tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post8224968117990957813..comments2024-03-22T03:37:24.912-05:00Comments on Creative Chicks: Swimsuit Questions--Leg Opening ElasticEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03862400065513444859noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-30121103656810695512018-05-07T20:25:46.135-05:002018-05-07T20:25:46.135-05:00Oh goody! I know this is almost 5 years later but...Oh goody! I know this is almost 5 years later but I am SO DELIGHTED to find out I can sew a straight stitch when using twin needles!!! I just replaced the dried-out leg elastic on a swimsuit for a friend of mine and it worked out fine using a zig-zag stitch. But as it would look so much better with a twin needle, I planned to buy a ballpoint twin and try it out. Now I know it will work...Thank you so much!!!!Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15039454283211801650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-9972526890275765622015-06-28T18:56:44.332-05:002015-06-28T18:56:44.332-05:00So when you serge the elastic to the material you ...So when you serge the elastic to the material you are NOT using a knife, right? I am very new to this and thank you for sharing your skills. :)marthafearsmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367988369990065310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-63019701116957282722015-06-28T18:56:36.952-05:002015-06-28T18:56:36.952-05:00So when you serge the elastic to the material you ...So when you serge the elastic to the material you are NOT using a knife, right? I am very new to this and thank you for sharing your skills. :)marthafearsmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367988369990065310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-51861822794927707522014-02-14T08:59:24.608-06:002014-02-14T08:59:24.608-06:00Hi Ranae,
How did you decide how much elastic to u...Hi Ranae,<br />How did you decide how much elastic to use for the leg opening? E.g. if let's say the leg opening measured 10 inches around, did you subtract 1 or 2 inches?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00862153932340082601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-81978077609021928682013-08-13T10:41:58.331-05:002013-08-13T10:41:58.331-05:00With the twin needle I use a regular STRAIGHT stit...With the twin needle I use a regular STRAIGHT stitch. Using a twin needle already makes it so that there is some stretch to that stitch or seam (the zig zag on the back or inside allows for the stretch). So you don't need to use a stretch stitch. <br /><br />I'm not sure if this happened to you but I would think that using a stretch stitch with the twin needle would actually stretch out the fabric and keep it stretched out. I may have to go test that theory on a scrap piece.<br /><br />Anyway, I hope that helps and good luck with the next suits.Renaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930260405339838511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-43041189194515812312013-08-13T10:40:50.124-05:002013-08-13T10:40:50.124-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Renaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930260405339838511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-41254788152661240922013-08-12T12:08:28.730-05:002013-08-12T12:08:28.730-05:00Are you using a straight stitch with the twin need...Are you using a straight stitch with the twin needle or a stretch stitch? Sorry if this is obvious. I just bought a twin stretch so I can try this out, after finding your blog post when I messed up the tankini bottoms (I thought the pattern instructions meant to stretch the fabric and elastic and was like "why does this look so messed up" so thank you for the blog! I read all your swimsuit-tagged posts.).Megan Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00764766488942869368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-23624587172159157962013-05-29T07:30:55.931-05:002013-05-29T07:30:55.931-05:00I would just suggest you go slowly over those spot...I would just suggest you go slowly over those spots. Sometimes you can cut the bulk out of the seam and that will help. I have broken a twin needle before. Very annoying as they aren't exactly cheap. Make sure the overlap of the elastic isn't also placed at the seam. That will add more bulk than you want. I try to move my elastic overlap "off" a bit.<br /><br />Hope that helps.Renaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930260405339838511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-43071004849286979602013-05-27T22:31:41.975-05:002013-05-27T22:31:41.975-05:00I'm having a really tough time with my twin ne...I'm having a really tough time with my twin needle, especially when I'm trying to topstitch over existing seams. I've broken two needles in 24 hours! Do you have any tips for twin needles? Thank you for all the awesome swimsuit information. Jessica Piercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17483021836216324268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-64198625377986932402013-03-06T14:55:30.274-06:002013-03-06T14:55:30.274-06:00Hey This is so long ago of a post but what kind of...Hey This is so long ago of a post but what kind of thread do I use? Just regular?<br />Oh My LollaPaloozahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00656951770141496708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-65177495851691122482012-07-13T22:51:48.894-05:002012-07-13T22:51:48.894-05:00I find that any time my machine is having thread i...I find that any time my machine is having thread issues on the back or underside of one of my projects it is usually a bobbin issue or for some reason my machine needs to be re-threaded.<br /><br />Make sure your tension is correct, you have a STRETCH needle, and not too tight of a stitch--(stitch length). Mine ranges from 0-4 and I almost always sew at about a 3.<br /><br />Is it balling up at the point where you overlap the elastic?<br />If that is the case, try moving that overlap a bit off of a seam so that it isn't too thick and your machine balks. I've had that happen. I also try and position the elastic overlap so that as I sew the overlap cannot accidentally fold back or get pushed down into the bobbin area. I.E. your elastic on the bottom of the overlap extends the same direction you are sewing. <br /><br />If you look up at the pic of the elastic circle it shows what I am talking about. The cut edge of the elastic on the bottom extends to the right. I would make sure that is positioned so that cut edge lands towards me as I'm sewing, not away. I hope that makes sense.<br /><br />I can't think of any other reason why it would continually ball up, unless it has just been awhile since your machine has been serviced.Renaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930260405339838511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-153283955795284472012-07-13T17:25:14.688-05:002012-07-13T17:25:14.688-05:00I'm having a really hard time with the elastic...I'm having a really hard time with the elastic and my bobbin is going crazy. How do you keep from having the bobbin thread ball up underneath?apron girlshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01492341320431389573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-33476155711327985292011-04-03T21:15:32.134-05:002011-04-03T21:15:32.134-05:00Great tips--thank you for sharing and taking time ...Great tips--thank you for sharing and taking time to capture in photos. I will be using them again soon!Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14380532857252595734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-45803086960232690442011-04-03T14:49:17.704-05:002011-04-03T14:49:17.704-05:00Send some of your heat our way--we almost have all...Send some of your heat our way--we almost have all the snow gone. We even went swimming (indoor pool)last Friday because we couldn't stand it any longer.Renaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930260405339838511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6299918664756105326.post-30352389324728252432011-04-02T20:57:34.612-05:002011-04-02T20:57:34.612-05:00Renae, those are great instructions for anyone mak...Renae, those are great instructions for anyone making suits. I was thinking I had a few more weeks before I needed to start sewing swim suits, but today it was 88 degrees. I guess summer is finally here. TiffWhite'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08244129571168642337noreply@blogger.com