Santa's Workshop Tip on Bias Linings

I've been a bad, bad blogger. Maybe Santa will still be good to me because I've been busy in the workshop.

And I know I'm not alone. So, fellow seamsters, here's a quick sewing tip for linings.

                     

When there is fabric on the bias it will stretch out as it hangs. And when you use two different fabrics, allthough the pieces are cut exactly the same size, they will hang-out differently. Case in point, is my  Little Red Riding Hood Cape .

When constructing this garment, I finish the shoulder seams and attach the hood and then let the garment hang on the dress form for several days. The black satin lining will stretch as much as 3/4 " in places. I pin it all around to determine the variance and remove the excess. If you do not remove this excess fabric your garment will be balloony and not ever hang properly. The tendency of fabric on the bias to stretch is a good thing to remember and I hope you find this helpful on your next drapey, bias project.