Sewing Darts

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Tue, 11/06/2012 - 18:23
BOOHBEEE
User offline. Last seen 12 years 7 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 03/17/2011
Posts: 7

I  read the following instructions for sewing a dart and can't visualize the instructions in point (3):

1) Stitch from wide end to point of dart. Backstitch at beginning of stitching line, then continue stitching toward point, removing pins as you come to them.

2) Taper to point of dart. When ½" (1.3 cm) remains, shorten stitch length to 12 to 16 stitches per inch (2.5 cm). Take last two to three stitches directly on fold. Do not backstitch at the point, because this may cause puckering. Continue stitching off edge of fabric.

3) Raise presser foot and pull dart toward front. About 1" (2.5 cm) back from point of dart, lower presser foot and secure thread by stitching several times in fold of the dart with stitch length set at 0. Clip threads close to knot.

If it makes any sense to you, is this a more effective way of sewing darts?  If so, how so?  If not, please share why not?

Thanks!

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Thu, 11/08/2012 - 14:53
#1
Nehzat
User offline. Last seen 1 year 12 weeks ago. Offline
Instructor
Joined: 10/27/2007
Posts: 1026
Re: Sewing Darts

Dear boohbee,

Basically what the instructions are telling you to do in the 3rd point, is to lift the presser foot once you are done sewing the dart. Then rotate the dart towards your self, with the widest part towards you. You should be doing this with the needle out of the fabric. Then you sew about 2.5 cm or 1 inch above the dart point on the folded fabric, using a stitch length setting of zero to secure the thread.

This is an effective way of sewing darts as well. However I prefer to sew the dart in one step, without changing the stitch length setting. I find that doing this will give a smoother stitch line. What I do is sew to the dart point and leave a long tail to tie off later. When tying the knots, I pull the threads a bit.

Happy sewing,

Nehzat

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