| 摘要 |
In the field of garment manufacture there is a need for an improved manner of joining two stretchable fabric portions to one another, in a desired configuration, that produces an unobtrusive join of sufficient strength which is able to accommodate stretching of the fabric portions. A method of joining first and second stretchable fabric portions (32, 36) to one another in a desired configuration comprises the steps of sewing a first thread (12) through at least one of the first and second fabric portions (32, 36) to define a first stitch formation (14); looping a second thread (16) within the first stitch formation (14) such that the second thread (16) and the first thread (12) overlap one another to create a sewn seam, one of the threads (12, 16) being a fusible thread and the other of the threads (12, 16) being a non-fusible thread; positioning the first and second fabric portions (32, 36) relative to one another in a desired configuration; melting the fusible thread; and forming a plurality of discrete bonding element portions (20) extending along a bonding path (18). The discrete bonding element portions (20) retain the first and second fabric portions (32, 36) in the desired configuration. A fabric construction comprises first and second stretchable fabric portions (32, 36) joined to one another in a desired configuration and a plurality of discrete bonding element portions (20) formed from a fusible thread. The discrete bonding element portions (20) extend along a bonding path (18) and retain the first and second fabric portions (32, 36) in the desired configuration. A garment comprises a fabric construction as described hereinabove. |
