Community Corner

Garbage Bag Gala: 5 Things About Sewing Trash Bags and Duct Tape

My team of volunteer designers shared the lessons they learned after spending more than 100 total hours researching, designing and sewing for the Salvation Army's Garbage Bag Gala.

Tonight's the night! Who is going to see me model my trashy (get it?) couture at the ?

I asked what they learned about sewing duct tape and plastic. Here’s what they said:

  1. You can sew plastic, but you cannot sew duct tape. The needle just won’t go through.
  2. Thinner plastic sews better, but if it’s too thin, your model’s underthings might show through!
  3. If your plastic is wrinkled, ironing it works really well! Just use a silicone pressing cloth or else the iron “melts it a wee bit,” says designer Sue Thomas. Hanging the plastic in the sun also helps with wrinkles.
  4. There is no “grain” to plastic, the way there is with fabric, so you can sew it any way you want. Just be aware of the plastic’s stretch.
  5. Invest in double-sided tape! The lace on the wedding dress is entirely attached with tape.

To see these tips in action, come to the Salvation Army's Garbage Bag Gala at 7 p.m. July 27 at the Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop.

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