Sewing – Method of sewing – Stitch forming
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-03-13
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3741)
Sewing
Method of sewing
Stitch forming
C112S439000, C112S440000, C112S409000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199495
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to sewing methods and tools for creating textured material, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for sewing and cutting fabric using a layering-and-slashing technique.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Layering and slashing fabric to create innovative textures and color combinations has been known since the days of the Renaissance. This technique has been adopted to create textured clothing that resembles chenille fabric. The look and feel of this fabric can take on different characteristics, depending on the fabric patterns and colors used in the design, as well as the type of fabrics and the order in which the fabrics are layered.
One modern method that is known for creating a chenille-type fabric involves the following steps. Multiple layers of cloth are stacked on top of each other. For instance, six different layers can be used, and these may be a combination of solid colors and prints, and may even be of different fibers (for example, cotton and rayon). In this example, the cloth layers are formed from six-inch squares.
Next, a 45 degree angle is marked from corner to corner on the stack of layered cloth. The 45 degree line is then used as a guide for stitching through all layers of cloth along the line. After the row of stitching is complete, a second stitch is then sewn parallel to the first row of stitching, preferably spaced five-eighths of an inch (1.5 cm) apart to create a channel. Additional parallel rows are stitched on the fabric until the entire stack of layered cloth is stitched into parallel channels. Blunt-tipped scissors are then used to cut through the top layers between the stitching rows. The base layer of cloth is not cut. This results in several rows of parallel strips of fabric sewn to the base layer.
Finally, the cut stack of cloth is soaked with water and wrung out. The fabric is then rubbed and agitated as much as possible and dried. Depending on the order in which the cloth layers were stacked and the type of fabric chosen, the resulting material will vary from a soft, fluffy feel, to a subtle naturally-mottled pattern.
One disadvantage with the prior method is that it requires the use of scissors to cut through five layers of cloth without cutting through the sixth or bottom layer of cloth. Great effort may sometimes be required to use scissors to cut all the layers of fabric at one time. While each layer can separately be cut along each row, it would require passing the scissors along the row five times, or as many times as there are layers, in order to effectuate a cut down to the base layer. Separately cutting each layer would make it difficult to have each layer cut along the same line, resulting in unevenness in the dimensions. Hence, there is a need for a faster and easier method for cutting the upper layers of cloth without cutting the base layer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for sewing and cutting multiple layers of fabric in evenly-spaced parallel rows. In accordance with one method of the present invention, a strip of at least semi-rigid material is used as a guide for creating parallel rows of stitching on multiple layers of cloth. Multiple layers of cloth are stacked and one row of stitching is placed through all of the layers along a marked line. The strip of material is then placed on the layered cloth and used as a guide for a second parallel row of stitching. Ideally, the stitching guide is place one-eighth of an inch from the previous row of stitching. Using a zipper foot on a sewing machine, the needle position is moved to the edge of the zipper foot, next to the stitching guide. A row of stitching is then formed by running the edge of the zipper foot close to the stitching guide, but leaving enough space for the needle to stitch the fabric. The two parallel rows of stitching create a channel having dimensions that permits the insertion of the stitching guide.
In accordance with another method of the present invention, the stitching guide is inserted in a channel formed in the fabric and used as a cutting mat or strip for cutting one or more layers of the multiple layers of cloth. In particular, after a channel is created by stitching as described above, a cutting tool, such as a rotary cutter, is run along the top of the channel where the desired cut is to be made. The stitching guide inside the channel functions as a cutting strip on which the rotary cutting tool bears against for cutting the top layers of cloth while protecting the lower layer or layers of cloth.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the stitching guide is formed from a strip of compliant, semi-rigid material of suitable thickness and hardness to act as a stitching guide and cutting mat. The guide is formed of a predetermined width to create channels of desired width in the cloth. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the stitching guide can be formed with rounded comers to facilitate insertion into a fabric channel.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a stitching guide is used in the stitched channel and a ruler of sufficient thickness is placed on top of the cloth and the stitching guide to be used as a cutting guide for a cutting tool, such as a rotary cutter.
As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing, the invention facilitates the sewing and slashing of multiple layers of cloth, such as to create a chenille-type fabric. The use of scissors for cutting the multiple layers of cloth is no longer required. In addition, the use of modem rotary cutting tools will speed up and simplify the cutting of multiple layers of cloth in a straight line as described above. The stitching guide also aids in creating perfectly parallel rows of stitching and functions as a cutting mat or cutting strip for slashing with a rotary cutter between the rows of stitching.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1560283 (1925-11-01), Mehlem
patent: 2155212 (1939-04-01), Zenorini
patent: 3226732 (1966-01-01), Zerilli
patent: 3771479 (1973-11-01), Mavis
patent: 6101962 (2000-08-01), Hinshaw
Izaguirre Ismael
Seep IP Law Group PLLC
Tarleton E. Russell
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