Where Has the Time Gone? Update and a Tip for Stretch Fabrics

Man, it's been busy, and the Holy Week Marathon is just starting! Yesterday I sang the second reading at the Palm Sunday service, then I had to boot out of there to catch a train. I'm a baaaaad Catholic. But it was for a good cause. Sewing Hope's event was last night. I'll post pictures and do a post about it later, but I wanted to show one picture.
Me and my Brother by Another Mother. It was a great time, and it raised a lot for Sewing Hope. Like I say, stay tuned and I'll post all about it.

Now for a great tip, courtesy of Emmett. How many people have noticed that when you sew a garment from stretch fabric, that after wearing it for a few hours, it "grows"? C'mon, raise your hands. Mine's up in the air. Yep, it's that pesky "Damn this Lycra" love/hate thing.

It's a well-known problem and there's an easy cure. Let your fabric breathe on the cutting table for at least 8 hours and preferably 24 before laying out your pattern and cutting. Do that and, ta daa! Your jeans' "growth" will be stunted. I mentioned this to my old cut/sew guy, and he agreed. "We get asked to let stretch fabrics lay on the table overnight before we start cutting. It keeps them from stretching out too much with body heat."

Talk about an Aha moment! So try it next time you work with a stretch fabric. Lay it out (preferably in a single layer) for 24 hours before cutting. You'll find it makes a world of difference in the wearing. I'm looking forward to not having to cinch a belt around my stretch denims halfway through the day.

Happy sewing!