The fourth part of our lingerie construction series covers hems. You can read Part 1 covering types of stitches here, Part 2 covering stitch quality and linings here, and Part 3 covering seams here. A hem is essentially the fabric edge on a garment or piece of fabric. It can be left raw or finished, with numerous finishing options. Certain finishings can be indicative of higher garment quality than others, […]
The third part of our lingerie construction series covers seams. As a refresher, the first part covered types of stitch, and the second part stitch quality and linings. Seams are the point at which two pieces of fabric join together. They typically require a ‘seam allowance,’ or a space where the two panels can be sewn together. Seams can also be glued (or ‘bonded’) together for an exceptionally flat finish. […]
This lingerie construction guide series is designed to give you the tools to understand how lingerie is made, whether it’s made well, and, ultimately, if it’s worth the retail price. In Part 1 we examined the different types of stitches used in lingerie. In Part 2, we’ll cover execution of those stitches as well as linings. Identifying the quality of sewing is an important tool in analyzing garment quality. It also […]
Lingerie is arguably one of the most complex categories of clothing. Very few other garments require quite the same level of accuracy, attention to detail, and skilled human labour. Understanding lingerie construction and quality can be a minefield, even if you have some sewing skills. This series will cover some of the most common stitch and construction techniques used in contemporary lingerie, with the first part covering the most common […]
Today’s guest post is from Larissa King. Larissa has been designing (and writing) for Hanky Panky since 2003. She lives in upper Manhattan, where she creates handmade dancewear under the name Entrechat Dance. Her interests include ballet, history, art, design, textiles, watching 1970s Doctor Who, and eating plants. A recent thread on the Lingerie Addict’s facebook group led to an article by the independent couture lingerie designer Karolina Laskowska, wherein she listed […]
