816-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 23, 1988
Stitching Romance And Time-Saving
Techniques Into Sewing
BY BARBARA MILLER
Lycoming Co. Correspondent
TOWANDA The emphasis
was on romance for those who
attended Bradford County’s Sew
ing Into Spring program held April
12, at the Wysox Fire Hall, Wysox.
Approximately 75 people attended
the workshops, fashion show, and
retail exhibits.
Five hand-sewn wedding gowns
plus other wedding attire and sev
eral prom gowns were featured in
the evening fashion show. In the
afternoon Gay Deals, Tioga Coun
ty extension master clothing and
textile volunteer, presented a
workshop geared to helping
participants sew fabrics and styles
popular for proms and weddings
this spring and summer.
To help everyone sew their
dream gowns, as well as other clo
thing, additional workshops pro
vided updated information on clo
thing construction techniques,
sewing equipment, products and
notions.
According to Deals who works
at the Bridal House, Wellsboro,
“The best seller (in gowns) is still
ruffles and ‘Gone with the Wind’
styles.” She noted that the bustier
look and the short mini-pouffed
skirts are becoming the current
fashion rage.
After choosing a pattern. Deals
Robin Leldhecker, Sewing specialist, and Gloria Gray
(right), proprietor of the Williamsport Dry Goods, display
new sewing products. Robin holds two magnetic pin cush
ions, one for the sewing table, and one for the wrist. Gloria
shows off a new product, Dust Away, designed to keep sew
ing machine clean and sewing machine foot pedal holder
that grips the floor.
Bradford County 4*h’ers display a variety of clothing they
have created, (left to rlght) Annette Murphy, Terri Packard,
Wendy Hollenback, Joan Gillilandi Amy Packard.
gowns modeled at the workshop.
advised referring to the pattern pattern within your capabilities,
book for help in choosing appro- pull out the pattern instructions
priate fabric. Then, to see if it is a and read them. If it seems too hard,
choose a simpler pattern.
Deals cautioned, “If you’re sew
ing to save money, make sure the
pattern and fabric are within your
budget.” Include both the cost of
the outside fabric and the inside
fabric
Also consider the costs of the
various interfacings, notions, a
hoop or petticoat if they arc
required. Often, Deals said, these
undergarments are not mentioned
by the pattern books.
Deals listed several popular
fabrics currently in use and gave
tips on handling them. Matte taffe
ta, which has a sheen and rustles
when you walk, is presently the
most popular fabric for gowns.
Deals stressed that one of the most
important things to realize is that
these dressy fabrics will stain easi
ly. For example, a dripping iron
will water spot and ruin taffeta.
The lames or metallic fabrics are
the second most popular choice for
gowns even though the material is
rough on the edges and extremely
hard on needles. Deals suggested
the use of a blow drier to help
handle the material. Setting the
blow drier on medium to warm the
material just before sewing makes
the material easier to handle and
less likely to pull.
Other fabrics mentioned in
declining order of their popularity
were sheer nylons, laces, chiffons
and georgettes, polished cottons,
and the sequinned fabrics.
“It’s a whole other ballgame
when you sew the sequinned
materials,” Deals stated.
She suggested choosing a pat
tern to eliminate as many seams as
x possible, cutting the fabric one lay
er at a time, using an expendable
pair of scissors, and removing the
sequins in the scam allowance and
finishing off the seam.
After choosing pattern and fabr
ic, Deals advised workshop
participants to first make a trial
garment out of muslin, old sheets
or old material before proceeding
with the gown.
Some recommendations by
Deals for laying on the pattern and
cutting out the fabric were as fol
(Turn to Page B 18)
See your nearest
NEW HOLLAND
Dealer for Dependable
Equipment and Dependable
Service:
PENNSYLVANIA
Annville, PA
BHM Farm
Equipment, Inc
RD 1
717-867-2211
Beavertown, PA
B&R Farm
Equipment, Inc
RD 1, Box 217 A
717-658-7024
Belleville, PA
Ivan J Zook
Farm Equipment
Belleville, Pa
717-935-2948
Canton, PA
Hess Farm Equipment
717-673-5143
Carlisle, PA
Paul Shovers, Inc
35 East Willow Street
717-243-2686
Chambersburg, PA
Clugston
Implement, Inc
RD 1
717-263-4103
Davldsburg, PA
George N Gross, Inc
R D 2, Dover, PA
717-292-1673
Elizabethtown, PA
Messick Farm
Equipment, Inc
Rt 283 - Rheem’s Exit
717 367-1319
Gettysburg, PA
Yingling Implements,
Inc
3291 Taneytown Rd
717-359-4848
Greencastle, PA
Meyers
Implement's Inc
400 N Antrim Way
P O Box 97
717-597-2176
Halifax, PA
Sweigard Bros
RD 3, Box 13
717-896-3414
Hamburg, PA
Shartlesville
Farm Service
R D 1, Box 1392
215 488-1025
Hanover, PA
Sheets Brothers, Inc
1061 Carlisle St
Hanover, PA 17331
717-632-3660
Honey Brook, PA
Dependable Motor Co
East Main Street
215-273 3131
215-273 3737
Honey Grove, PA
Norman D Clark
& Son, Inc
Honey Grove, PA
717-734-3682
Hug'hesville, PA
Farnsworth Farm
Supplies, Inc
103 Cemetery Street
717-584-2106
Lebanon, PA
Keller Bros
Tractor Co
RD 7, Box 405
717-949-6501
Loysville, PA
Paul Shovers, Inc
Loysville, PA
717-789-3117
Lynnport, PA
Kermit K. Kistler, Inc
Lynnport, PA
215-298-2011
New Holland, PA
ABC Groff, Inc.
110 South Railroad
717-354-4191
New Park, PA
M&R Equipment Inc
PO Box 16
717-993-2511
Oley, PA
C J Wonsidler Bros
RD 2
215 987-6257
Pitman, PA
Marlin W Schroffler
Pitman, PA
717-648-1120
Quakertown, PA
C J Wonsidler Bros
RD 1
215 536-1935
Quarryville, PA
C E Wiley & Son, Inc
101 South Lime Stree'
717 786-2895
Ringlown, PA
Rmgtown Farm
Equipment
Rmgtown, PA
717 889 3184
Tamaqua, PA
Charles S Snyder,
RD 3
717-386-5945
West Grove, PA
S G Lewis & Son,
R D 2, Box 66
215 869-2214
MARYLAND
Churchville, MD
Walter G Coale, Inc
2849 53
Churchville Rd
301-734-7722
Frederick, MD
Ceresville
Ford New Holland, Inc
Rt 25 East
301 662-4197
Outside MD,
800-331 9122
Hagerstown, MD
Antietam Ford Tractor
301-791-1200
NEW JERSEY
Washington, NJ
Frank Rymon & Sons
201-GB9-1464
Woodstown, NJ
Owen Supply Co
Broad Street &
East Avenue
609-769-0308