Sewing

I'm about to drop-kick my sewing machine out the back door. I have the same problem with stitches skipping and bunching up. I haven't sewn anything seriously for years - just curtains and Halloween costumes. I learned to sew by making all my maternity clothes; it was a real shock afterwards to find out that "regular" clothes have to fit - lol. I'd like to make some baby clothes with the great-grandbaby coming, but I'm not sure my old machine is worth getting fixed. Maybe I'll buy myself a new one for Christmas.
 

Lenore I have sewn for any years , Most times the cause of skipping stitches is solved by a new ,or correct needle suited to the fabric your sewing ..If all else fails get it serviced by a proper sewing machine machanic
 
For getting thread into those increasingly tinier needle holes, a very experienced older woman taught me to have a small rectangle of white box board or plastic on hand to hold behind the needle. It really does make the hole easier to see.
 

Many of you are most complimentary about my lady's sewing skills, for which she, and I, are grateful. My wife has been sewing since her aunt taught her at the age of eight. It crossed my mind to show you and then I wondered if a previous thread could be resurrected, that's how I came across this thread.
When we bought this house, seeing the large garden, with space enough for a cabin, I commissioned a carpenter to construct a work place to her specification, this what they came up with:
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She loves it and spends many a happy hour in there.
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She came across this vintage wooden ironing board at an event that has since been forgotten in the mists of time. It makes an ideal cutting table for sleeves and similar intricacies.
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The cabin walls have a number of vintage sewing machines, all of which are in working order, but are there as an adornment, rather than use.
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For her everyday use, she has a modern machine with every conceivable extra, the machine on the right is called an overlocker.
The cabin has proved to be a very worthwhile investment, given the bulging state of my wardrobe.
In another post, I will show you around the cabin, but if you sew, please feel free to share with us.
 
I used to sew some of my own clothes, using simple patterns or no pattern. Once I had to make a rather exacting costume for my daughter, without a pattern (puff sleeves, etc.). I surprised myself by doing it successfully.

As the years went by, I became less and less interested in sewing, and kept a sewing machine for minor alterations and repairs only.

Now I hardly bother. If something is the wrong length or whatever, I just give it away. I will fix things like split seams though.
 
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Here's one of my Hawaiian shirts coming together. First the fabric is laid out and the paper pattern pieces pinned to it. The panels are then cut out. The above photos are just two of those panels.
shirt3.jpgshirt1.jpg
Here you see the interfacing being inserted then the garment starts to resemble a shirt.
At this stage there's still much to do. The buttonholes all need inserting, followed by the buttons,
which have to line up with their adjacent buttonhole. Sleeve and shirt tail hems all need to be finished.
shirt2.jpg
All ready to be worn. Look closely and you will
see how the pattern all lines up. The pocket all
but disappears and the front panels match up
perfectly. I should post these shirts on the
guilty secret thread, the lady has made 50 of
them for me.
 
Off White trousers 001.JPGOff White trousers 003.JPG
These are, or will be, my new trousers. I shall be having a fitting later today. The trousers will fit perfectly but when the waistband is finished internal buttons for braces/suspenders will be sewn in. The trouser hems will be finished with an inch and a half turned up cuff and the fly will be button fastening.
 
Murrmurr said:
"Does any one out there have any good tips or suggestions on how to make my sewing machine do right."

What's it doing wrong, specifically?
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probably needs a tune up. It might have a build-up of dust or lint inside of it. it may need to be oiled. it might need a new needle.
 
AnneTeak said:
probably needs a tune up. It might have a build-up of dust or lint inside of it. it may need to be oiled. it might need a new needle.
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if u can take the plate off, underneath where the needle goes down, i bet you would find a whole lot of lint build-up. get a lil brush and get all that stuff out. put it all back together. change the needle. It probably needs oil. Usually quilt or fabric stores have someone who services machines. It would be worth getting a tune-up.
 
I too admire people who have such a talent to sew. I wish I knew how. I took sewing in school and my eyesight back then was very poor but I tried.I recall making my mama an apron . It was simple but I laid out pattern ,cut it out and sewed it on machine at school., I was pretty proud of myself too lol.I hope you enjoy your PJ"S they sound so "pretty" the way you described them.
 
horseless carriage said:
Many of you are most complimentary about my lady's sewing skills, for which she, and I, are grateful. My wife has been sewing since her aunt taught her at the age of eight. It crossed my mind to show you and then I wondered if a previous thread could be resurrected, that's how I came across this thread.
When we bought this house, seeing the large garden, with space enough for a cabin, I commissioned a carpenter to construct a work place to her specification, this what they came up with:
View attachment 273583
She loves it and spends many a happy hour in there.
View attachment 273584
She came across this vintage wooden ironing board at an event that has since been forgotten in the mists of time. It makes an ideal cutting table for sleeves and similar intricacies.
View attachment 273580
The cabin walls have a number of vintage sewing machines, all of which are in working order, but are there as an adornment, rather than use.
View attachment 273581View attachment 273582
For her everyday use, she has a modern machine with every conceivable extra, the machine on the right is called an overlocker.
The cabin has proved to be a very worthwhile investment, given the bulging state of my wardrobe.
In another post, I will show you around the cabin, but if you sew, please feel free to share with us.
Click to expand...
I love my overlocker but, rethreading can be a chore, especially the dreaded lower looper although, of course, it gets easier each time you have to rethread. Have you seen the AirThread overlockers? You pull a lever which releases an airblast system which blows the looper threads into position!

I love the idea of a sewing cabin :)
 
Trish said:
I love the idea of a sewing cabin :)
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This was her cabin following construction, it has since been painted. The carpenter recommended paint rather than lacquer or varnish, paint weathers much better. Her cabin today has far less room, such is the work and storage.
We are considering moving house in the near future, a bungalow without a staircase is so much more preferable. When we move I shall treat her to a new and bigger cabin, and if there is adjacent sewer plumbing I might even have a toilet and hand basin attached like an anti-room.
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I have two sewing machines, both given to me by my mother. One is a 1947 Capitol brand she gave me in 1970, weighs 37 lbs, only does fwd/rev and zigzag. The other is more modern singer for clothes and such. Here is a photo of my Jeep with the cab-top I made with the Capitol. It sewed though 6 layers of soft top fabric, including the rear window plastic. [I bought the doors.]

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~Lenore said:
I guess sewing is a hobby to some folks. I always felt it was a way to clothe myself in things and in colors I wanted. I never could seem to find clothes I dreamed up in my mind in stores. So I started sewing.

Then I grew OLD and decided my clothes would all out llive me. So I had the brilliant idea to donate all of my lovely patterns and supplies to Goodwill so someone could use them. What a nice idea.

However, I kept on living and getting older and so did my clothes! :rolleyes: Recently I realized if I didn't die soon my clothes would not out live me after all. Especially my pajamas which I love. They are wearing out and I do not think I am going to die very soon. So I am trying to make a few pairs of PJs that might out live me this time.

I love soft, silky, and stretchy PJs. I looked for some all ready made to buy and they cost $200! There is no way I will pay that. So I am sewing some new ones and my sewing machine is not being nice. It does not like that soft, silky fabric at all. It is skipping stitches and even not stitching at all at times.

Does any one out there have any good tips or suggestions on how to make my sewing machine do right.

This is the type and color I am trying now:

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.

I may be old but I still like pretty things. :D
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Well I know I have to use a special sewing needle designed specifically for stretchy fabrics. But maybe you know that already.
 
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The pattern of this Aloha shirt required more fabric than usual.
As a result there was quite an off-cut left over. The lady got creative.

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Do you like the bow tie?
 
My old Kenmore has given up the ghost. I'm lost without a sewing machine but I understand that the new ones have plastic gears and will not last long. Can anyone recommend a good machine with metal gears? Nothing fancy --just a straight and reverse and zig-zag stitch. I just mend and darn and alter and make simple things.
 

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