So, how *did* I come up with the
tape over the presser foot trick for sewing vinyl? Well, here's the story:
In the 90's, the goth/industrial dance club I frequented started hosting a fetish night once a month on the Saturday closest to the full moon. To encourage fetishiness, they offered a hugely discounted cover charge if you came in "fetish" attire, which included vinyl clothes.
Being the thrifty soul I am, I became determined to get myself a fetish outfit. I found a kick-ass, hand made vinyl dress in a shop on upper Haight. I almost swallowed my tongue when I saw the price tag -- $110! It sort of negates the whole cover charge savings to buy a super expensive dress to wear once a month ... plus, did I mention I was thrifty?
So, as I always do, I thought, "Hey, I can make one myself!" I went to my favorite fabric store in a basement on Mission Street and bought a simple sundress pattern, a zipper, and some black vinyl. I bet I didn't spend more than $8.
Once I got home, I learned that you can't pin vinyl because pins leave permanent puncture marks. Either I taped the pattern pieces to the vinyl or I traced them on the fabric-y inside of the vinyl to cut them out ... I can't remember which. Problem Number Two was that I was very intimidated by the zipper. And, knowing what I know now, I think I would have totally bungled it with all those bulky layers of vinyl. I probably wouldn't have thought to just leave all the edges raw and unfolded ... which would have worked great. Luckily the vinyl I bought was very stretchy, so I decided to skip the zipper. I was able to slink it on and still have it be tight where it was supposed to be tight. Problem Number Three was that when I put the vinyl in the sewing machine IT WOULD NOT MOVE.
By this time, I'd spent hours on this project and I was a little panicked. I don't remember exactly how I came upon the tape solution, but I probably started rubbing everything in the apartment on the vinyl to see if it stuck or not. How wonderful that the one thing that doesn't stick to vinyl is also sticky on the other side so it'll stay on the presser foot?!
I apologize for the headless photo. I wanted to show you the dress, but OMG the only photos I have of it suck so bad. The white haze on the right is the camera strap for crying out loud. This one at least shows some of the details of the dress. And ... isn't that pose embarrassing enough? Do I have to show you my terrible looking head? Well? That's what I thought. Thank you for understanding.