rlbond86

Ok, i am trying to make a flag from fabric, i have everything folded and need to sew around the edges. I've never used a sewing machine, and was wondering what the heck am i supposed to do!

Bryndian_Dhai

Oh, wow. This is gonna be difficult without being there to see what I'm telling you.

Ok... First things first, be sure the machine is set up properly. There should be a spool of thread and a full bobbin of the same thread. The bobbin casing is in the platform under the sewing machine foot, where the needle goes in and out. I hope you have a book for the machine, every machine's bobbin and needle threads differently!

After you've threaded your bobbin and threaded your machine and needle, you need to check your settings. Unless you have some sort of odd fabric, your foot pressure should be set about mid range (if your machine has one), the stitch length should be fairly short, probably a 1 (If there's a 0, definitely between 1 and 2. If no 0 then between 2 and 3). I wouldn't mess with the thread tension. And I would choose a straight stitch... If your machine has icons, the icon will look like a bunch of dashes. -------- << Like that.

Make sure the foot pedal is where you can reach it comfortably and where you are pressing down instead of against it... Its a pain in the ass if you push it across the room. Make sure the two ends of the thread (the bobbin end and the needle end) are pushed back so that they trail off the back of the machine. Take the fabric you need to sew and line it up under the foot, about a quarter to a half inch from the end of the fabric. The bulk of your fabric should be to the left of the needle, and the needle should be approximately centered between the inside edge of the hem and the outside edge. Flip the lever to drop the foot onto the fabric, and with your hand, manually turn the wheel to make the tip of the needle puncture the fabric... The reason for this is to keep the needle from coming unthreaded or breaking. Its just a trick to help make your job easier. With your left hand on the fabric on the outside just behind the needle (to guide the fabric) and your right on the inside just in front of the needle (don't put your hand too far back, the needle screw on your fingers will hurt!), press the foot pedal slowly until the needle begins to move. Let it stitch about half an inch, then stop and press the reverse button (It should be on the front of the machine, either a button or a lever that you have to hold down but won't switch on or off). Holding the reverse button, press the foot pedal again slowly and let the machine backstitch for the distance of your first stitch. Stop again, then let go of the reverse button and begin sewing forward again slowly, picking up speed as you get the hang of it.

When you nearly come to the end of the side, slow down!! Stop when you come to the end, reverse stitch again for about half an inch, then forward stitch to the end and go past it for a couple of stitches. Stop, then roll the needle out of the fabric, lift the foot and pull your fabric out and snip the thread.

Voila!! Side one! For the other three sides, repeat.

I hope that was helpful and not confusing. Its a lot simpler than it sounds. If I look around, I might be able to find a link with illustrations. Maybe. *grins*

Personally, I would take a scrap of fabric and practice before you start on the real thing. I think once the lightbulb goes on and my directions meet real experience, you won't have any problems at all.

Good luck!

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“When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
~Sinclair Lewis

Plummie

Those are some great instructions, Bryndian. Do you have anybody in person who can help show you? It's kind of difficult to explain in words but she has done a great job. Definitely practice on a piece of scrap fabric before you start the real thing. Once you get the hang of it, it's just like driving a car.

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Kim