feel like i can fit a small child in with me.
it was fun, and i kind of made it up as i went along.
i love my serger!
burning brightly and flying high,
shireen -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Mon, October 29, 2007 - 7:07 AMThanks! it sounds like serging sweaters really works well. And finding some at the thrift store and revamping them won't cost a lot if I make a mistake....it is worth a try!
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Re: sewing sweaters
Thu, November 1, 2007 - 7:45 AMSewing a zig zag seam next to the edge you want to cut is going to be most helpful.
It just holds everything together.
Having a vision unravel in your hands is heartbreaking. -
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Unsu...
Re: sewing sweaters
Fri, November 23, 2007 - 1:48 AMI just cut and serge with 4 threads instead of 3, no need to felt unless it's part of the design concept. The stitches are very durable no pulling away, it's withstood years of chihuaua nails-abuse from my dog and her wardrobe of reconstructed cashmere sweaters.
Use regular patterns! -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Fri, November 23, 2007 - 11:41 AMvery cool, the serger is an amazing tool
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Re: sewing sweaters
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 1:12 PMSo what if you don't have a serger? I have a regular Singer 534 and a sweater dress that I desperately want to turn into something wearable. I have a design in mind but I'm wondering if just a zigzag stich on a regular machine will work to keep it together. -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Tue, November 27, 2007 - 4:33 PMI haven't had any troubles using the zig zag stitch on my regular machine, an older viking. If the knit is really loose, you have to be careful not to stretch the fabric as you sew. My machine has a stretch zig zag that I use if I need the seam to have a lot of give. -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Thu, November 29, 2007 - 4:34 PMThe knit is really tight - it's a sweater dress that's meant to stand on it's own so the stich is kinda small and really tight. I think I wil try the zigzag on my machine and going from there. -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Wed, December 12, 2007 - 7:26 PMif your serger has differential feed, definitely use it instead of the regular machine. It will eliminate that waviness which used to drive me nuts when reconstructing knits. Merino wool, cashmere, soft fuzzy acrylic all works great for this kind of project, though i have sewn all sorts of knits with the serger. -
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Re: sewing sweaters
Tue, January 8, 2008 - 3:23 PMyou can use a zigzag for sure.
Another trick if you're doing it with a sewing machine is to sew first, then cut the edges down afterwards - like, if you're going to make legwarmers, DON"T cut the top to where you ideally would, but give yourself the maximum length, then zigzag the edge, THEN cut, same as you would if you were turning tights in to knee highs.
I use my serger unless i'm making a specific style choice for rough edges. For seaming two pieces together i'll pull the cutter all the way out ( maximum stitch width) and also increase stitch length by a couple numbers so that i don't wind up with super bulky seams. I'll also pull the differential up one or two notches for good measure.
For the ends, i'll actually go back to 3 threads though, increase differential, and do a narrow stitch with maximum width ( As opposed to pushing in more threads with 4 threads or choosing a rolled hem option)
it seems to get the flattest result, and im not big on sloppy, ruffly hems unless that was a specific choice. Then again, if you want the lettuce hem option it's SUPER easy to minimize stitch length, drop the differential, and go for it ! Very effective.
enjoy the sweaters
make sure to keep an air purifier going when you're working with old clothes - the dust will make you sneeze for DAYS ! -
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Unsu...
Re: sewing sweaters
Fri, January 18, 2008 - 9:41 PM....or clean your vintage materials before you start working. No dust!
I've found that the zig zag makes that wavy pulling more than the serger.
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Re: sewing sweaters
Mon, March 31, 2008 - 12:32 AMI have also pinned white tissue paper(the kind you use in gift bags) on the top and bottom fabric and it feeds through pretty easily
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