How do I do that?
NEED HELP!
Please feel free to contact me if you require advice on a project or help on finding certain materials.
Below you will find 2 videos that show you about hemming a garment or curtain. There are many stitches you can use but it is also very useful to be able to do hand stitching, as this gives a professional finish to certain garments.
PRACTICE MACHINE SEWING...
Practice makes perfect they say and with sewing it is very true. If you are new to machine sewing, practice some easy seams and seam finishes. Finishing keeps the seam tidy and stops fraying. Practice will help you to get accustomed to your machine and it's capabilities. Sewing a garment becomes much easier when doing this and it will ensure that you enjoy using your sewing machine. For more tips on sewing with a machine for beginners go to the page for TIPS & TRICKS
Sewing Machine Doctor,
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Getting to KNOW your Sewing Machine. I am going to place on this page advice on your sewing machine. I have many persons coming to my shop wanting their sewing machine repaired, when all that is needed is some basic knowledge of their machine. Thread is looping ! Yes! it could be timing and some would tell you this, when actually all that is required is a simple tightening of a screw. Or! adjusting the top tension. When I have spoken about this I get a response that makes me smile as they say "What or where is that" Come on Ladies and some Gentlemen too. Get your machine book out and have a good read and find your way around that machine. Look at the pictures above and see what a small amount of TLC can do for your machine. After all it is an engine and would you let your car engine get in this state, No! you would not. Use a small brush to remove lint from around the bobbin area or just blow around it during your sewing session. The brush I use is a make-up brush, soft and fluffy, wonderful for the job. Your sewing machine book will advise you about oiling. Too much oil is not good and in the wrong places will not help- follow the instruction. i If you have no book, then every few months use a machine oil and remove bobbin and clean thoroughly. When storing your machine, especially here in Spain, place it in it´s case or a box with newspaper. This will help with condensation.. If left out please cover when not in use. Most of the new machines now have moulded fitments so that they are not prone to rust, but please still take care in cleaning and your book will tell you if no oiling is necessary.
Need a quick and easy present that you could make. Watch the video below.
Not sure where to begin with laying out your pattern.!!!!
Let me introduce you to Des. Fab person and very qualified in the field of sewing. Watch carefully and you will find these videos easy to follow and will answer many of those question concerning Dressmaking. |
Tips for construction of blinds.
When purchasing fabrics for roller blinds, roman blinds etc: - do not attempt to use a printed material if the pattern has a tendency to "run off", i.e. the pattern is not square on the material. The fabric cannot be cut to compensate for any "run off of the design" because it will not hang straight and therefore will not roll up evenly. If there is to be a join in the fabric then any " run off" problem will be amplified and pattern matching will be extremely difficult. |
HOW TO GET LINES STRAIGHT AND SQUARE. A __________~___________~___________~___________C __ _ __ _ __ __ B_ A to B must be a really straight edge. Then if A to B measures 3 units and if A to C measures 4 units, when B to C measures 5 units. The angle will be a right angle |
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Know How!!!!
Bias Strips. How to cut Bias Strips for Piping. Download and be amazed how easy this is. |
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Free PDF
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Free Motion Quilting
Sew easy to do. Try it today and see those ideas come flowing through. You can sew many gifts for Family and Friends. Enjoy. |
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Your very own mini Ironing Board
Clever Idea! easy to transport and fits to your cutting board. |
For the Dishwasher in your home.
This quick and easy apron for you to make, as a gift or for yourself. |
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a_beginner_of_patchwork.2_to_use.pdf | |
File Size: | 11 kb |
File Type: |
How to sew an Elastic Casing is very simple. Just watch the video to the left, it clearly explains all you need to know. You can also download a pdf file with full instructions.
It not only tells you about the instruction shown in the video but also relates to draw string casings. If you are new to sewing this is an easy method for waistline gathering or sports pants tops and bottom of legs and many other fashion trends. When you download the pdf file you will need Acrobat Reader installed on your P.C. If you have any problems, please use the contact form at the bottom of page and I will get right back to you. Thank you. |
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Hand sewing can cover many projects. There is Tapestry, Embroidery, Cross Stitch plus many more for decorative sewing.
Hand sewing is used quite a lot when making clothes, as shown in the video above and also when doing certain finishing stitches on an edge. For example on a suite jacket or pockets. This really gives a professional finish to your garments.
Here at Needle & Threads we make alterations to Ladies and Gents garments. From the smallest job to renewing zips, taking in or if there is enough material, letting out. Certain fabrics allow this but not if the old stitch work has left any holes. This can be the case if it is a satin fabric and sometimes on cotton.
We have mentioned earlier about the composition of color within a room. The same applies to fashion and we all have our favorite colors.
Choose wisely, as a Lady in Red does not suite us all, you can use the color wheel for this purpose also. Blending colors together in fashion can add a personal touch of elegance to the most simplest of styles.
Finding Your Way Around Thread
With the array of threads available, how do you know which thread is best for your project? The following are some guidelines to help you select the perfect thread for your project.
General Thread Rules
Rayon thread: Designed for machine embroidery, it has shine to give the embroidered design a decorative effect. Rayon thread is perfect for rolled edges on your serger. Use it in the upper looper only.
Metallic thread: A man-made thread which is ideal for machine-embroidery or decorative serger finishes.
Basting thread: A lightly twisted thread used to hand- or machine-baste garments together. Easily broken, it's typically made of cotton fiber and available in white. Try using basting thread for fitting garments prior to sewing.
Invisible thread: Great for blind hemming or when it is difficult to match colors. It's typically made of a single strand of polyester and has no color. Because of the lack of color, it is difficult to see. Its one drawback is that it can be stiff and distort the fabric. I use invisible thread in my blind hemmer for hemming pants, draperies and other projects.
Buttonhole and carpet threads: Heavy duty and designed for heavy fabric where additional strength is desired. Often used for hand-sewing, it will work in the bobbin of most sewing machines and can give your sewing a decorative effect.
General purpose thread: A medium-weight thread made from cotton, silk,
With the array of threads available, how do you know which thread is best for your project? The following are some guidelines to help you select the perfect thread for your project.
General Thread Rules
- Color: Pick thread that is one shade darker than the fabric.
- Weight: Match the thread weight to the fabric weight. Threads are ranked by a number system. A high number indicates a light (or fine) thread, and the medium weight of thread is a 50 weight.
- Fiber: Try to match thread fiber to fabric fiber. Cotton fabric should be sewn with cotton thread; polyester or man made fiber should be sewn with polyester thread. If possible, don't sew natural fibers with polyester thread. Polyester fiber is stronger than most natural thread, so over time, the stronger polyester thread can break the weaker cotton fiber of the fabric. For quilting, look for thread labelled "machine quilting" or "hand quilting."
- Twist: The amount of spin of the thread fibers. A thread with a high amount of twist will be smoother, shinier and stronger than thread with little or no twist.
Rayon thread: Designed for machine embroidery, it has shine to give the embroidered design a decorative effect. Rayon thread is perfect for rolled edges on your serger. Use it in the upper looper only.
Metallic thread: A man-made thread which is ideal for machine-embroidery or decorative serger finishes.
Basting thread: A lightly twisted thread used to hand- or machine-baste garments together. Easily broken, it's typically made of cotton fiber and available in white. Try using basting thread for fitting garments prior to sewing.
Invisible thread: Great for blind hemming or when it is difficult to match colors. It's typically made of a single strand of polyester and has no color. Because of the lack of color, it is difficult to see. Its one drawback is that it can be stiff and distort the fabric. I use invisible thread in my blind hemmer for hemming pants, draperies and other projects.
Buttonhole and carpet threads: Heavy duty and designed for heavy fabric where additional strength is desired. Often used for hand-sewing, it will work in the bobbin of most sewing machines and can give your sewing a decorative effect.
General purpose thread: A medium-weight thread made from cotton, silk,
MACHINE EMBROIDERY
I have had some people asking me about Machine Embroidery, although I do not embroider by machine I will try to give some pointers for those who require help.
I have gathered some information, but, realistically you do need to refer to your manual
If your manual has been misplaced there are some links within the following information that may be able to help replace your manual.
Lost Manuals
If you have lost your manual. Try www.sewforless.com
The link below is very helpful.
http://sewing.about.com/
This link is simple to follow but does say you need your actual manual.
http://www.unique-homemade-gifts.com/embroidery-instructions.html
Machine embroidery commonly uses polyester, rayon, or metallic embroidery thread, though other thread types are available. 40 wt thread is the most commonly used embroidery thread weight. Bobbin thread is usually either 60 wt or 90 wt. The quality of thread used can greatly affect the number of thread breaks and other embroidery problems. Polyester thread is generally more color-safe and durable. High quality embroidery thread is produced by Madeira and Robison-Anton.
Backer/Stabilizer
Backing and stabilizer are often used interchangeably to refer to materials, generally non-woven textiles, which are placed inside or under the item to be embroidered. The backing provides support and stability to the garment which will improve the quality of the finished embroidered product. Backings come primarily in two types: cutaway and tear-away. With cutaway, the excess backing is cut with a pair of scissors. With tear-away, the excess is torn away after the item is embroidered. Additional types of stabilizer can be dissolved by water or heat.
Choosing a needle for machine sewing involves considering the type of fabric and the desired effect, as size 9 and 10 needles are best for sheer fabrics.
Read more: Crafts: Sewing With an Embroidery Machine | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way
· . 1 Ensure that the embroidery machine has been properly threaded. Refer to the machine's manual if necessary. For the tension tests, thread the bobbin with a different color of thread than the needle. This will help in the evaluation of tension settings.
Check the Tension Setting
Check the Bobbin Tension Setting
The link below is very helpful.
http://sewing.about.com/
I have had some people asking me about Machine Embroidery, although I do not embroider by machine I will try to give some pointers for those who require help.
I have gathered some information, but, realistically you do need to refer to your manual
If your manual has been misplaced there are some links within the following information that may be able to help replace your manual.
Lost Manuals
If you have lost your manual. Try www.sewforless.com
The link below is very helpful.
http://sewing.about.com/
This link is simple to follow but does say you need your actual manual.
http://www.unique-homemade-gifts.com/embroidery-instructions.html
Machine embroidery commonly uses polyester, rayon, or metallic embroidery thread, though other thread types are available. 40 wt thread is the most commonly used embroidery thread weight. Bobbin thread is usually either 60 wt or 90 wt. The quality of thread used can greatly affect the number of thread breaks and other embroidery problems. Polyester thread is generally more color-safe and durable. High quality embroidery thread is produced by Madeira and Robison-Anton.
Backer/Stabilizer
Backing and stabilizer are often used interchangeably to refer to materials, generally non-woven textiles, which are placed inside or under the item to be embroidered. The backing provides support and stability to the garment which will improve the quality of the finished embroidered product. Backings come primarily in two types: cutaway and tear-away. With cutaway, the excess backing is cut with a pair of scissors. With tear-away, the excess is torn away after the item is embroidered. Additional types of stabilizer can be dissolved by water or heat.
Choosing a needle for machine sewing involves considering the type of fabric and the desired effect, as size 9 and 10 needles are best for sheer fabrics.
Read more: Crafts: Sewing With an Embroidery Machine | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way
· . 1 Ensure that the embroidery machine has been properly threaded. Refer to the machine's manual if necessary. For the tension tests, thread the bobbin with a different color of thread than the needle. This will help in the evaluation of tension settings.
- 2 Program the machine to sew a test letter; traditionally, an "L" is used. Sew a test letter.
- 3 Check the tension of the stitching from the bobbin and the needle. The needle thread should produce 2/3 of the stitching; the bobbin thread should produce 1/3 of the stitching. Stitching should be tight and consistent but not pull the fabric.
Check the Tension Setting
- 1 Check the pre-tension setting. When correctly adjusted, the pre-tension setting brass threads should not be visible. If brass threads are visible on the pre-tension setting, tighten the knob by turning to the right until no threads are visible. The pre-tension adjustment is usually located at the top of the machine.
- 2 If the main adjustment is not correct, check the number of threads exposed on the main tension screw. Three to four threads are usually visible on a properly adjusted main tension screw. When the main tension screw is adjusted properly, the other tension screws can be adjusted slightly until the proper tension is attained.
- 3 Upon adjustment, sew the programmed letter again. After achieving correct tension on the main tension setting, check the bobbin setting.
Check the Bobbin Tension Setting
- 1 Inspect the stitching. If the bobbin tension is not correct, check the bobbin. Hold the bobbin with your left hand. With your right hand, pull 2 inches of thread from the bobbin. Verify that the thread is turning the bobbin clockwise. Place the bobbin back in the spool and again pull 2 inches of thread from the bobbin to make sure the bobbin is turning clockwise.
- 2 After placing the bobbin inside the bobbin case, thread the bobbin case by pulling the thread in a clockwise motion around the bobbin case. Pull the thread through the small gate in the bobbin case. To test the tension of the gate, drop the bobbin case holding the thread. If the bobbin case has been properly threaded, the tension in the bobbin case gate will allow the thread to drop approximately 2 inches and the bobbin will fall out.
- 3 If the bobbin did not allow the thread to drop approximately 2 inches, the bobbin case tension is too tight. To reduce the tension on the bobbin, identify the small pigtail on the bobbin casing (the pigtail has a flat screw protruding from the bobbin case). With the flat head screwdriver that was provided with the machine, turn the pigtail flat screw slightly to the left.
- 4 If the bobbin allowed thread to drop more than 2 inches, the bobbin case tension is too loose. To increase the tension on the bobbin, turn the pigtail flat screw slightly to the right.
- 5 Repeat the tension test and make necessary adjustments until the proper results are attained. Trim the thread to 1/4 inch. Insert the bobbin into the machine and thread the bobbin
The link below is very helpful.
http://sewing.about.com/
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