Trim help please?

[Sieglatan]

This is the 90% completed banner for my unit. I need to add the design on the lower quadrant, and add the three other fabric loops to the top (there is one on the top left corner, as you can hopefully see). I also need to wash off the rest of the chalk lines too...

However, as you can see, the red trim on the lower half bunches up like a...monkey that...bunches up things...yeah.
I measured the length from the top corner, to the bottom corner, cut a wide, straight piece, folded it over, and put it through a basic sewing machine. Even at low tension, the bobbin would jam up around the curves, so I could only sew in short bursts. The end result is the bunched up mess you see. Any advice? I would like to avoid having to redo the trim, but will if I have to cut a new pattern...
Thank you for any advice I can pry!

[Kyrian]

Bias tape is your friend. It's cut at the diagonal, or bias, to the grain of the fabric. This allows it to follow curves without a lot of wrinkling or puckering. You can find pre-made bias tape in a variety of folds, widths, and colors at fabric stores usually along with the zippers, quilt binding, and spools of thread. There are also tools that allow you to make your own bias tape. They look something like this:



Depending on the type you get, you can lay it down, fold it over, and then press it using a lot of steam to make it conform to the curves of your banner.

Here are a few links that should help:



http://sewing.about.com/od/beginner1/p/biastapeqa.htm

http://sewing.about.com/od/techniques/ss/biastape_3.htm

[Sieglatan]

Ah wow! I have never even heard of that! (a real testament to my skill, I know!) That is really cool!
Now I just need to find an ironing board and iron, and I am all set!
Thank you very much!

[Geshtal]

Wow halo meets Belegarth i like it.

[Sieglatan]

Wow halo meets Belegarth i like it.

*' LAWL
I didn't see that-
I was going more for a half-demon noble clad in full plate, customized to his misshapen form, but halo/wow works too!

[Arrakis]

Well said, Kyrian. Bias tape is awesome and easy to make out of any fabric. Cut a two-inch wide strip on the diagonal, fold it in half and press, open, fold in to the middle and press, fold it on the middle line again to close it, press. Stitch it on stuff.

It's how I finish arm-holes on some things.

[Sieglatan]

bit of follow-up
I bought and used some bias tape for my Realm's belt flags, and they came out gloriously! Thank you very much for the advice!

[Kyrian]

Those look pretty sharp.

[Tobia Blackthorn]

Indeed, very nice.

[Saria]

Thats really cool! I love your design on your banner, was that all done with fabric paint?

I also really like your belt flags, I'm tempted to start making something like those myself

Great work!

[larosenoire]

Love the art work. Nice banner and really neat belt flags.

[Eris]

Also, do not try to sew "around" points. Sew up to the "point", pause with the needle still in the fabric, lift the presser-foot, rotate fabric, drop presser foot, and continue. And use pins. Seriously. Bias tape - pins + curves = headaches and bad looking trim.

[Nibenon]

i NEVER use pins, theyre too much of a pain, all you need to do is just take it slow and make sure that your bias tape doesnt fold over its self and that its all the way tucked in up against the fabric your bias tapeing

[Arrakis]

Use pins OR fusible tape.

[Eris]

If you decide to take it slow and not use pins, the project takes 3 times as long to finish. And I've done it both ways (with and without pins), and the projects done with them seem to look better.

Go with the pins.

[Nibenon]

idk imo it has always taken longer with pins and was more off a hassle too. guess im just bamf at sewing....

[Eris]

Hm. Yes. Of course. I must be mistaken. You are of course correct that once you reach a certain level of mastery, the tools that have been used and developed over hundreds of years to aid in your crafting, are no longer of use to you because you have mad skillz.

How foolish of me to make that mistake.

[Nibenon]

it took 100 years to develop the little piece of pointed wire that is a pin?!?! man technology is moving slow...

[Ilariia Bulochnika]

It says hundreds, with an 's', as in plural. Please learn to read. When you are done mastering the English language, take a sewing course.

[Nibenon]

so sorry i skimmed over one letter...

[Teej]

guess im just bamf at sewing....

QFT; he puts my grandmother to shame. Sans pins, he still mass produces a majority of the realm's garb (which is awesome quality) and weapon covers... and makes good time doing so.

[Arrakis]

You don't need to use pins for a lot of small or simple runs, i.e., sword covers. But they make life a lot easier on you when doing things like applique or complex seams, especially if you want the stitch to look good, not just work.

[Nibenon]

applique or complex seams,

well there you have it i havent even hear of applique so that rules that one out.
but i have used a surger and i believe that that falls under the catagory of "complex seams"

[Arrakis]

A surger is almost cheating. It's a complicated piece of machinery that turns most seaming into Simplicity Itself.

Seriously, if you care about fit and use fabrics of various types, pins will be your friends. You don't have to use many of them. Just some. They want to help you.

[Ilariia Bulochnika]

Complex seams include flat fells (for a number of people), french seams, napkin rolled seams, etc etc.

I reiterate, if you are serious about making good, or even decent, garb, take a sewing class or learn from someone who knows how to sew. That includes using pins.

[Nibenon]

then nope, no complex seams here.