Crinkly/Wrinkly/Pleated Fabric Question

[temom]

I've got a piece of fabric that I would like to possibly make into a peasant blouse, assuming that I have enough. It is not flat, but is crinkly, with all the wrinkles/pleats running vertically. How do I cut my fabric? Should I just lay it out on the table, straighten the best I can, and pin with the fabric crinkled/wrinkled/pleated? Should I try to iron it out flat the best I can? Or give up and try another piece of fabric that actually lays flat? This is pretty material that I picked up for about a dollar a yard, and it is like a purple tie dye. I had made a 70's skirt out of it several months ago, cutting it crinkly/wrinkly. I would rather make it into something to rather than finding a place to store it. (OK, it has been sitting on my sewing area getting moved from place to place everytime I used my sewing area).

[DorothyL]

I'm getting ready to make a peasant blouse out of crinkly fabric too.
I've worked with it before and it wasn't difficult.
DO NOT iron it before you cut it or you will have to iron the crinkles out every time you clean it to make it fit (I did that once too). To sew just ease it together, don't stretch or bunch it. I'll tell you what Sandra Betzina says when I get home and have the book handy.
Dorothy

[temom]

Thanks, Dorothy. I couldn't decide which way to do it. I had good reasons not to do it either way. It makes more sense to do it your way though. I'm wondering if I will have enough fabric for the shirt. I was looking at the sleeve pieces, and I think that is where I would be short.

[Magot]

I have some of this lurking around too so I am keen to find out the answer. I made a shirt out of some and was careful not to iron - but the collar never really worked.

[Shellymoon]

I've always wondered how you hem the stuff--especially the really crinkly gauze. I had some in my stash and I gave it away because I couldn't figure it out.

[dmoses]

Is this the crinkled gauze fabric? I just made some items out of it. The first, a top, turned out okay, but I had to do part of it(a curved yoke) over again, since the part that wasn't interfaced stretched out so that the the main piece and the facing did not fit together properly. Also, the machine-stitched hem stretched out. I am in the process of finishing up a dress, which I am now hemming by hand. I am going to make another top like the first one that I mentioned, but I have to rethink my approach. I am trying to figure out a better way of doing the yoke, since the pattern instructions aren't the best...especially with this fabric.

I think you have to treat it like a stretch fabric, using a zigzag stitch, and/or decrease presser foot pressure. Also, don't use steam when pressing, as that may take out the crinkles, which are supposed to be there.

[sewingmom]

Funny this has come up. I have two pieces of the stuff that I would like to make into a peasent blouse and a twirly skirt for DGD this week. I'm anxious to hear the answer.

[kaitlinnegan]

When I made this top out of crinkle gauze, I just serged the edge, turned up once, and hemmed with a straight stitch. I just finger pressed the hem a bit when I turned it up - no iron. I have seen some RTW tops from this type of fabric with just a serged edge - I think that could work nicely for a casual top.

[temom]

On my crinkly/wrinkly/pleated 70's skirt, I just did a 3 thread plain serge on the hem edge, and it looked good. I apparently pulled it straight as I fed it into the serger, and then it pleated itself when it came out serged.

[bridesmom]

Suggestion for your sleeves. If you need about 4-6 inches for each sleeve, add a lace insert from below the elbow to the wrist and do the last few inches in your fabric again.