Thread: Help! sewing strung sequins

Hi, I don't know if this question were ever asked before, but does anyone know how to sew strung sequins on straight? especially on stretch fabric.

I'm trying to sew strung sequins on the godets of trumpet skirts, but it comes out all crooked.

Thanks for the help in advance,
Ululani

Are you doing it by hand or using a machine? I always do mine by hand and be careful not to stretch the fabric as you go.

There are very expensive commercial sewing machines that do this, and sometimes you can purchase a special trim/pearl/sequin foot for attaching slung sequins with higher-end home machines. Success depends both on being able to keep the trim lined up how you want it, and on coordination between the feed dogs moving the fabric and the foot keeping the sequins flowing under the needle at the right rate. Alas, the crystal ball shows nothing but heartache in your future if you are trying to do this on an average home sewing machine.

Seriously, I have attempted exactly what you are describing on various occasions, with a number of different fabrics, but I have always given up and ended up attaching the trim by hand. I have never been able to keep the stitch length lined up with the holes in the sequins, they shift around, the fabric tension gets messed up, and it just never works. Sorry, but Shahla is right--hand sewing is the way to go, unless you've got a really good machine.

Thanks Ladies

I really appreciate your advice and your personal experience in tackling these darn strung sequins!

I have a really good (I was told) Viking Sewing machine...it's not a pro or commercial machine though.

I did ask a professional seamstress on sewing these on a sewing machine, and she told me to use a thicker sharp new needle, and a wide zigzag, but the sequins did not lay flat in a straight line

Well, I guess I'll have to sew the sequins on by hand like as you both suggested.

Ululani

Originally Posted by Ululani

I have a really good (I was told) Viking Sewing machine...it's not a pro or commercial machine though.

In that case, if you have differential feed on your machine, you might be able to get it to work with the right attachment. Have you investigated whether you can order a trim foot that sews sequins for your machine?

I did ask a professional seamstress on sewing these on a sewing machine, and she told me to use a thicker sharp new needle, and a wide zigzag, but the sequins did not lay flat in a straight line

I haven't heard of using a zigzag stitch for this, but I don't doubt you could get it to work somehow. Years ago, I saw someone sewing sequins on TV (Sandra Betzina, maybe?), and she just changed the stitch length to match the average distance between the holes in the sequins, and used a straight stitch. The less thread you can keep off the sequin surface, the better for the sparkle factor.

I sew mine by hand... Takes awhile, but it comes out great!

I don't have a fancy machine just one for basics. But, I like the seamstress's idea with the thick needle and zigzag.

Tourbeau,
I will look into your suggestion of buying a special foot for my machine that sews pearls, sequins, etc. I'm sure there is one.

Thanks for the suggestion...really appreciate your advice

Ululani

The zigzag method looks best with clear thread!

For a Viking machine, this is the foot:

http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/me...cyTrimFoot.pdf

And you do use a zigzag stitch with it. My suggestion is that you just go very very slow with it.

You can also use a spray adhesive to put tearaway stabilizer behind your stretch fabric, will keep it from stretching while you sew. But for all that money and effort, you might just be best to sew them by hand to start. lol

I use fabric glue to attch strung sequins. Run a straight line of glue, let it sit for a moment or so to get tacky and then lay the string of sequis along the glue line. Press down lightly using the eraser end of a pencil. You get a neat straight line that way.

The other issue you should take into consideration is that the strung sequins is coming off of a round spool. It thinks it needs to go round and round. You might want to pre - cut the pieces to the length that you need them, hang them from a hanger using clothes pins on either end for a few days. this will help them to change their shape.

Ah, the weird things you learn when you've run a costume shop. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

This is what I did when I added sequin trim to the never-ending hem of a circle skirt and it worked fine. I haven't done this with stretch fabric, though. Sounds like hand-sewing is the way to go there.

Originally Posted by Ululani

I did ask a professional seamstress on sewing these on a sewing machine, and she told me to use a thicker sharp new needle, and a wide zigzag,

Recently I have begun to cheat, with pretty good results. I find a dress or other clothing item in a thrift shop or at a rummage sale that has oodles of sequins already sewn into the material, or onto an attached section of material. The color of the clothing item should match your costume. Cut out the section of clothing that has the sequins on it and hand-stitch it onto your costume. This has worked for me many times now!