Simplicity 4156. Instruction 33, applying inset. The lower edge of the jacket front has a finished edge so there is no seam allowance to attach bottom of inset. How do you finish and attach it?

Hello, Kathy -

Doesn't the tissue pattern for the garment you wish to sew have seam markings on it, indicating the seam allowance?

See image 02 here:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/techniques-for-sewing-clothing-2978471
It shows an edge of a pattern piece with the seam allowance printed on it.

It has been a long time since have sewn garments, but I recall that unless the pattern indicates otherwise, seams are sewn at 5/8 inches. If the pattern indicates 1 inch seam allowances and no other seam allowance depth, then, a 1 inch seam allowance it is.

I do not have Simplicity Pattern #1800 myself. If you do not have the printed sewing instructions for the pattern (where the seam depth may be stated), then you may wish to contact Simplicity Creative Group and ask to purchase replacement instructions for your pattern.

This is the US toll free phone number to call:
833-201-5260

To send an email, this is the link to the web page with a form you can use to fill out to ask about the availability of replacement instructions:
https://www.simplicity.com/contactus/?topic=OTHER

Best wishes.
,

It appears to be a rag quilt:

Simplicity Pattern 8033 Rag Quilts and Matching Doll Rag Quilts

The raw edges are on the outside so the fabric frays and gets fuzzy when laundered. With a little ingenuity, it can probably be stitched with the seams inside so the seams are finished.

Take the instruction sheet and the fabric pattern pieces (the parts you don't understand) to the local fabric store and ask if someone there can help you.

Hello!

There is more than one way. This is an easy way to make an elastic waistband on mid to lightweight fabric.
Begin by measuring the waist diameter and subtracting 2" from the measurement.
An easy way to make an elastic waistband is to sew the ends of the elastic together, creating a loop with the elastic. Be sure there are no twists in the elastic before sewing the ends together.
Fold the elastic in half using the seam as one edge and mark the other side with a pin. Fold the elastic in half again and mark the two other folds.
Your elastic should now have 3 pins and the seam quarting the circle.
Hopefully your pants have a center, back and two side seams, making the next step easy. If not, fold and mark the front back and sides like you just did with the elastic.
You're now ready to pin the elastic to the OUTSIDE of the pants. Line up the edges of the fabric and elastic. Match the marks on the elastic to those on the pants and pin them together.
Using a quarter inch seam, stretch the elastic between the pins/quarter marks and sew it in place.
IF your machine has a lightening stitch, use that. If not a zigzag stitch will wear better than a straight stitch, which will also work but may snap if used on a stretchy fabric.
After you have attached the elastic fold it to the "inside" of the pants taking care not to fold or bend the elastic. You have just created a nice finished top edge to your pants!
Giving the elastic a stretch so it fits the fabric, pin the front, back and sides like you did before, making sure to pin the lower edge of the elastic.
Stretching the elastic to make it fit the pants, stitch the lower edge close to the edge, again with a stretchy stitch if possible.
Next stitch the top close to the edge from the front. (I know it's already attached, but this will keep the top looking nice.) 1/8" looks nice, but just make sure your distance to the edge is consistant.
Sit back and admire your handy work! You've now got the elastic sewn on and there are no exposed raw edges.

If you are working with a heavier fabric let me know and I can explain how to make a casing for the elastic. The kind you thread the elastic through.

There usually are no videos for sewing patterns. Lots of help videos on learning to sew, cut out patterns, etc.

You can always take your pattern and fabric to the fabric store and see if someone can help.

Teach Yourself to Sew Patterns 101

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How to Sew For Beginners Part 1 Prepare Your Pattern

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How to Sew For Beginners Part 3 Transferring Pattern Markings

How to Sew For Beginners Part 4 Applying Interfacing

How to Sew For Beginners Part 5 Pinning

How to Sew For Beginners Part 6 Pressing the Seams and Hanging the Garment

How to Sew For Beginners Part 7 Attaching the Lining to the Top

How to Sew For Beginners Part 8 Bagging Out and Finishing

How to Sew For Beginners Part 9 Finishing the Garment

Overlocker Serger Vs Coverstitch Machine What the Difference...

Search the internet for "pleat" instruction:
Google

Once the pleats are formed on the one piece, the two pieces are stitched together with a regular seam (as though there were no pleats in the second piece).

...

You could contact Simplicity and see if they can help.

or find a free diaper bag pattern on line and use as a guide.

bags arent too difficilt, usually need to interface well, attach pockets, straps, then sew lining to top edge wrong side to wrong side, leaving a bit of the lining or side seam open so you can get inside to attach lining seam allowances to bag seam allowances to hold together.


Simplicity 5527 Diaper Bag in Three Sizes

Usually with a wrap dress, you join front triangular pieces to bodice back at shoulders and side seams (often leaving a slit open in one side seam to pull the tie through). Then stay stitch neck and front edges to prevent stretching. Then neaten neck edges turn and stitch, or attach a facing. Probably if this pattern has a facing then you may need to attach skirt to waist and also attach the tie ends to the front edge before facing is attached. So when you turn facing to inside you will have the tie end in position at the point of the bodice/skirt seam on both sides of the dress.

You can purchase a manual for this machine from the following link for $US14.99

http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/instruction-manual-simplicity-sl4300.aspx

I can't see it anywhere for free download unfortunately. But you may find that looking at a manual for another 4 thread overlocker may get you started. If you try this link http://www.singerco.com/accessories/instruction-manuals you can look at the free Singer downloads,
try this link for their 654 3/4 thread model http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/555_14sh644_654-(e_s_f)-(new-led-version).pdf
it may give you some help now.

Essentially, to change the stitch width you can either move the lower fixed blade wider to cut less fabric or tighten up the upper and lower looper threads in order to close up the stitching.

Moving the blade usually means opening up the front cover door, putting pressure on the upper blade and swinging it up out of the way. Then you can adjust the lower blade, usally by turning a knob near to it. Sometimes this knob will be marked 1, 2, 3.

Adjusting the looper tensions is done by changing the tension dial settings for the thread needing adjusting. If its a standard four thread overlocker that produces a "marrow" seam it will have two needles and two loopers, upper and lower. Generally on most overlockers, the upper looper will be the second from right tension dial and lower looper will be right most tension dial - turn up one half number to tighten, or down one half number increment to loosen, then test stitch again. The needles shouldn't need adjusting too often.

I usually start with all tension dials on 5, test stitch, then adjust from there. Some fabrics will tunnel (pull in) if the seam is too wide so you need to either move the blade to the left and trim more fabric or loosen off the loopers. Or in the reverse, like you are getting, the threads will hang off the edge.

There is some good serger information on Debbis Cosgrove's pages www.sewing.about.com but if you have never used a serger, then getting the genuine manual is probably best.