Friday, September 2, 2022

Friday Fun Fact: Preventing Lips

Today I'm talking about one of my personal pet peeves: when edges have lips.

If you've been in class with me, you've probably heard me expound on this quite a bit! Lippy edges happen on enclosed seams that haven't been fully turned before pressing.

See the photo below - the edge looks crisp, but examine it closely - there's the lips!!!



So how do we prevent this? Pressing a seam open before you turn your collar, cuff, or pocket is ideal, but often on those small pieces it's tricky or impossible.

The secret is simple: DAMP FINGERS. 



Use the squirt button on your iron or just dip your fingers in water. Don't use spit - apart from being frightfully unsanitary, you just aren't going to have enough moisture to make a difference.

Use your damp fingers to wiggle and roll the edge, making sure it's completely opened. You should be able to see the stitches.



When those lips are gone, finger-press, then press with your iron.

Check out the bottom pic - no lips in sight! This piece is ready for topstitching!





1 comment:

  1. This seems like great advice for closing any seam! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete