Wisdom From the Professionals A collection of Articles

Determining the right side of fabric. - By Kathy White, Writer for the ASG

How many of you have had trouble finding the right side of the fabric. Sometimes they look so much the same or maybe they're different but both sides look nice. I read somewhere long ago that the fabric is rolled through various processes on rollers with pins sticking up to hold it in place. When the fabric comes off the rollers the holes are left in the selvedge. If you run your fingers over them, one side is rougher than the other. Think about the fabric on the rollers. The prongs go in the wrong side smoothly and punch out the other side leaving a rough hole. This is the same side that gets printed and pressed, etc. Take a look at a printed fabric and you'll see what I mean. So the right side is the side with the rough holes. But you'll be back to square one once you wash the fabric as the holes may disappear. In that case just use what ever side you like best and stick with it.

Do you ever cut out more than one thing at a time? A neat way to keep everything together yet separate from everything else is to use the lids from record storage boxes. They are the perfect size for all your pattern pieces, threads, scraps, buttons, etc. And they can be stacked in alternate directions. Its a great way to stay organized and use less room. If you don't have record storage boxes use the cardboard trays that cans of soda come in at Costco.

Kathy White is a Canadian living in San Diego. She writes a bi-monthly column for the American Sewing Guild newsletter in her area which she calls "Out & About" because that's what everyone says when they listen to her speak. You can find out more about the ASG by checking their web site at http://www.asg.org/