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| Image source: Youtube channel of Van An |
What are a profile and template?
Profiles are basically templates used in sewing operation to standardize and make the sewing process quicker. It is made of transparent hard plastic with markings made from permanent marker to mark for any details. Profiles are always made of two or more plastic sheet to sandwich between two or three layers of garment component.
The two or more plastic layers are attached with special tape with increased strength as it has to act as a hinge between the plastics. Often sandpaper of lower grid or any kind of rough texture surface can be used inside the profile to hold fabric from slippage. For sewing with a profile, a special set of pressure foot, feed dog, and throat plate, are used.
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| Profile for different garment components |
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| Profile Stitch gauge set (Image credit: alibaba.com) |
Process of making Profile and template
The process of making a profile starts with tracing the component patterns on the plastic sheet. After that, a plastic white sheet called milk sheet is attached around the marked pattern. Milk sheets are much less thick compared to the plastic. This is temporary as after cutting, the cut sheet is removed. It acts as a guide for the panel when it will move through the pattern cutter. After this cut panels are taken to the pattern cutter wherein the profile is cut according to the sewing directions. After cutting all the panels of the profile, they are attached with the tape to hold all the panels so that it won’t misalign after long use.
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| Profile and template cutter |
Preparation of the profile during operation is very simple. It starts with opening the profile and then placing the components according to the profile shape or markings. This is followed by closing the profile and start sewing. The profile should be used with care as incorrect placement or alignment of the profile can break the needle on contact.
Advantages of Profile
The advantages of using a profile for sewing are:
- It removes the material handling element in between the operation transferring it at the beginning of the operation while setting the component to the profile leading to increased productivity.
- Standardization in the sewing as in there is little to no deviation in the sewing line as the machine is run through the profile cut out.
- Consistent quality from the operation provided the components have been placed properly.
- With good quality material profiles can last throughout the order.
Limitations of profile usage
- They can only be used when there is no matching of stripes, checks or plaids as there is no way of aligning the fabric inside the profile.
- Often there require special machines with much longer sewing arm to accommodate for the movement of the profile, again depending on the size.
- Lighter gsm fabrics, delicate fabrics, satin type of fabrics can be difficult to use
- It can only be used for any kind of superimposed seam but difficult seam types can be made much more complicated profile made by increasing the number of panel layers.
Application of profiles
- Collar run stitch for formal shirt
- Pocket flap making. Watch the below video on pocket flap making.
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