I learned a new seaming method this week. A pattern I was knitting called for "flat seams" and I wasn't sure what to do. I knew mattress stitch produces a bulky back seam, and this garment is for a little girl who would not appreciate such abrasion. A little googling produced several links to what is variously called 'flat seaming', 'invisible seaming', 'woven flat seam' and 'Bickford seaming'. Clicking the links here will take you to the three pages I found most useful in learning to do this kind of seaming. It creates a very small ridge on the back side of the garment:
and a near-invisible seam on the right side:
This helped me to put together a Hooded Capelet [Ravelry link] for my friend Fiona's two-year-old. It's not done blocking (pic below is pre-soak), cord isn't done and buttons aren't sewn on, but it is otherwise done:
Little Red Riding Hood here we come!
3 comments:
Aren't the Innertubes just the greatest?!
As per your comment on my blog, sounds like the timing on your machine is out of whack. It not too hard to repair, usually; one just knows which screws to loosen and which way to rotate the thing that holds the bobbin case.
And, that little red riding hood outfit is adorable!
That looks like quite a ridge on the underside. A Bickford seam is what you want for a flat seam. The invisible seam you link to is mattress stitch which is indeed practically invisible from the front but has a 'seam allowance' on the underside - even if using only half a stitch. So nice from the front, but ugly-ish at the back. The other link was showing joining cast of edges. A Bickford seam looks virtually flat at the back but you can see it from the front - but I think it looks very nice.
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