Jenny and Julie Learn to Sew: 411s if you will.
So, I went to Kentucky and then . . . well, I fell off the side of a frozen lake or somesuch. Though, in all fairness, the busy chaos of my life is good in many ways. Sometimes it is hell, but . . .
With that being said.
Jenny and Julie Learn to Sew. Yes. Yes.
Though, they are learning via my friend Nat right now.
Last weekend Nat came over to, literally, learn to sew on the machine. I let her use my trusty Bernina . . . what? It is sweetly quiet compared to the, ahem, loud Singer. Besides, when Bernie was in my Momma's possession--all those years--someone (and it may or may not have been me) may have taken her apart a few times for quick and dirty repairs. So, I felt confident. It all worked out. Of course, it worked out as I was like . . . shit, I need to post a basics 101 before uploading my Have a Beer One Hour Convert pattern. So . . . a few 411s for ya, as these are the basics of the basics. Why? A lot of it doesn't really mean much until you do it. Much like with anything, until a practical use arises the information in jumbled and meaningless Greek.
So, Nat needed to learn to sew for another project she is working on . . . and, it worked for me so I could take some video and pics of someone besides me chugging along. Oh, yea, an adorable ten month old helped.
Basics:
Sewing with a machine is not like driving a car. Okay, well it is--BUT don't drive like you do on the interstate. Just, don't.
Slow and steady wins the race on this one. Nat pushed on the machine foot (the name for it) gently. She got a slow and steady stitch, and like a good student she practiced on scrap fabric before doing it on her real stuff.
Of course you need to thread your machine. I have a Bernina and a Singer. Simple enough. But, I do recommend you YouTube how to thread . . . why? Machines are similar and different. I also think it might be redundant for me to post here . . . Tilly has a great photo show on her site.
She has a whole series on it:see here. I am fond of her approach, and aside from humor and cussing I don't think I'd add much. So . . . don't reinvent the wheel, so to speak.
Here's a couple of videos . . . and I make no apologies. I already told you I don't have much to add beyond humor. The baby decided to reach for my phone, hand, and well toward me whenever I filmed. It's all good.
First up, threading the machine . . . I forget to get one that day Nat was here, so I did it today (while fighting this plaque I've had all week (no joke). The maroon streaks on my machine are from cheap thread . . . eleven years ago. Don't use cheap thread people. I'm sorry, not sorry. Upside, I got out of bed today for a little bit.
Pardon my dying mani. I painted it post Yoga on the Solstice, then promptly got the plaque (probably from two hours of yoga next to a girl breathing like a mac truck was coming through). So, my mani needs redone, but in sewing terms it could stand for sewing well done. I'm cheesy, I know.
Next, watch the newbie sew her first line. Nifty, eh?
Always remember to pull the threads behind the needle. Hold them down. Keep your fingers away from the moving needle and presser foot (Presser foot: foot used to hold the fabric between the machine and needle, you raise it to change thread, insert fabric, and remove fabric. You always have it down while sewing). Fingers . . . keep them the hell away people.
Nasty story: when I was five my Mom put a sewing machine needle through her finger. I was five, so you can only imagine. My twelve year old brother, on the other hand, turned green and blew chunks. Yup.
Yea, I was all about her doing it, as you don't remember shit unless you do it yourself . . . in the end, I think she did good.
On that note, sorry for such a long delay in posting . . . though, the blunders of this post should be enough to amuse you as make up. Next up, that skirt and a beer I've promised.
With that being said.
Jenny and Julie Learn to Sew. Yes. Yes.
Though, they are learning via my friend Nat right now.
Last weekend Nat came over to, literally, learn to sew on the machine. I let her use my trusty Bernina . . . what? It is sweetly quiet compared to the, ahem, loud Singer. Besides, when Bernie was in my Momma's possession--all those years--someone (and it may or may not have been me) may have taken her apart a few times for quick and dirty repairs. So, I felt confident. It all worked out. Of course, it worked out as I was like . . . shit, I need to post a basics 101 before uploading my Have a Beer One Hour Convert pattern. So . . . a few 411s for ya, as these are the basics of the basics. Why? A lot of it doesn't really mean much until you do it. Much like with anything, until a practical use arises the information in jumbled and meaningless Greek.
So, Nat needed to learn to sew for another project she is working on . . . and, it worked for me so I could take some video and pics of someone besides me chugging along. Oh, yea, an adorable ten month old helped.
Basics:
Sewing with a machine is not like driving a car. Okay, well it is--BUT don't drive like you do on the interstate. Just, don't.
Slow and steady wins the race on this one. Nat pushed on the machine foot (the name for it) gently. She got a slow and steady stitch, and like a good student she practiced on scrap fabric before doing it on her real stuff.
Of course you need to thread your machine. I have a Bernina and a Singer. Simple enough. But, I do recommend you YouTube how to thread . . . why? Machines are similar and different. I also think it might be redundant for me to post here . . . Tilly has a great photo show on her site.
She has a whole series on it:see here. I am fond of her approach, and aside from humor and cussing I don't think I'd add much. So . . . don't reinvent the wheel, so to speak.
Here's a couple of videos . . . and I make no apologies. I already told you I don't have much to add beyond humor. The baby decided to reach for my phone, hand, and well toward me whenever I filmed. It's all good.
First up, threading the machine . . . I forget to get one that day Nat was here, so I did it today (while fighting this plaque I've had all week (no joke). The maroon streaks on my machine are from cheap thread . . . eleven years ago. Don't use cheap thread people. I'm sorry, not sorry. Upside, I got out of bed today for a little bit.
Pardon my dying mani. I painted it post Yoga on the Solstice, then promptly got the plaque (probably from two hours of yoga next to a girl breathing like a mac truck was coming through). So, my mani needs redone, but in sewing terms it could stand for sewing well done. I'm cheesy, I know.
Next, watch the newbie sew her first line. Nifty, eh?
Always remember to pull the threads behind the needle. Hold them down. Keep your fingers away from the moving needle and presser foot (Presser foot: foot used to hold the fabric between the machine and needle, you raise it to change thread, insert fabric, and remove fabric. You always have it down while sewing). Fingers . . . keep them the hell away people.
Nasty story: when I was five my Mom put a sewing machine needle through her finger. I was five, so you can only imagine. My twelve year old brother, on the other hand, turned green and blew chunks. Yup.
Pattern called for 5/8th of an inch, she practiced with such. Make sure your edges are flush, pin them. Remove said pins as you sew. Don't sew over the pins, or you'll risk throwing your timing out of alignment (which on a sewing machine is similar to the frame of a car getting bent . . . there is no going back).
We used a contrasting thread so she could see it right away.
She's sewing a pocket here. For real.
And, of course . . . edge stitching. Here, Most machines come with an edging/hem foot. You use the foot, place the fabric next to the divider, and adjust your needle to how are you want the edging to be. Simple. Oh, I use a number three stitch here.
Yea, I was all about her doing it, as you don't remember shit unless you do it yourself . . . in the end, I think she did good.
And look at that, she made a Tilly and the Buttons wrap with some left over fabric I had . . . and she lined the pockets with some scrap I had. Cha cha.
Some other 411s. Change the machine needle about every eight hours. Though, if the stitches start skipping, or you hear a ping type sound, just change the needle. Nine times of ten that is what it is.
Sew shit you like, not something you think you should to A) learn, B) be productive, or C) someone else says you should. Bullshit. Sew what you like. Sew with fabric that excites you. We all know I do quasi pornographic things with perfectly good clothing. You certainly don't have to, but I must say . . . makes things a whole lot like a party inside. Just saying.
Keep a stitch ripper close by. Don't be afraid to use it. Mine . . . we get acquainted from time to time, or well . . . have juicy love affair over erroneous stitches and iced tea.
Practice on a bunch of crappy fabric. Go to the clearance, remnant bin and find the ugliest cottons you can find. Then, go get some bright assed colored thread (Coats and Clark or Gutterman, do not go cheap on the thread . . . unless you enjoy taking your machine apart for thread hell). Next, lace up the machine and sew a bunch of lines . . . find your pace. Find your rhythm. Sit with your owners manual reading up on stitch types of your machine. Practice lengths. Though, make sure your fabrics are something interesting to look at. Again . . . it is all about visual appeal.
And . . . voila. Just have some fun with it.
On that note, sorry for such a long delay in posting . . . though, the blunders of this post should be enough to amuse you as make up. Next up, that skirt and a beer I've promised.
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