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I have been sewing since I was 9 years old (now 70) and never thought to hold up fabric and follow the drape! Thank you,I have again learnt something new (never too old) Sue UK xx

I have done your trick. It can also be done on a long clothesline if you have trouble holding the fabric up. It's more fiddly because you have to go to one end, open the peg, move the fabric a bit and then go to the other end... rinse and repeat, but it does work. I'm pretty tall, so I have a good wingspan and usually do that, but I had to do the clothesline method when I was having trouble with one of my shoulders.

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

Oh what a good tip! This would definitely be an aid of you had trouble lifting your arms as you did. I'm sure someone else will find this tip valuable too! 😀

Sometimes the selvedge is the problem, not the grainline. The fabric will not lie flat if the selvedge is woven tighter than the main fabric. In that case, cut off the selvedge, making sure the cut extends into the main fabric. If some of the selvedge remains, the distortion may remain. Garment industry often removes the selvedge before cutting pattern pieces. I have woven some wonderful rugs using the cut-off selvedge from both knit and woven fabrics.

@pattytalbot8830

Жыл бұрын

Very smart!

I did not hear if you mentioned the stretch technique (I did have some distractions while watching). If the fabric's grain got pulled out of shape either in prewash, drying, or in storage, stretch it! Takes 2 people. Grab the corners and pull the opposites, hard, and hold for a half to full minute. Do both diagonals. Check to see if one diagonal needs more. That has fixed a number of fabrics I've worked with over the years.

@marigrace3865

2 жыл бұрын

Yes thats what my mother taught me.

I do that drapey thing when I'm folding laundry, especially RTW t-shirts. The grain is never right, so I grab the shirt by the bottom and sort of slide the fabric until the grain is lined up. Yeah, I*'m a little nuts when it comes to laundry folding.

Makes me realise that after sewing for 30 plus years, there are still so many things I didn’t learn properly from the outset. I really enjoy all of your videos

I drape to settle the grain all of the time because fabric isn't always rolled onto the bolt straight either. What this means in practice is that the start and stop cuts made by the retailer are parallel to each other but equally off grain when examined more closely. It is demoralizing because it can mean up to a quarter yard loss on each end. 😢😢😢

@annettebroomhall8617

2 жыл бұрын

I feel you. Personally, I buy extra fabric just in case. A half metre adds to the cost but lessens the frustration. Every few years of extra little bits and you can have a patchwork dress lol

I LOVE your videos! I've been sewing for over 60 years and am not ashamed to say I learned something today - maneuvering the grain by sliding fabric through one's fingers is brilliantly simple. I've dealt with this situation before, but always by laying the material out on a large table and moving it around until the grain "settled". Your way is much better! And just a note; I THINK I saw evidence of some overcast stitching on the cut edges of your fabric. This is something I always do prior to washing any woven cuts as otherwise you'll end up with strings, snarls, knots and a big twisted mess if something is not done to prevent it. I always wash in cold water with a gentle wash, gentle rinse and if washing more than one fabric at a time, I add Color Catchers to prevent color transferring. One of the best things I've ever done for my own sewing satisfaction is to purchase the Bootstrap Fashion pattern and make my own body double dress form. I used a good tight fabric to make it and the results were great. As someone on the (ahem!) 'larger' size it allows me to make my toile and easily decide what alterations I need to make before cutting my fashion fabric. It eliminates a lot of frustration. And once again, despite my experience, I still love learning something new and YOU are a WONDERFUL source for new tips and techniques - thank you so much!

Fabulous tutorial!! Belle chemisier, Evelyn❤ In my early days of sewing, back in the 17th century😉 finding the grain in cotton fabrics was usually as simple as tearing across the width of fabric...now, as you have shown...we have to outmanuver the manufacturing process. But it can be done!

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

Rhonda what great way to put it! And yes, we can make it work! 😀

@cherylp.3347

2 жыл бұрын

Ok that was my question. On wovens , I always just tore the end across the width- selvage to selvage - to get a straight end and then pressed it well matching the selvage. Or picked a thread all the way across. Is this ok?

What I was taught over 50 years ago was to either pull a thread or rip from salvage to salvage. Then lay the fabric down with the salvages even and pull opposite corners until the ripped edges line up. Many is the time I laid fabric down the hall with my hubby at one end and me at the other pulling and folding until the fabric squared up. I never thought to just follow the pattern on the fabric if it was printed off.

@yettaoshea8869

2 жыл бұрын

This was always how I trued the grain. It always works. The only downside is that you need a partner.

@Midlife_Manical_Mayhem

2 жыл бұрын

this is how i was taught also. except to do it alone, start at one corner and stretch/tug on the diagnal until you get to the other corner. turn so as to now do the same, but from the opposing corners.

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

It's good to have sewing helpers right 😄

@marilynbook4211

2 жыл бұрын

@@yettaoshea8869 I have done it on my own as well but only on small amounts of fabric. Like Midlife Maniacal Mayhem sometimes I had to do it a bit at a time.

@gillianwhaites5974

2 жыл бұрын

I square up backing fabric for quilts on my longarm quilting frame be pinning the selvedge on one side and tugging the other end of the fabric until it goes where it should and it gets pinned to the opposite leader. Spritzing with water helps as well. I use these techniques with sewing prep as well.

Super common problem! Most recently, if steaming and tugging it into shape hasn't done the trick, I have decided to go with the pattern rather than fretting too much - as you said, that is the most visually obvious aspect of the fabric that needs to be right. Excellent tutorial as ever, thanks, Evelyn!

Ugh! Skewed grainlines, the bane of my existence. If I can't get the fabric to obey me, I just let the fabric do what it does. Watching this video, I'm so glad to know that I've been doing it right all a long. I just make sure the selvages line up.

This couldn't have showed up at a more perfect time!

omg yes! I feel like this is such a critical step in ensuring the final piece actually hangs correctly but no one talks about this! Thank you so much for this video!

I had this problem just a few weeks ago. It was a stubborn knit. I used the trick of single cutting the pieces -- worked perfectly. I had learned that trick from working with silks and slick fabrics. Knowing different ways to deal with off grains is an important skill! Thank you for covering this.

I never thought of that. Thank you! I have some fabric I can use that on.👏👏👏

My god, thank you! I just prewashed a patterned fabric. The pattern was running diagonal to the grain. I thought I had messed it up in the prewash. I pulled a crossgrain thread and found out the pattern was printed askew. Thank you again!

That was a great reminder!! I am sure we all have had a beautiful purchased blouse that once washed, the button band is no longer vertical.

I learned to pull the fabric on the bias, by grabbing the opposite corners. This often requires a helper, if the yardage exceeds your arms length. I also learned to pull a thread and then cut along the line that is formed, and then align the cut edges.

I was taught to get a second person, and to stretch the fabric (fairly firmly) on the bias both ways between you, then snap the fabric up and down to get the grain line to settle and sort itself out. The trick was to not have one of you lose their grip on the fabric during the process. Seemed to work quite well.

This is so informational! Fantastic video! I love knowing "the why" behind things.

Thanks for this video it really helped me trying to figure out grain line on my fabric.it was a piece of remnant from the end of the bolt.

I always do the selvage method over my cutting table & walk my fingers over till it's straight. Then gently lay it down.

My grandmother and mother used to use the draping trick -- being very tall with a long wingspan has it's advantages! Thanks for your videos!

I've used the last method alot. Here in the US alot of fabric is rolled on the bolt uneven. I always match stripe, print, then selvedges, disregarding the cut ends. I mostly quilt. I have hand cut my stripe fabric to be sure it is straight with the stripe. When sewn in, it conforms to the proper shape. I've never had it pucker or twist after pressing in place.

Your videos are amazing and I love them all

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

Thankyou for watching! I'm so glad you found it useful!

I'm a quilter and that is how we fix the grain, hold it up and then straighten the edge. Thank you

Great explanation! After a day of playing in my sewing room with my fabric crumbs, I get to watch your video! Thank you for your inspiration, your art and positive energy!

@romonaelrod7870

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Brenda,I watch your videos.

Oh my goodness! What wonderful tips! My sewing is now going to another level! Thank you for these solutions! As always… i love all the knowledge and tips you share in your videos!

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

Eljay it makes my day to hear it! I can't wait to see your skills grow and what you create! 😀

This has been so good. Thank-you. With knits, plain ones, I get down and try to look along the 'grain' line and align my pattern pieces with this. Your last method is what I use for wovens. Your advice on dealing with patterned fabric was very helpful.

I do the drape method, line it up and then pin selvedges together so it won’t move as you use it. With calico I was taught to tear it across grain, and then steam, and place the calico on a table top with the selvedge along the table edge to see how off grain it is. Then snap/pull the fabric to manipulate the grain back to straight.

I've never heard about your detection of the drape being important, but it sure makes sense. Thank you for this video and all of your other lovely videos!

I am just learning and this was very helpful. I read everyone’s and I feel better knowing I am late learning to make clothes. I have quilted for awhile and this would have been helpful when trying to get fabric to lay right. Thank you and everyone for sharing there advice.

Thank You, Ma'am

Fantastic tutorial! You have put all of the possible solutions together, which is great! I found myself looking for ways to do this last year when starting my 1st 'big project', and I found both the drape one and the pulling a thread off one, and then I had a flashback to my childhood, when I was taught to do this! Anyway, thanks a lot, Evelyn, for all your tutorials!!!

I will definitely use this method from now on. Thank you, Evelyn.

What a gorgeous top you’re wearing! Did you make it? Such wonderful drape.

I didn't know your method of jiggling/sliding the fabric while holding it up was a 'thing' but it's similar to what my mother taught me. We reverse the duration: less time holding the fabric up, more time manipulating the fabric on the table. But it works very well, with patience.

I love this video. I was always taught that you and a partner grab opposite corners and tug until the fabric is straight on the grain. I like knowing more ways of working with this problem. I especially like the info on knits. Now I know why mine draped wrong after I finished it.

Great tips, thank you! I always thought perhaps I was messing up the fabrics but it's good to know that it's often the manufacturing and not us.

This is excellent! I suspect my 6ft husband is going to be pressed into service due to my tiny T-Rex arms, but what a helpful trick!

Excellent info!! Those are the same techniques that I use!! Thanks for sharing!!

Thank you very much for your tips and advice, you have help as much as possible, with your knowledge, and your advice in particular. Thank you Evelyn.

This is the first time I have seen anyone go by the drape to match the grainline. It is a method I have been using for a long time now. It gives a much nicer fold and more even cutting.

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

😀 I think it gives a nice finish too!

When I have gain issues that refuse to submit to the varous methods, I start from the middle of the foled fabric, gently smoothing until I get a flat surface. It will usually work well as long as thegrain is not too awry. (Knits can be the worst for this issue.)

The best account I've ever seen of this issue - so helpful! Thank you!

Evelyn! That drape method. It just makes sense. I'm definitely going to try it on my next project where I need to "fix" the grainline. Thank you!

Great tips! You really did well!

All useful tips, thank you very much! I learned lots!

Excellent video. So helpful ❤️👍thank you.

Superb. What an eye opener. Thank you Evelyn. Lo x

I love your method! That will be so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing 😊

Excellent tutorial. Thank you 🙏🥰

This is sooo good! Thank you!

You are a literal godsend!

Great advice which I will use! Thank you.

Love the tip. Thank you.

Thank You so much for this.

OMG this exact problem drove me crazy yesterday

The voice of experience! Thank you so much for sharing these tips. Great tutorial!

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

Odette your most welcome and glad to know it helped you! 😀

The is a book in Portuguese "the big book of sewing" that talks about this. If anyone can read portuguese I recomend it. It guides you from fabric choise to making slopers to hem finishes to how to thread a machine and how to prep fabric before and even cutting it properly. A read through it and half of the basic mistakes may be avoided

Thank you.

Great video ,,,I use the drape method to straighten my fabric most of the time . My other favourite is pulling a thread , love your tips Evelyn, thank you

Lovely video. I have a couple of fabrics that don't want to behave so I will give those techniques a go. I usually match up the savalges then hold the fabric with the length hanging down and try to adjust to get it right, but holding across length looks much easier. Thank you.

I used the drape for all my cotton fabric. I have seen it on several quilter’s videos. It’s much easier than trying to pull a thread. I have a question about the steaming. Can you spray or mist your fabric and use a dry iron? We have really hard water so I have used filtered or distilled water and my irons still spit so I have quit putting water in them.

@LynHannan

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! Failing that, you could also iron them before they're completely dry - same result!

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

Yes you're onto it! That's exactly what I would do in that situation 😊

I love your dress in this video!!! 😍 Did you make it? Is the pattern commercially available? BTW, my mother taught me to sew in the 70s, but I dropped it after having children and working full time. I'm finally getting back to sewing again, and your videos are great refreshers for me. Thank you so much!

Thank you for this informative video! I’m interested in finding out about the pattern for the top you are wearing. I have a fabric in my stash that would be perfect for it. Thanks.

I wish I was as bold as the people who just rip down the grainline.

@VeretenoVids

2 жыл бұрын

The first time I ever saw someone do this was way back when I was a newish sewer and was shelling out for some silk. The woman measured it off, clipped a tiny bit in the selvage and then RIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPP! I actually let out a little yelp. But then she showed me the fabric and that everything was nice and straight, so I began experimenting with it and it works nicely. Get yourself an old bedsheet from a thrift store and practice on it. 😃

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

Chaz I too was shocked, and then terrified to try it myself! As it had been suggested, get some old bedsheets and practice! But remember, not everything will tear so if it doesn't work, it's OK!

@miriamgladen9615

9 ай бұрын

You really should try. It rips perfectly straight across your fabric and not like ripping paper which rips in every direction. My father had shown this to me when I had to sew and print by hand and potato as a school girl. It doesn't damage the fabric.

I was struggling with this the other day! Thank you for your helpful tips.

🇨🇦😃 thank you

You mention ripping to find the straight of grain. Does this technique work for cotton polyester blends?

I use the drape method with plain fabric, and also I have steamed and diagonally stretched to get it squared up. Striped printed on a mis-shaped grain is the very worst.

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

The worst of the worst right!!!

Sometimes the only way I can get it to line up is to use the drape method. However, I am trying to correct the off grain, unsquared, precut, woven, fabric so called squares I was issued in class yesterday. Everyone in class was issued a precut kit yesterday. In that class each of us was suppose to make one Rag Quilt Throw between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. for the Quilt Show. Only two of students reached that goal. My kit was missing four of the peach solid colored fabric squares. A lot of time was wasted counting, and recounting, all the fabric squares. The worst problem was that all 104 fabric squares provided in my kit were not 8 inch true squares (and none of them were cut on grain). Even the batting provided was not 6 1/2 inch true squares. Because the four peach colored squares could not be found or replaced, I could not finish this quilt as required. I have spent most of today ripping out all the quilting and seams I made yesterday. The only way I can save the fabric (almost 5 yards) is to steam press each block flat, get one side of each square on grain, then square each block with a squaring ruler and rotor cutter. None of them will square up to an 8 inch square. After I finish, this fabric can be added to other fabrics in another project later. Not everyone understands what a true square or what a grain line is. Plus, some people really can not count.There must have been a new employee cutting out some of those kits.

@katinkasirena

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, I'm getting frustrated just by reading this. Making mistakes and having to start over again or not being able to finish something is bad enough, even if it's part of the procesd. But having to start over or not being able to finish because someone else didn't do their job properly is really annoying.

@annettebroomhall8617

2 жыл бұрын

Starch is your best friend with this sort of thing. Spray heavily and bit by bit ease the block into the exact size. (I have a 14 inch square lightly padded and covered in calico. Draw the size directly onto the board). Using glass headed pins, pin along the edges stretching and easing in and out as needed and press dry. Leave to cool and all the blocks are exactly the same size. Grain line is still off in some cases, but the starch makes piecing a breeze. Good luck

@pattytalbot8830

Жыл бұрын

@@annettebroomhall8617 Clever!

Hi Evelynn, I had a membership. The fard was not approve. How do I change to get the monthly fee for access to vintage school. Thank uou. Jennifer

I just ripped a hole in my skirt panel with my over-locker. Help!

Thank you, but a have a question, could you do it have way cut it and do the same?

I actually find the fabric's grain the opposite way! I first align the selvages and flip it over so that the fold is up and I manipulate the fold until the selvages are even and the cut edge looks weird. Then I put it down and continue that line until the cut edges. I'm only 5' 2" and am typically working with 3 yard lengths so I try to work in the center. I find that the cut edge is typically uneven, but I don't start over if there's less than 2" difference

I bought some very expensive logo fabric for masks and had to cut them off grain! Last thing I wanted was the words at a weird angle across the mask! It was so annoying to have to remember to put the pattern at an angle to get the right effect!! It looked so wrong!

@Evelyn__Wood

2 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣 It would drive me crazy too!

Can you rip jersey knit cotton?? That would make it so much easier for me to find the even edge.

This happens to me all the time. So frustrating

I was wondering if you make all of your clothes...you always look chic

We've bought t-shirts that "warped" after the first wash. Any fix for that?

@gill8779

2 жыл бұрын

That is so annoying when that happens.

@A.Rose.G

2 жыл бұрын

I have had online orders of jeans/flair sweatpants that have come new but twisted, too. And the washing twisted t's. This was my first thought when I saw the title. Annoying is right.

@VeretenoVids

2 жыл бұрын

Do they have side seams? If so they were most likely cut and sewn terribly off grain and there isn't much hope for them. If you have some room in the shirt, you can cut the seams and resew them. You may only have to do one side.

@reneerayl3526

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. No side seams, but maybe I'll cut them and create side seams. That sounds like it should help. Thanks again.

Do you just match up plaids and disregard the grain and selvages?

I am probably wrong but I would hold it on the fold and then cut it evenly. It worked for me whenever I did it that way. But then I'm not an expert and was probably just lucky

@miriamgladen9615

9 ай бұрын

Since we are prewashing the fabric there probably won't be any fold. We have to create the fold again. Hence the problem.

This was so frustrating for me 😭

Thank you for the video! I'm afraid whoever did the captioning was not too familiar with your accent... it talks about the "Ukraine line" of the fabric hehehe

I brought some fabric and was so excited to make a top I forgot to wash it now I’m scared to wash it 🤣🤣🤣

@alishaledain4774

2 жыл бұрын

I'm in the same camp with a pair of pants I made 😂 they're polyester so I'm hoping they don't shrink, but I'm terrified to throw them in the wash lol!

@keelyjohnston19

2 жыл бұрын

@@alishaledain4774 I’m might hand wash it. Fingers crossed it doesn’t shrink I’m quite new to sewing and my top came out really good. 😢I bet it shrinks it’s 100% cotton

@marydenny5231

2 жыл бұрын

Wash cold, hang to dry.will not shrink. Then iron.

@keelyjohnston19

2 жыл бұрын

@@marydenny5231 thank you so much 😊

@hinatahyuuga120

2 жыл бұрын

What causes stuff to shrink is the combination of heat and movement . So cold wash on delicate and hang dry should prevent shrinkage of the fabric

It doesn’t help when the people who cut the fabric you buy can’t cut in a straight horizontal line, even when there’s a clear horizontal reference point in the print. In my experience, the worst offender is Minerva but I’ve never heard anyone else complain about it, maybe it’s because they have so many orders they’re always in a rush or they just can’t be bothered to cut straight but either way, the 70cm lengths of fabric I bought from them to make tops with have ended up being between 50-60cm when I squared them off! 😡

I was super frustrated and kept fast forwarding because you repeated yourself sooo many times about the draping