Little girl dresses cute, old-fashioned
Dear Vicki: I would love to be able to make sweet little dresses for my granddaughters. Thanks. — Marj G.
Dear Marj: I love the Children’s Corner patterns; they are so detailed and, I guess, oldfashioned and cute. The pattern called “Aprons: Carol Apron & Jenni Leigh” is the one you want.
It has several variations in one envelope — one has a bit of smocking, one is plain with buttons down the back and one has a side front buttoning with a pocket. All have Peter Pan collars and puffed sleeves.
There are two different patterns for sizes: one for 6-18 months and one for 2-4 years. If you need me to send the pattern to you, send me a check for $15.
Dear Vicki: My husband gave me a serger, and I’m super excited about it. But … he bought it from a source that doesn’t provide any lessons, help or advice. I’m doing pretty well, but can you explain what differential feed means? Also, I tried to use the rolled hem, and as I was stitching, the whole edge just peeled off like a caterpillar. Any help would be great. Thanks. — Pam B. Dear Pam: First, what a nice husband! Now, find a store where you can get help and be happy to pay.
Now to your question: What is differential feed? Look under the presser foot and you will see that the feed dogs are in two pieces. Normally they work in tandem, but when you engage the differential — say, to 1.5 or 2 — then the front feed dogs start to move faster, and this encourages your fabric to ease in more quickly. The result is that fabrics that stretch out of shape now behave and sew flat.
When you are putting on an edge and you come to the curves, just bump up the differential and then bring it back to neutral for the straight sides. If you move the differential the opposite way, to less than 1, then the fabric is stretched. So this is for fabrics that want to curl; now you can flatten them. But it is also the way you can make lettuce leaf edges — so cute for the hems of little girls’ T-shirts.
Each week I share a reader’s tip and reward him or her with a set of 100 fine English hand-sewing needles. This week the tip is from Linda Mueller, of Sunset Hills, Mo.
“When I position the buttons and buttonholes on a jacket or blouse, I use double-stick tape and place it where I think the buttons should go. And then I know just how the fit will work, and I can avoid the gap that sometimes happens when you miss the tip of the bust.”