Sewing Curves- made easy! (19087 Views)

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  Step 1 of 7

  Curves are so common in sewing. Necessary for princess seams, sleeves, and especially to create interesting style lines and details, these appear to be simple to sew but can often be a bit of a headache. To achieve a smooth curve like this, try these simple steps.
  

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  Step 2 of 7

  You will find that making a convex curve fit into a concave one can be very difficult to do unless you can somehow make the concave curve wider or the convex curve smaller.

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  Step 3 of 7

  So, BEFORE SEWING,

  Mark on both pieces the Apex of each curve. This will serve as a useful guide when sewing.

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  Step 4 of 7

  Clip the concave curve to increase the flexibility of the fabric (Straight or slightly biased snips of the scissor straight to the seam line, but not through it!)

  Clip v-shaped notches into the Convex curve to the seam line to reduce the amount of fabric in the seam allowance.

  You can do this for just one side of the piece or for both. With some fabrics it is easier to have one clean piece---less threads flying about.

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  Step 5 of 7

  You will find it much easier to now pin the pieces together. Fan out the concave curve and pin down over the convex curve. Make sure to align the center of the arcs.

  While sewing, you can smooth out any puckers or tucks. You will do this again when pressing.

  Now you have a smooth curvilinear seam, with out too much misery. You can use this technique to make any body-conforming seam easier, as well as sleeves and insets.

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  Step 6 of 7

  The next time you have a simple bodice, slash a curve through it (don't forget to add seam allowance) and maybe even a contrasting fabric. You will find this detail is used to enhance simple silhouettes, for example, when used by Proenza Schouler in their oh-so-popular 2003 collections. And if you're feeling adventurous, try doing this with piping for a really enticing and tailored look.

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  Step 7 of 7

  This technique can be used when sewing together all of curves of the Stella jacket.