Burda Style For people who sew

Anyone got any tips for sewing silk chiffon? Should I use a rotary cutter or scissors to cut out my pattern pieces? Should I use tissue paper to stablise while I sew? What’s the best way to hem? A serger rolled hem? I have so many questions! Any advice appreciated.

Jan 29, 2010, 11.11 AM by miss-g

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6 Posts

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  Jan 29, 2010, 12.39 PMby katexxxxxx

  I can do silk chiffon… I can even do it bias cut! :) best ideas that really work:

  Make sure the fabric is FLAT and RELAXED when you cut it. Lay it out on a table wide enough and long enough that you don’t need to move it once the pattern is laid out. Lay out the fabric and go away and let it relax for 10 minutes before you put the pattern on it.

  Weight the pattern down rather than pinning it.

  Yes, use a rotary cutter if you can. Try not to have to move the fabric between cutting pices, ot you’ll have to let it relax again once you have smoothed it out.

  Use the serger for seams if possible. Do rolled seams if you can. here is the technique and some other ideas for those who don’t have a serger: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Learning/sheer-seams/making_seams_in_sheer_fabrics.htm

  I find that there is no need to use tissue in the seams or for cutting: it blunts the cutter and is a total pain to get out of the seams!

  In addition to the silk chiffon gown, here are two more chiffon gowns, and some more ideas:

  http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Sewing_Projects/Weddingallery/Sarahflower.JPG

  http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Sewing_Projects/Anya/dressing_janneane.htm

  2 Replies

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    Jan 30, 2010, 03.46 AMby miss-g

    Thanks KateXXXXXX. You’re a legend! I’m planning to make Vogue V1160 – the DKNY dress – to wear to a wedding at Easter.

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    Jan 30, 2010, 05.24 AMby michelleiswell

    You have such good advice!

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  Jan 29, 2010, 03.12 PMby carolinam

  What do you put underneat the fabric if you use a rotary cutter? (i don’t want to destroy grandma’s table)

  3 Replies

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    Jan 29, 2010, 03.25 PMby brandymccoy

    a cutting mat

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    Jan 29, 2010, 08.45 PMby carolinam

    do you know were i can get one atable size? i’ve only seen small ones. But with the small ones i would have to remoove the fabric constantly

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    Jan 31, 2010, 12.36 AMby katexxxxxx

    I have several large cutting mats that I butt up aganst each other.

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  Jan 30, 2010, 01.15 AMby mlssfshn

  I don’t use a cutting mat because I warp them with my iron! I use Interstate Plastic 1/16’ thick abs plastic in white. I learned this from a friend who has a sewing studio and it’s less expensive.
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  Jan 31, 2010, 09.54 AMby carolinam

  thanks for the advise. I want to make a chifon dress too so this discussion topic is very good
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  Feb 18, 2010, 02.33 AMby hellesbelles86

  This is so helpful! I have recently started a sewing business and of course the first project I get would have to be a fabric I have never worked with (there aren’t many but chiffon is one of them)

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    Feb 18, 2010, 01.03 PMby katexxxxxx

    Like I tell the kids: it’s fabric! It doesn’t have any brain cells, and it never did have… Are you really going to let it get the better of you? ;)

    Is it silk chiffon or polyester chiffon? Here are a couple of projects I did with silk chiffon:

    Silk chiffon wedding skirt with Swarovski crystal motifs: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Sewing_Projects/Weddingallery/Sandra-All_finished.jpg

    Shaded silk bias cut gown: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Sewing_Projects/Weddingallery/finalfrock1.JPG

    Poly chiffon bridal gown: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Sewing_Projects/Weddingallery/Sarahflower.JPG

    Poly chiffon matron of honour project (beaded as well! Am I bonkers or what!) http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Sewing_Projects/Anya/dressing_janneane.htm

    Cutting is now easier than this last one as I have a much bigger and higher cutting area than the dining table!

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  Jun 9, 2011, 05.47 AMby Karen Nakagawa

  I cut my silk chiffon on the floor on top of a big fleece blanket. It stuck to it like velcro so it didn’t shift. Plus it was really easy to “right” the fabric grain and get it all lined up. I pinned through the blanket and it was easy to cut just the chiffon.