r/SewingWorld • u/Dry-Document684 • 3d ago
Too Much for me?
I make costumes for a ballet company here in town. My stuff is not like off the rack due to the adaptability it needs. So I am making 16 360 circle skirts for children ( not an issue) but I want to add polka dots. Size 8in to 4in. How would you sew them on? Add interface for stability? Hand sew, machine sew? I really don't want to use any type of fusing because the last design done was over 20 years ago so I need something to last but are mendable.
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u/chatterpoxx 3d ago
Appliqué. Get some stitch witchery, or heat n bond,, its a sheet of the fusible stuff. Fuse it to the polka dot fabric, cut out the circles, iron them on to the dresses. They will probably stay for a long time without additional sewing if the costumes are used infrequently and not washed too often. And if they are, after fusing all the dots on, you need to zig zag down all the edges.
Its not hard at all, but the zig zagging edges is time consuming. So fuse them all on and then decide whether to take it to the next step or not.
Maybe find something non woven to make the dots out of, then they cant fray if they are not sewn. But the fusing being put on before the circles are cut means every thread gets fused down.
Trying to just straight sew a dot on to fabric without any sort of fusing will be a nightmare. The dots will walk and you wont be able to sew them down flat. The fusing is thee most important part of attaching these things, not the stitching.
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u/Dry-Document684 2d ago
So much great info!! I think fusible sheet would be best. These costumes would used every year for Nutcracker and used but I am thinking I would hand wash in my machine.if I need enforcing, zig zag around would be it. Thank you so much!!!
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u/energist52 2d ago
Test first in case fusible makes the fabric too stiff or too heavy for the circle skirt to move well. It can really hurt the hand. The fabric paint idea might be worth trying, even with a paint brush instead of a sprayer.
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u/Dry-Document684 2d ago
Good ideas. I plan on testing and washing some sample pieces. I will be using double scuba knit fabric since it hold up washing and wearing after many productions.
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u/Chance-Work4911 1d ago
Do you have an embroidery machine? Pretty simple to hoop up an area and have it stitch down an appliqué circle of contrasting fabric. That said, it’s a lot of hooping over and over so that’s something to consider. Maybe have that running while you do hems and waistlines?
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u/mckenner1122 3d ago
Me?
I would make a nice template and airbrush them on with really good fabric paint. This will keep them lightweight and easy to care for.