Sewing Trims and Notions

Sewing trims and notions are both the functional and decorative details for putting a garment or project together. You can find trims and notions in any fabric store, craft stores and department stores that have a sewing section. Of course, you can find sewing trims and notions on line as well. If you cannot find what you need in a fabric store, I recommend looking at stores on the internet.

I am listing a few of the trims and notions you will usemore commonly with your projects, but keep in mind there are endless varieties of buttons, trims, and gadgets available to you.

This is another reason to look on the internet to see what is available and to see up to date products.

As well, I will place links to some sites that I think will give you quality products and help you see a little more clearly what is available. Keep in mind these sites are online stores and you can buy some of the best sewing trims and notions from them. However, I really just want to show you the variety of colors and products available.

10% OFF Entire Purchase (Excluding Swarovski Rhinestones) From MJTrim.com! Use Promotional Code: "ptaug2010" Valid: 08/01/10 - 08/31/10

It may be tempting to reach into a discount bin of low-grade thread spools, from your local fabric store. I do not recommend doing this, the price may be right, however, in this case you do get what you pay for. The thread is spun in shorter sections, leaving it vulnerable to breakage. No fun at all when you are constantly re threadingyour machine. Not to mention your garment seams coming apart when you are wearing it.

Purchase the well-known brand names of sewing trims and notions such as Coats, Mettler, Wrights, and Metrosene to name a few. All these brands carry a variety of colors and thread types for any project.

Thread is also spun for different machines. Smaller spools of thread intended for regular sewing machines, should not be used for sergers and vice versa. The reason is, serger cones, in the photo, are spun looser than smaller thread spools intended for your regular machine.

The serger has anywhere from 3 to 5 threads to secure your seam. The serger thread is spun to give consideration to the multi thread seam. So the fibers are spun looser.

Regular spools are spun tighter and this gives a stronger thread and sewing result.

It is not recommended to use serger thread and sewing machine thread together. For example, winding your bobbin with serger thread and using regular machine thread for the top stitch can result in uneven stitches and thread tension.

Another note about thread is it can be used for decoration as well as putting your projects seams together. So experiment on scraps with different types and colors of threads.

Instead of using sewing trims for decoration, you could decorate hems and garments with thread. Your regular machine may have decorative stitches available.

These decorative stitches used along with decorative threads will add a nice sewing trim detail. The same is true for your serger. Try colorful threads and stitches your serger may have to offer for a more decorative effect.

Cotton Wrapped polyester

Most commonly used for all fabric types.This is what you will use for all your general sewing needs.Any thread made with polyester gives stretch for sewing knit fabrics. Knits have quite a lot of movement. Polyester thread, gives movement as apposed to cotton or natural fiber blended threads that do not have give. You can use the cotton polyester wrapped thread for woven fabrics as well, making it the most versatile.

Top stitching thread

Top stitching thread is a little heavier and is used for top stitching, buttonholes and programmed machine embroidery.Machine embroidery is good replacement for decorative sewing trims.

Cotton Thread

100% cotton thread is great for linens and any natural fibres. Cotton won't stretch like the polyester threads. So do not use on your knit fabrics. The thread will break as you sewin addition, your stitches will not flow.

Embroidery Thread

Embroidery threads are for machine quilting and machine embroidery sewing. Embroidery thread, comes in different colors including variegated, gold, and silver. It is a little more expensive, but you will only use it for specialty sewing.

Wooly nylon

It is used to give extra stretch to seams in swimsuits; exercise wear; lingerie and knit fabrics. As well, woolly nylon is used to add decorative flare and give texture and dimension to rolled hems and the edges of your projects. It is another option to using sewing trims and notions. It comes in many different colors, including variegated and metallic.

Sewing Trims and Tapes

Most patterns will tell you what sewing trims and notions the project requires. However, once you become familiar with sewing; your creativity will enjoy these trims and notions for decorative purposes to personalize your projects. Whether or not the pattern calls for them or not. Be sure to choose compatible fibres and colors for the fabric you have chosen. If you shop online I recommend MJTrim this online store offers a great variety of trims and notions.

Sewing Trims and Notions: Bias Tape

Again your pattern will tell you when you need .as sewing trims and notions. Bias tape is a long narrow piece of fabric cut at a 45 degree angle and comes in single and double fold. You can purchase bias tape in pre-cut packages or you can have it cut to length.

It is used to trim the edge of seam allowances, covering piping, making facings around armholesand finishing hems. Some sewers like to finish seam edges with bias tape. It is more work but the resultis very professional and clean looking.

You can see I used a double folded bias tape to finish the raw edge of the inside facing on these pants. I could have serged the edge or just turned it under, but I chose bias tape because again it looks professional and it's a cleaner finish.

Making your own bias tape is great when you cannot find the right color match to your fabric or for more customized decorative sewing trims and notions, when you choose complimentary contrasting fabrics.
There is a special bias tape tool that makes it faster and easier to create your own bias tape.

Rather than reinventing the wheel, I found a site that gives instructions for making your own bias tape.

Sewing Trims and Notions: Twill Tape

Twill tape is made from cotton, polyester, linen and wool. It is used for casings, ties for elastic waist pants, backing for snaps, binding edges. Twill tape is often used to reinforce knit fabric and wool gauze fabric at the neck armhole and crotch areas. This helps to prevent over stretched seams and tearing of the seams. It is a durable product not really used for decoration, and mainly used for utility purposes.

In this photo, twill tape has been used to reinforce the neck seam and inside the placket to reinforce the buttons and buttonholes. This can also be considered sewing trims as well as a notion.

Seam Tape or Seam Binding

Best used for finishing hems and covering seams and is made of synthetic fibre.

Sewing Trims and Notions: Ric Rac

Ric rac comes in different widths and is used mainly for decorative purposes. It was quite popularin the 1950's and still has a charm today. I use these sewing trims and notions to embellish children's clothing.

Sewing Trims and Notions:Piping

Piping is covered cording. The cording is sandwiched between bias tape and the seam is sewn together to hold the piping in place. The piping is used for embellishing garments, pillows, bedding, and hand towels.

These are just a few ideas. You can let your imagination go and use piping for whatever suits you.

There are two types of piping. The elastic stretch piping and piping made from woven fabrics. Woven piping is made from cotton, satin, and velvet. Satin and velvet piping adds a nicer dressy look to a project.

If you are making piping with woven fabrics, it is best to use bias tape. This will give flexibility around corners and make this sewing trim a whole lot easier to work with.

Elastic piping is becoming more readily available too. It is better to use elastic piping for stretch knit garments.

Piping comes in many colors but I do find I like to make my own for a unique custom look. Here is how I do it.

If I am making elastic piping I cut a 1" (2.5cm) strip of stretch knit fabric in the length that I have pre determined for my project. You do not have to cut fabric on the bias, because the fabric already has stretch in it.

I fold half of the strip of fabric over the elastic, so the fabric is at the 1/2" mark. This will leave a seam allowance when you sew the piping to your project. Pin close to the elastic cording.

Using your zipper foot stitch close to the cording to get a snug fit casing.

That's it, you are ready to insert your piping into your project. It takes a little more time to make your own sewing trim, but it is worth the effort.

Sewing Trims and Notions:Elastic

Elastic is used to give shape to clothing, such as pants, cuffs on blouses etc. It can be added in many ways to help allowmovement in clothing and many sewing projects.Elastic is used as a decorative sewing trim on lingerie and under garments, summer casual tops, and any where you would need shape or movement to make your sewing projects.

Button

Buttons are used as sewing trims and notions and holds a special charm for every age. Besides the charm and history, buttons are considered sewing trims and notions,they are very practical as well as adding a jewelry effect to a sewing project. Buttons come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and they are made from plastics, shell, metal, bone, wood and synthetics.

I like to choose a button that will compliment my garment or project to give a decorative flare as well as having the practicalpurpose of keeping a garment closed.

When you are making a very special dress or garment, buttons add so much more to the look of your project. There really is a whole world of buttons available, for this reason, consider using them as sewing trim and notions, let your imagination go. The quality and price of buttons vary. Therefore, there is something for everyone and every project if you choose.

Snaps and Other Closures

Snaps are sewing trims and notions that are used for function and can be used as trim. Snaps are available in different sizes and are used for closures that are not generally seen. Large snaps used for denim, are placed on the outside of the garment.

They are more durable that regular snaps and are applied with a hammer device or special snap tool.

Snap tape is another way to use snaps, is two strips of twill tape with matching sides of the snap, sewn on either side of the tape.

Hooks and Eyes

This notion comes in different sizes and is place on the inside of garments. Usually the hook and eye is placed at the waistband or the back of a collar.

Different weights of fabric will determine what size of hook and eye is used. This notion is for garment closure and not used as a sewing trim for decoration. I suppose you could try anything though.

Velcro

Velcro has many uses, it comes in all different sizes and can be incorporated in your sewing projects or any craft project, very easily. Velcro is not used as a sewing trim. Velcro is used as utility closure.

Click this link for 101 uses for Velcro. Courtesy of Michaels craft store. .

Sewing Zippers.

Zippers come in different weights for different fabric and purposes. A zipper is made with two strips of woven tape, and connected by interlocking teeth.

The teeth are made from metal, plastics or synthetic. Coil zippers are made from polyester or nylon. Coil zippers are light weight heat resistant and rustproof. Metal zippers are for heavier fabrics such as denim or canvas. Zippers come in many colors and sizes. They can blend into the garment or project, or you can use them as a design feature like a sewing trim would be used.

Polyester all-purpose zippers are used for all weights of fabrics and garments or projects.

Separating zippers are both metal and plastic. Separating zippers are available in medium and heavy weights and are used for jackets, sportswear, and home decor.

Plastic separating zippers are used in exercise wear. They are lightweight but still as strong as their metal counter part.

Invisible zipper sewing trims and notions are one of my favorites of all the zippers. Some zippers are used as a sewing trim, but in this case an invisible zipper is considered a notion.

I like a clean look to the garment that I make and invisible zippers eliminate visible stitching. These zippers are a little different from regular zippers in that the teeth coil inward. The only thing that shows is the pull.

You will need a special invisible zipper attachment for your machine, which can be purchased at your local sewing machine retailer. It is not expensive at around $5-$10 dollars.