French seam question

[b.steadman]

I seek advice from the 'Mistresses of the machines'

When I make the second row of stitching to form the french seam (i.e. when the bag is inside out) I have to stop the machine every 1/3 of a side to pull the seam out. If I don't then this happens



Do you have a tip to prevent this, without going back and re-ironing the bag, or stopping every 1/3 of a side?

[beattie]

Hi Bernie
I just stop every few inches and pull the seam out, just as you do. You're doing well if you manage to stretch that out to only every 1/3 of a side. I probably stop about 5 or 6 times to sort the seam out. It seems to me to be better and quicker than ironing the seam. You could always sew the seam a bit wider. Some people run the seam up and down the edge of the table, holding the fabric in place how they want it to crease. It makes a fold hold for a little while - using the edge of the table as an iron, but I don't suppose it's any quicker than stopping and rearranging the seam the way you do now.
I'll be interested too to see if anyone has a good idea for this.

[b.steadman]

Thanks Beattie,

I'll give that a go.

[sazziej]

I have to say for me it depends on the fabric, sometimes I iron between seams, other times I press the crease by using the edge of the table or my hand..... but I always trim between sewing the seams.

[Ivybags]

Ditto - if the fabric frays a lot I always trim before I turn inside out, and i do the same method as Beatie and Sazzie

[Christie]

I usually trim the seam too and find a rotary cutter is much quicker and neater than scissors for that. I also iron before I sew the final seam. I think it gives a better finish and I don't like having to stop and start the machine to pull out the seam. Once I'm sewing I like to keep going!

[Offcuts]

I do the first seam with an overlocker which trims as it sews. I then turn it inside out, press and sew the final seam on the sewing machine.

If I don't use an overlocker I always trim back the first seam to about 1/8th inch, turn inside out,press and sew. I'm like Chris, I don't like anything to slow me down when I sew.

I'll show you the overlocker when you come to pick up your skopos,Bernie.

[Krisaby]

I trim before turning inside out too. I used to iron as well but prefer the flatten-as-you-go-along method now.

[Offcuts]

There you go Bernie! Bet you thought there would be one definitve answer, didn't you!

[squeak42]

Hi,
I just make my bags a bit bigger and that way I can just have a thicker seam....

[b.steadman]

Thank you all.

My wife has an overlocker, but I've yet to 'play' with it. As its not used much at present, I'll give it a go on my next batch.
As it will take just a few moments, I'll iron the next batch also.


Thanks again.

[Tintinabulation Wells]

Oh my goodness, I've been turning the bags,trimming the seams, ironing and then tacking before sewing, just as Dear Miss Elwin my Domestic Science teacher showed me back in the 1960's. She'd probable turn in her grave but I'll give these suggestions a try, it will certainly be quicker.
Do hope I haven't gatecrashed but am loving reading all these posts.

[loopy's bags]

I was like you at first TinTin - I pinned and tacked my first half a dozen bags, but the more you make, the more short cuts you learn!

I now make one handle, as long as I can, and then cut it into 2 afterwards. Means you only have 2 or 3 seams to sew instead of 4 or 6.

I expect every one of us has our own little tips and time-saving ideas - but it still takes me about 25-30 minutes to make just one!

[Krisaby]

Yippee! I am a 25 - 30 minutes person too and I thought I was the slowest in the world. I am normal after all. Phew!

[loopy's bags]

LOL!!! Yes, there must be a lot of us 'normal' Morsbaggers out there!!! I think the very first one I made took me 2 hours! I'm getting faster, but I can still only make 2 in an hour. If I add on the time spent cutting and pressing as well it's longer.... But it doesn't matter in the long run how long it takes to make them, it's the end result that counts: the fact that there is one more Morsbag in the world to replace the plastic carriers.