Jul
28
What kind of sewing machine should I use for beginners?
Filed Under Fashion & Accessories | 2 Comments
Crescent asked:
I am interested in what type of sewing machine to use for beginners. I want to be able to make my own clothes not as a profession but as a hobby. I always wanted to but I dont know how to use a sewing machine. I know how to sew and work with patterns and fabric just need a bit of simplicity with a starter sewing machine. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Deneen
I am interested in what type of sewing machine to use for beginners. I want to be able to make my own clothes not as a profession but as a hobby. I always wanted to but I dont know how to use a sewing machine. I know how to sew and work with patterns and fabric just need a bit of simplicity with a starter sewing machine. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Deneen
Jul
28
Sewing machine for beginner who wants to start designing handbags?
Filed Under Hobbies & Crafts | 2 Comments
pe☮ce asked:
I don’t know how to sew, but I am learning so I’m a beginner. I want to start designing handbags and am looking for a great beginner sewing machine for a good price (no more than 200 dollars) that will help me to start. Any suggestions?
I don’t know how to sew, but I am learning so I’m a beginner. I want to start designing handbags and am looking for a great beginner sewing machine for a good price (no more than 200 dollars) that will help me to start. Any suggestions?
Website links would be nice.
Boyd
Jul
28
Husband brought home old sewing machine, what to do about cigarette smell?
Filed Under Cleaning & Laundry | 2 Comments
crymeariver asked:
My husband brought home an old sewing machine from the 1940’s it still works great and came built in with the sewing table and everything. It smells horribly like smoke, like someone has been smoking around it for many years how do I clean it up would good old pledge work or is that not safe enough?
Leland
My husband brought home an old sewing machine from the 1940’s it still works great and came built in with the sewing table and everything. It smells horribly like smoke, like someone has been smoking around it for many years how do I clean it up would good old pledge work or is that not safe enough?
Leland
Jul
27
Used Sewing Machines
Filed Under Home And Family | Comments Off
Alison Cole asked:
Sewing machines are expensive. It’s no wonder so many people search for used sewing machines. Demand for used sewing machines is popular these days. There are a variety of used sewing machines of various brands and capacities available. Buyers can choose from a simple basic machine to a fully featured sewing machine with embroidery unit.
Buying a used sewing machine is a good alternative. They are an inexpensive option for low budget buyers. Buying a used sewing machine could save money. When buying a used sewing machine look out for standard features like the button sewing attachment, a tension dial, an auto bobbin winder, a built in light, reverse sewing, variable speed foot control and a soft cover for storing the sewing machine.
Most of the used sewing machines are reconditioned and are sold after cleaning and oiling and restoring missing parts. It should not take much time to repair or recondition. It has to be determined if reconditioning will work out to be cheap or not.
Buying factory reconditioned machines is another great way to get used sewing machines. Factory reconditioned machines are machines returned to the Factory by the original customer due to various reasons. These factory reconditioned sewing machines are rebuilt by Factory in-house technicians. The machines carry complete warranty. So before buying a factory reconditioned sewing machine, always read the instruction manual and any additional inserts to make sure that the machine comes with all its original accessories. Sometimes factory reconditioned products don’t include accessories. It is wise to check the specifications personally before placing the order.
Used sewing machines can be found at auctions, secondhand and online stores. There are numerous online sites selling used sewing machines. Of them, Ebay is the largest dealer. Sites like Overstock.com and Sell.com operate online market for such machines. Epinions.com has the best shopping information on used sewing machines.
Sammie
Sewing machines are expensive. It’s no wonder so many people search for used sewing machines. Demand for used sewing machines is popular these days. There are a variety of used sewing machines of various brands and capacities available. Buyers can choose from a simple basic machine to a fully featured sewing machine with embroidery unit.
Buying a used sewing machine is a good alternative. They are an inexpensive option for low budget buyers. Buying a used sewing machine could save money. When buying a used sewing machine look out for standard features like the button sewing attachment, a tension dial, an auto bobbin winder, a built in light, reverse sewing, variable speed foot control and a soft cover for storing the sewing machine.
Most of the used sewing machines are reconditioned and are sold after cleaning and oiling and restoring missing parts. It should not take much time to repair or recondition. It has to be determined if reconditioning will work out to be cheap or not.
Buying factory reconditioned machines is another great way to get used sewing machines. Factory reconditioned machines are machines returned to the Factory by the original customer due to various reasons. These factory reconditioned sewing machines are rebuilt by Factory in-house technicians. The machines carry complete warranty. So before buying a factory reconditioned sewing machine, always read the instruction manual and any additional inserts to make sure that the machine comes with all its original accessories. Sometimes factory reconditioned products don’t include accessories. It is wise to check the specifications personally before placing the order.
Used sewing machines can be found at auctions, secondhand and online stores. There are numerous online sites selling used sewing machines. Of them, Ebay is the largest dealer. Sites like Overstock.com and Sell.com operate online market for such machines. Epinions.com has the best shopping information on used sewing machines.
Sammie
Jul
26
What’s a good sewing machine for someone beginning to make clothing?
Filed Under Do It Yourself (DIY) | 2 Comments
Sweet Voltaire asked:
I’ve started making my own clothes recently (mainly reconstructing old clothes), but I don’t have a sewing machine so I’ve been having to do it all by hand. What is a good, basic sewing machine that can speed things up a bit? I want to not only continue reconstructing clothes, but possibly making jackets, dresses, shirts, etc. from scratch. So it needs to be able to handle some more heavy-duty projects, too.
Jannette
I’ve started making my own clothes recently (mainly reconstructing old clothes), but I don’t have a sewing machine so I’ve been having to do it all by hand. What is a good, basic sewing machine that can speed things up a bit? I want to not only continue reconstructing clothes, but possibly making jackets, dresses, shirts, etc. from scratch. So it needs to be able to handle some more heavy-duty projects, too.
Jannette
Jul
21
A Look at Embroidery Sewing Machines
Filed Under Shopping And Product Reviews | Comments Off
Alison Cole asked:
With the rapid advancement in technology for electric sewing machines a machine for every type of stitch was being born. It took several tries, however, to come up with a machine that could handle the task of embroidery.
Thomas Stone and James Henderson were granted a French patent in 1804 for “a machine that emulated hand sewing.” That same year a patent was granted to Scott John Duncan for an “embroidery machine with multiple needles.” The machines of all three men were unsuccessful and never came to being. It wasn’t until 1860, that Isaak Groebli combined previous hand looming techniques with existing sewing machine technology to create the first embroidery sewing machine.
The technology advanced greatly in 1911 when the Singer Sewing Company developed the first multi-head embroidery sewing machine with six heads and a pantograph attachment. It wasn’t until the 1950s that more advancements were introduced and technology continued to advance with computerization. During this decade, advancements in the sale of licensing rights and mass-merchandising opened up the market for factory-based embroidered items. Today embroidery sewing machines are used every day worldwide, some with up to thirty different heads, though most jobs require only the smaller machines.
Industrial sewing machines, like their domestic counterparts for the home seamstress, were created to simplify and speed up the otherwise labor-intensive hand stitching. Higher-end sewing machine models developed for the home often feature a hoop attachment and an embroider stitch mode. Crafters and seamstresses, who would use this feature, were frequently frustrated at having to constantly change out the different thread colors. Today’s advanced embroider sewing machines feature single or multi-heads for different spools of thread and are as easily available to the home seamstress as to the large garment factory. Many machine-embroidered items are created in small home-based businesses with affordable, easy-to-use, computer-operated embroidery sewing machines that do not require a lot of room. Specialized attachments allow for embroidery to be added to a variety of pre-manufactured products and fabrics, as well as the addition of sequins and other fancy enhancements.
Vicente
With the rapid advancement in technology for electric sewing machines a machine for every type of stitch was being born. It took several tries, however, to come up with a machine that could handle the task of embroidery.
Thomas Stone and James Henderson were granted a French patent in 1804 for “a machine that emulated hand sewing.” That same year a patent was granted to Scott John Duncan for an “embroidery machine with multiple needles.” The machines of all three men were unsuccessful and never came to being. It wasn’t until 1860, that Isaak Groebli combined previous hand looming techniques with existing sewing machine technology to create the first embroidery sewing machine.
The technology advanced greatly in 1911 when the Singer Sewing Company developed the first multi-head embroidery sewing machine with six heads and a pantograph attachment. It wasn’t until the 1950s that more advancements were introduced and technology continued to advance with computerization. During this decade, advancements in the sale of licensing rights and mass-merchandising opened up the market for factory-based embroidered items. Today embroidery sewing machines are used every day worldwide, some with up to thirty different heads, though most jobs require only the smaller machines.
Industrial sewing machines, like their domestic counterparts for the home seamstress, were created to simplify and speed up the otherwise labor-intensive hand stitching. Higher-end sewing machine models developed for the home often feature a hoop attachment and an embroider stitch mode. Crafters and seamstresses, who would use this feature, were frequently frustrated at having to constantly change out the different thread colors. Today’s advanced embroider sewing machines feature single or multi-heads for different spools of thread and are as easily available to the home seamstress as to the large garment factory. Many machine-embroidered items are created in small home-based businesses with affordable, easy-to-use, computer-operated embroidery sewing machines that do not require a lot of room. Specialized attachments allow for embroidery to be added to a variety of pre-manufactured products and fabrics, as well as the addition of sequins and other fancy enhancements.
Vicente
Jul
20
Money Saving Tips For Sewing
Filed Under Home And Family | Comments Off
Joanne Jones asked:
Many people think that the fabric needed for sewing is really expensive.
Many people think that the fabric needed for sewing is really expensive.
Jul
20
The Basics of Singer Sewing Machines
Filed Under Home Improvement | Comments Off
Tim Gorman asked:
If someone asked you to name a brand of sewing machine, chances are you’d answer Singer. They’re probably the best-known sewing machine brand in the entire industry. Singer sewing machines have been manufactured since 1851 using the highest quality standards. The zigzag stitch feature, now almost universally offered on sewing machines, was an innovation by Singer. They also developed and marketed the first electronic sewing machine.
It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in quilting, embroidery, home d
If someone asked you to name a brand of sewing machine, chances are you’d answer Singer. They’re probably the best-known sewing machine brand in the entire industry. Singer sewing machines have been manufactured since 1851 using the highest quality standards. The zigzag stitch feature, now almost universally offered on sewing machines, was an innovation by Singer. They also developed and marketed the first electronic sewing machine.
It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in quilting, embroidery, home d
Jul
18
Ways To Create A Sewing Room From Your Sewing Table
Filed Under Home And Family | Comments Off
Korbin Newlyn asked:
One of the things that numerous people complain about is not having enough space, and also not having enough storage area. This is particularly true when a person is living in a small apartment or home, and even more so if you have a family.
Hence, if you are a person who loves to sew, it can feel almost like a luxury to have enough room to cram a sewing table into the corner of your lounge room, let alone actually having enough space to allocate the area of a whole room to your sewing equipment.
For many of us, we make do with storing our projects, equipment and sewing supplies scattered throughout the house, and end up creating a jumbled mess of our sewing projects. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a very big area out of a very small one if we work in a smarter way instead of harder.
Creating an Ingenious Sewing Table
If you look around hard enough, you will find a number of sewing tables with good potential on the open market that can not just save you allot of space, but can make wind up creating additional space by utilizing some smart storage ideas that you can integrate for your own purposes.
Some of these ideas include tables that give you the ability to store various supplies below, as well as above the table, maintaining all of you items in one convenient neat package (very much like a computer desk).
Even more useful, particularly for those individuals who do not have the space for a large sewing table, are tables that are compact that have the ability to expand when you have to use them, and are very easily folded back to roughly half the size when you are not using them. Depending on the space you have available, either one of these options can fit into the smallest of apartment spaces without getting in your way.
Planning Your Own Sewing Table
If you have the money to afford it, it can pay off to design and get your own sewing table made from scratch so that you can make the most optimized use for whichever room you have available. There are a number of different designs that you can work with so that you can maximize the space you have available, which include the design of a U shape, L shape, or and I shaped sewing table.
An L shaped will work best when you are working in a corner, as this will take the best advantage of the space on more than one wall. An I shaped table will function best when working in a smaller cramped and narrow area, and a U shaped will end up working best if you have a full corner or open space that you are can work with.
When determining this, be certain to measure accurately the area in question, which also includes where you will be sitting, speak to a number of different professional manufacturers in regards to what materials will work best, and also shop around for the best prices as well as various deals that may be out there.
But until you do have the opportunity to get the sewing table you’ve always dreamed of, try creating added space in your house by integrating containers that are stackable or boxes that you can store various supplies, to maximize your space that you already have using shelving, and make certain that all of your equipment is out of reach of small children to ensure their safety. Whichever option you end up choosing, treat your sewing area with the care and respect that it deserves by keeping it tidy and clean, as this will make your work more enjoyable.
Migdalia
One of the things that numerous people complain about is not having enough space, and also not having enough storage area. This is particularly true when a person is living in a small apartment or home, and even more so if you have a family.
Hence, if you are a person who loves to sew, it can feel almost like a luxury to have enough room to cram a sewing table into the corner of your lounge room, let alone actually having enough space to allocate the area of a whole room to your sewing equipment.
For many of us, we make do with storing our projects, equipment and sewing supplies scattered throughout the house, and end up creating a jumbled mess of our sewing projects. Nevertheless, it is possible to make a very big area out of a very small one if we work in a smarter way instead of harder.
Creating an Ingenious Sewing Table
If you look around hard enough, you will find a number of sewing tables with good potential on the open market that can not just save you allot of space, but can make wind up creating additional space by utilizing some smart storage ideas that you can integrate for your own purposes.
Some of these ideas include tables that give you the ability to store various supplies below, as well as above the table, maintaining all of you items in one convenient neat package (very much like a computer desk).
Even more useful, particularly for those individuals who do not have the space for a large sewing table, are tables that are compact that have the ability to expand when you have to use them, and are very easily folded back to roughly half the size when you are not using them. Depending on the space you have available, either one of these options can fit into the smallest of apartment spaces without getting in your way.
Planning Your Own Sewing Table
If you have the money to afford it, it can pay off to design and get your own sewing table made from scratch so that you can make the most optimized use for whichever room you have available. There are a number of different designs that you can work with so that you can maximize the space you have available, which include the design of a U shape, L shape, or and I shaped sewing table.
An L shaped will work best when you are working in a corner, as this will take the best advantage of the space on more than one wall. An I shaped table will function best when working in a smaller cramped and narrow area, and a U shaped will end up working best if you have a full corner or open space that you are can work with.
When determining this, be certain to measure accurately the area in question, which also includes where you will be sitting, speak to a number of different professional manufacturers in regards to what materials will work best, and also shop around for the best prices as well as various deals that may be out there.
But until you do have the opportunity to get the sewing table you’ve always dreamed of, try creating added space in your house by integrating containers that are stackable or boxes that you can store various supplies, to maximize your space that you already have using shelving, and make certain that all of your equipment is out of reach of small children to ensure their safety. Whichever option you end up choosing, treat your sewing area with the care and respect that it deserves by keeping it tidy and clean, as this will make your work more enjoyable.
Migdalia
Jul
18
Sewing Essentials and Tips for Beginners
Filed Under Home And Family | Comments Off
Ivan A Cuxeva asked:
As it sometimes happen, we see a piece of clothing which grabs our attention due to its material, texture or patters but for some reason it’s the wrong size so we can’t buy it, other times we might be a little short on the “money department” which makes it impossible to buy designer clothing. All of these problems could easily be solved if only you knew how to sew. By learning this useful skill anyone can customize his/her wardrobe as well as those special items around the house; and just like many people who know how to sew can tell us, sewing your own clothing and other items can be significantly less expensive compared to buying them in stores.
Taking all of these factors in consideration we arrive to the conclusion that learning how to sew is important, especially if “fashion” is your thing, the steps and tips shown below can help you get started:
- The very first step for beginners involves getting acquainted with all of the sewing tools which will be used to modify and create pieces of clothing, a good way of doing just that is by either buying a used sewing machine or by borrowing one from a friend, if you happen to have the manual handy it is highly recommended to read it entirely, make sure to specially read the parts about safety steps since the last thing you want to do is hurt yourself while using one of these machines. Starting with an used machine will help you develop your skills and knowledge making it a lot easier on yourself when you decide to buy a bigger-more expensive machine. After following these steps it is also recommended to sign up for a sewing class because this is a skill you will need to develop gradually and there is no one better than a sewing teacher to help you master this art, these classes are quite common and can be found in community schools which start at different levels.
- Practice makes perfect, finding easy to follow sewing patterns to practice with will help you accomplish your goals. Start by sewing on simple pieces of clothing such as a shirts or even pillow covers, avoid having to sew complex patterns or sewing on expensive pieces of clothing you have just purchased; if for some reason you fail on the fist project the piece would be ruined, so do yourself a favor and keep it as simple as possible while learning.
- Give yourself time and be patient, the practice of sewing and learning how to sew requires a calmed and relaxed person so make sure you do not take too many drinks with sugar and caffeine, this will only make things harder for you. If you need to cut part of the clothing to make it the right size make sure you measure at least twice and be as precise as possible. The first few pieces might not fit your tastes or might have something wrong (too short, too long, etc.) do not be discouraged and keep practicing, at the end you’ll see it was all worth the wait.
Right after you finish your fist project make sure to start on the next one. This will ensure all the things you have learned stay fresh in your memory and will help you to acquire new skills. Following these simple steps for beginners will ensure you learn how to sew the right way, giving you the great skill to later on customize/create your own clothing.
Liana
As it sometimes happen, we see a piece of clothing which grabs our attention due to its material, texture or patters but for some reason it’s the wrong size so we can’t buy it, other times we might be a little short on the “money department” which makes it impossible to buy designer clothing. All of these problems could easily be solved if only you knew how to sew. By learning this useful skill anyone can customize his/her wardrobe as well as those special items around the house; and just like many people who know how to sew can tell us, sewing your own clothing and other items can be significantly less expensive compared to buying them in stores.
Taking all of these factors in consideration we arrive to the conclusion that learning how to sew is important, especially if “fashion” is your thing, the steps and tips shown below can help you get started:
- The very first step for beginners involves getting acquainted with all of the sewing tools which will be used to modify and create pieces of clothing, a good way of doing just that is by either buying a used sewing machine or by borrowing one from a friend, if you happen to have the manual handy it is highly recommended to read it entirely, make sure to specially read the parts about safety steps since the last thing you want to do is hurt yourself while using one of these machines. Starting with an used machine will help you develop your skills and knowledge making it a lot easier on yourself when you decide to buy a bigger-more expensive machine. After following these steps it is also recommended to sign up for a sewing class because this is a skill you will need to develop gradually and there is no one better than a sewing teacher to help you master this art, these classes are quite common and can be found in community schools which start at different levels.
- Practice makes perfect, finding easy to follow sewing patterns to practice with will help you accomplish your goals. Start by sewing on simple pieces of clothing such as a shirts or even pillow covers, avoid having to sew complex patterns or sewing on expensive pieces of clothing you have just purchased; if for some reason you fail on the fist project the piece would be ruined, so do yourself a favor and keep it as simple as possible while learning.
- Give yourself time and be patient, the practice of sewing and learning how to sew requires a calmed and relaxed person so make sure you do not take too many drinks with sugar and caffeine, this will only make things harder for you. If you need to cut part of the clothing to make it the right size make sure you measure at least twice and be as precise as possible. The first few pieces might not fit your tastes or might have something wrong (too short, too long, etc.) do not be discouraged and keep practicing, at the end you’ll see it was all worth the wait.
Right after you finish your fist project make sure to start on the next one. This will ensure all the things you have learned stay fresh in your memory and will help you to acquire new skills. Following these simple steps for beginners will ensure you learn how to sew the right way, giving you the great skill to later on customize/create your own clothing.
Liana