Cutting out chiffon

LizD_2

I bought some chiffon fabric to make a top, but it's really difficult to cut out, as the fabric stretches and 'moves' when you try to cut it. I did think of trying fabri-baste, but I'm not sure that'll stabilise it enough. Any ideas?

gooismeid

Ooh, I can sympathise. I had to make a chiffon coat to go over a wedding dress and spent a whole day cursing with a mouthful of pins while cutting it out. The only thing I can suggest is that you pin the pattern onto the chiffon, with an old sheet underneath, so you're cutting out two layers (i.e. chiffon and old sheet) at the same time. And use lots more pins than you'd normally use, even several in the middle of the pattern. I've never used fabri-baste so can't comment on whether it'd be useful.

frugalfairy_3

I've never seen fabri-baste, but would recommend that if your chiffon is washable (poly rather than silk, although silk is washable in cool water sometimes) you spray starch either the whole piece (I think you can get dissolvable starch sometimes now which would be easier to soak the whole thing in), or the edges where you're trying to cut. I always use a rotary cutter, quicker, and less likely to chew up the cut edges.

It will be easier to sew if starched as well. When you're finished, either bung the whole thing in the washing machine or give it a hand rinse to get rid of the starch.

Use a very sharp needle (microtex if you can get hold of one) to sew chiffon.

Cutting it out on a layer of pattern/tissue paper also helps but you have to have a table that's big enough to hold the entire fabric piece otherwise it will wriggle and slide everywhere.

Good luck!
FF xx

LizD_2

Good job I bought some brand-new needles at the weekend! I'll definetly give the starch a go and I do have a rotary cutter. If that doesn't work, I'll find some old sheets.

Can you get spray starch in supermarkets?

tr3mor

The title made me think you were giving chiffon up for lent!

LizD_2

:rotfl: That made me smile!

frugalfairy_3

Yes you can get spray starch with the washing powders etc. On reflection I would look for the stuff which you can dip the whole fabric piece in (I think it's by Dylon, in a bottle) as that chiffon is going to Wriggle.

Good luck with it, chiffon is a bear to tame but looks great when it's done.
FF

pol

I always used to pin it to newspaper or tissue and sew through both. It makes it easier to sew and the paper just peels off from the perforated edges of stitching. You could always try a little bit first.

pol

LizD_2

I googled it FF, looks like it's called easy starch and you just add it to the wash. Mr T appears to sell it.

Eels100

tr3mor wrote: »

The title made me think you were giving chiffon up for lent!

I thought the very same thing ... :rotfl:

frugalfairy_3

LizD wrote: »

I googled it FF, looks like it's called easy starch and you just add it to the wash. Mr T appears to sell it.

Yes that's it! Sorry, I don't shop at Mr T so I don't know the stock etc. Good luck, feel free to PM me if you have any other troubles (sewing! not much good at anything else :rotfl: ).

FF