Press As You SewPress As You Sew

What is the difference What is the difference

between pressing and between pressing and

ironing?ironing?

Importance of Pressing While SewImportance of Pressing While Sew

Ensures accurate cutting.Ensures accurate cutting. Decreases the need for basting and Decreases the need for basting and

pinning.pinning. Enables you to shape the garment.Enables you to shape the garment.

Pressing Garment DetailsPressing Garment Details

Curved side seamCurved side seam Center back seamCenter back seam

Armhole seamArmhole seam

Shoulder dartsShoulder darts

Open– Tailor’s hamOpen– Tailor’s ham Open –Ironing Open –Ironing

board & Ironboard & Iron Toward body of Toward body of

garment – end of garment – end of ironing board or ironing board or sleeve boardsleeve board

Toward center of Toward center of garment – Tailor’s garment – Tailor’s hamham

Pant leg seamPant leg seam

Waistline seamWaistline seam

Bust dartsBust darts

Open – seam roll or Open – seam roll or sleeve boardsleeve board

Up – Ironing board Up – Ironing board & Iron& Iron

Down – Tailor’s Down – Tailor’s hamham

Collar pointsCollar points

Neckline seamNeckline seam

Open first, then Open first, then press toward under press toward under collar – point collar – point presser and sleeve presser and sleeve boardboard

Toward collar – Toward collar – Sleeve board or Sleeve board or end of ironing end of ironing boardboard

Preshrinking FabricPreshrinking Fabric

When to preshrink fabricWhen to preshrink fabric

►►Before cutting out a pattern on the Before cutting out a pattern on the fabric.fabric.

Why Preshrink FabricWhy Preshrink Fabric

►►Finished garment will shrink when Finished garment will shrink when it is it is washed.washed.

◄◄Helps remove fabric finishes Helps remove fabric finishes

◄◄May make the needle sticky May make the needle sticky causes the machine to skip causes the machine to skip stitches.stitches.

Guidelines For PreshrinkingGuidelines For Preshrinking

Preshrink fabric unless the label states Preshrink fabric unless the label states that less than one percent shrinkage will that less than one percent shrinkage will occur.occur.

Fabric labeled Fabric labeled wash and wear, crease-wash and wear, crease-resistant, resistant, or or stabilized finish stabilized finish usually does usually does not need to be preshrunk.not need to be preshrunk.

Fabric made of 100 % synthetic Fabric made of 100 % synthetic fibers usually needs no preshrinking.fibers usually needs no preshrinking.

Fabric containing a high percentage Fabric containing a high percentage of rayon is an exception, as rayon of rayon is an exception, as rayon tends to shrink.tends to shrink.

Fabric containing high Fabric containing high percentage of cotton, should be percentage of cotton, should be washed several times.washed several times.

Cotton tends to shrink. Cotton tends to shrink.

All washable knits, often shrink due All washable knits, often shrink due to relaxation of the knit.to relaxation of the knit.

Wool knits can shrink even when Wool knits can shrink even when they are dry-cleaned. they are dry-cleaned.

How to Preshrink FabricHow to Preshrink Fabric

Use the same method that will be used to Use the same method that will be used to launder the finished garment.launder the finished garment.

Laundering instructions can be found on Laundering instructions can be found on the end of the bolt of fabric.the end of the bolt of fabric.

If in doubt test a small piece of fabric. If in doubt test a small piece of fabric. Measure it before washing, then after Measure it before washing, then after washing to see if it shrinks.washing to see if it shrinks.