Thread: Fishing Line in skirts

I'm working on a maroon costume and have decided that I want to try to make one of those full chiffon skirts that have the fishing line in the bottom hem. First of all I hate sewing chiffon and secondly I wouldn't even know how to begin.

Anyone have any ideas?

You will need a serger...

I have one.

A rolled hemming foot works on the sewing machine too, use with a zig zag stitch.

When I did one I just fed the fishingline in under the foot while doing the rolled hem - it turned out okay for a first try. Haven't made another chiffon skirt since then though.

There's a little info on page 3 of this thread: http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...-serger-3.html

Thanks Kiyaana! Now I just have to work up the courage to do it.

You don't need a serger. Buy the heaviest weight fishing line (it will show on the label, something like 10 lbs, etc).
The way I did it is like this:
- first, sew the hemline with the tight zig-zag.
- then attach the fishing line in top of it, and roll the hemline around it (upward, from under)
-and then with the same zig-zag, hem it. The zig-zag actually doesn't need to be quite that tight. As long as you use the same color thread as your fabric, it will be great. It takes much longer, but you only need to do it once.

I have done this many-many time, and each time it turned out great.
Also keep in mind, that the fishing line will curve up (that's the whole reason we use it) and will take up maybe an inch of abric. So when you cut the bottowm of your skirt (after of course, you let it hang for a while) give it an extra inch, so you won't end up with it way too short).

Just make sure you hang the half circles for a sufficient amount of time, reshape it, and get it exactly your length.

If you don't let it hang sufficiently, it could warp on the bias more after finishing, and then all your hard work will be for nothing if you have to trim it some more.

I recently had to sacrifice a beautiful wired and sequined edge on a circle skirt because it was very uneven in length.

Thank you so much for this post. Wanted to do this for a while, but couldn't find sufficient instructions. Off to buy 10 lb. fishing line. And thank-you for the tip on adding extra length to the skirt, didn't know that either. Bhuz is full of useful information.

Leave lots of fishing line at the end and beginning of the serge. Then stretch the fabric/serging over the line. That creates the big pretty swirls. But it takes a lot of line to do 2 or 3 continuous panels on a circle skirt. I try to leave the spool attached to make this easier.

Practicing all afternoon, no pretty swirls or waves. Working with twelve pound fishing line, however the fabric (a lovely gift) is a heavier weight than chiffon, nor does the bias stretch when pulled. Would love to create a skirt and bra from it. But, only if I can create a wave at the bottom of the skirt. Must be doing something wrong. Suggestions?

,r:; Well it helps to use the proper Serger plate. Immediately had a beautiful wave.

Try this: first hem it with the zig-zag without the wire. I guess I should have emphasized it. When you hem it, you can stretch the fabric a little to make it swirlier.
And I agree with leaving enough line to hang et the end, go over it with your hand and stretch it out.

But if the fabric is too heavy, it might weigh down the swirls. I think thin lycra might work, it won't be as pretty as chiffon, but anything too heavy wouldn't look right.

Thank-you so much. A heavier weight fishing line, a little more practice and the hemline is lovely.