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How To Make Beautiful Tiny Tucks

Narrow tucks or pintucks are often used in heirloom sewing. However, if you are doing something totally different, this little detail can be useful too.

Making these tucks is easier when you have a Quarter Inch Seam Foot. If you want to know which machine can help to make tiny tucks easier, read this article on  best entry level sewing machine today. It has both suggestions and guides to help you.

A tuck with this foot is created by setting the machine to sewing straight stitches and the needle is at the center position.

Tiny tuck application

Depend on the machine you are using, the process can be as simple as fixing the foot on, adjust the needle position and decide on the length you want. In some other models, you may need to put in some more effort.

No matter how easy it is to make tiny tucks with your machine, always test before you sew. Take some pieces of scrap and work on the starting space between the tucks.

If you set the spacing to be closer, the more tucks will be made, which also means that the more fabric will be in the tucks. So to maintain the original length you want, if you decide to have more tucks, you may want to cut a longer piece than usual.

Different fabrics may result in different outcomes, so try to test on a piece that has the same weight with your main fabrics. The best choice is the fabric from the same original yardage.

When you have worked on a certain spacing, use a pen or chalk for sewing to draw lines across the piece of fabric you want to make the tiny tucks.

You want to draw on the right side of the fabric so remember to use something that can be washed out, or will vanish under the heat of the iron. Make sure you draw heavy lines so you can see them clearly when you sew.

I personally prefer to work from right to left, but if you have your own preference, do this job in the way you feel comfortable with. Before you sew, fold along the lines you just draw.

As long as you have the Quarter Inch Seam Foot, even the best starter sewing machine  can make beautiful tiny tucks.

A quarter inch seam foot

Now press to keep the fabric in place. You can either use an iron, this yield the best result, or press with your finger. I have a hand-held toll and it does the job just fine.

Put the quarter inch seam foot on and line the fold with the flange. Sew the tucks.

Repeat the process with the rest of the panel.

When you are done, press the tucks again. Tiny tucks are often pressed in the same direction.

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