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Need help from fabric/sewing people


BlueTaelon
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I ordered this ( actually ordered this but they swear I ordered the green which I don't believe because I don't like it and I ordered the turquise to match the girls bathing suit tops, I have no way to prove it since they didn't give me a copy of my order when I ordered) and it says 60". Its not, its 57" with a 1.5" black strip on both sides taking up 3" to make a total of 60". NO WHERE does it say or show that black strip taking up 3". I will admit that yes I'm a novice sewer but when I sat down and created the pattern and calculated cost I assumed I had that full 60" to work with. Am I just not understanding how fabric is sold? I've never enountered this before but I've also never purchased spandex or fabric online.

 

 

 

Style: H-1780

Width: 60''

Color: Kelly

Per Yard Price: $13.00 (ended up being $22yd after shipping!)

Description: Kelly Holographic Foil on Black 4 Way St. Nylon Spandex

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That strip on either side is called the selvedge, and yes it is on all fabric and is sometimes useable (because the print goes all the way to the edge), and sometimes not. It is the way the fabric is woven, you will not get a full 60" across if you can't use the selvedge. It is a bummer that it messed up your plans, but it is not a mistake unfortunately. I'm slightly confused though because it usually doesn't make that much of a difference anyway - you need to lay out the pattern according to the grainline, which is the determiner for how much fabric you will need. If you mess with the grainline, the fabric will pull and stretch out over time and you will be sorry because the garments will not be wearable. What does your pattern suggest for yardage?

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You always have a selvedge. You can use a bit of the selvedge depending on seam allowance. Some fabric has a wider selvedge depending on the fabric. Some stretch knits roll a lot, so the selvedge is a bit stiffer. You always need to account for a couple inches.

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Like I said, I'm pretty new to sewing, it never occured to me about grain. Its 4 way stretch spandex so stretches in every direction, its just a simple mermaid tail for playing in. I'm mad at myself for not thinking about the fact that when I figured out how to make 2 tails from 2 yards I didn't think about the fact I couldn't put one of the tails upside down because of the way the scales go when I picked out the fabric. :sad: I had picked out another fabric where I could do that then found the scales and switched and didn't think about it. Live and learn I guess.

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I'd just make one of the tails with the scales going in the wrong direction. In fact, if you can make one side of each with it going the right way and the other side of each going the wrong way, each fin is the same- one side the scales look right and the other side they're upside down.

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