Any seamstresses out there? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Grasshopper Green · 01-27-2005, 04:48 PM

I got a new sewing machine for Christmas (I wanted it, hubby wasn't doing anything bad lol). Anyway, it's been 13 years since I've used a machine....needless to say I'm a bit rusty. Anyone have any tips for starting out again? I'm looking to make some easy things like placemats and simple pillows until I really get the hang of things again.

nickynicole · 01-28-2005, 12:37 AM

I'm no professional seamstress, but I did just finish making a wedding dress, so I can at least pretend like I have experience.

Ummm... start small? Learn the stitches on your machine. This is something I didn't do until recently... but all of those funny shaped stitches have a purpuse! I was shocked to learn that they were more than just decorative.

Pip · 01-28-2005, 05:21 AM

Small is good, means you don't have to rip up yards of seam.

I guess familiarizing yourself with all the different settings is a good start, just flip out on a scrap piece of fabric. That's what I do before I sew anything on an unknown machine. Try making a teddybear or similar to get into the fine maneuvering.

Grasshopper Green · 01-28-2005, 06:54 PM

Thanks for the tips! I threaded it last night and amazingly, did it right on the first try! It seemed like it all came back pretty quickly because I ended up fixing a hole in a pair of pants and hemming another pair, all with straight stitching! I'm not to the point of making a quilt yet (my ultimate goal), but I think I'm going to tackle a pillow over the weekend.

ShaniFaye · 01-28-2005, 06:59 PM

aww heck you dont use a sewing machine to make a quilt!! Those have to be done by hand

(at least all mine are...saves me from cussing out a confounded machine)

Grasshopper Green · 01-28-2005, 07:30 PM

Hehe!! I looked at the books in the fabric store about machine quilting...it's possible but takes some skill from what I read...if I had to do it by hand I don't think I would bother, my hand stitching has never been that good, and I think I'd be setting fire to the thing before it was over

ShaniFaye · 01-28-2005, 07:33 PM

I've done it both ways (I had a mother who insisted I learn how to use a sewing machine) on my part at least, I'd much rather do it by hand because you can take it places with you and work on it "wherever" thats much harder to do when you're using a machine lol. You may want to set fire to it, but when you're done its such a GREAT feeling.

at any rate......what kind of machine did you get? (and by that I mean singer, white...etc)

White is my favorite machine brand

Grasshopper Green · 01-28-2005, 07:39 PM

I got a Singer. I really don't know the difference between brands, since the only one I've ever used previously was ages ago in home ec.

I really hadn't thought about stitching while I'm away doing things before....I may have to take that into consideration (as if I leave the house a lot other than work). I REALLY hope I don't get too frustrated though, because I want to make my son a quilt. My mom made us all quilts as children and I guess I want to pass that along to my son

ShaniFaye · 01-28-2005, 07:42 PM

I've just seemed to have better luck with White than I have Singers.....The first quilt I made my dauther was out of her old baby clothes (you know the ones that are too stained or whatever to have given to goodwill, handed down to someone else etc) I just cut them in bits and stitched them up minus the stained parts

Grasshopper Green · 01-28-2005, 07:56 PM

That baby clothes idea is great...I hadn't thought of that but that could definitely be something I incorporate into his quilt. I'd just have to dig them out of storage!!

And, totally off subject, but I searched before I posted and found your post on your wedding dress, and I just wanted to say that I loved it

ShaniFaye · 01-28-2005, 07:58 PM

well thank you!!!!

and Im glad you like the baby clothes idea.....there were some I just couldnt bear to part with even though they were taking up storage space....it was a good way to keep them useful for a long time to come!!

01-27-2005, 04:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	Any seamstresses out there? I got a new sewing machine for Christmas (I wanted it, hubby wasn't doing anything bad lol). Anyway, it's been 13 years since I've used a machine....needless to say I'm a bit rusty. Anyone have any tips for starting out again? I'm looking to make some easy things like placemats and simple pillows until I really get the hang of things again.

01-28-2005, 12:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
nickynicole Crazy Location: not here.	I'm no professional seamstress, but I did just finish making a wedding dress, so I can at least pretend like I have experience. Ummm... start small? Learn the stitches on your machine. This is something I didn't do until recently... but all of those funny shaped stitches have a purpuse! I was shocked to learn that they were more than just decorative. Last edited by nickynicole; 01-28-2005 at 10:09 AM..

01-28-2005, 06:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	aww heck you dont use a sewing machine to make a quilt!! Those have to be done by hand (at least all mine are...saves me from cussing out a confounded machine) __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

01-28-2005, 07:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	I've done it both ways (I had a mother who insisted I learn how to use a sewing machine) on my part at least, I'd much rather do it by hand because you can take it places with you and work on it "wherever" thats much harder to do when you're using a machine lol. You may want to set fire to it, but when you're done its such a GREAT feeling. at any rate......what kind of machine did you get? (and by that I mean singer, white...etc) White is my favorite machine brand __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

01-28-2005, 07:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	I've just seemed to have better luck with White than I have Singers.....The first quilt I made my dauther was out of her old baby clothes (you know the ones that are too stained or whatever to have given to goodwill, handed down to someone else etc) I just cut them in bits and stitched them up minus the stained parts __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

01-28-2005, 05:21 AM	#3 (permalink)
Pip Likes Hats Location: Stockholm, Sweden	Small is good, means you don't have to rip up yards of seam. I guess familiarizing yourself with all the different settings is a good start, just flip out on a scrap piece of fabric. That's what I do before I sew anything on an unknown machine. Try making a teddybear or similar to get into the fine maneuvering.

01-28-2005, 06:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	Thanks for the tips! I threaded it last night and amazingly, did it right on the first try! It seemed like it all came back pretty quickly because I ended up fixing a hole in a pair of pants and hemming another pair, all with straight stitching! I'm not to the point of making a quilt yet (my ultimate goal), but I think I'm going to tackle a pillow over the weekend.

01-28-2005, 07:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	Hehe!! I looked at the books in the fabric store about machine quilting...it's possible but takes some skill from what I read...if I had to do it by hand I don't think I would bother, my hand stitching has never been that good, and I think I'd be setting fire to the thing before it was over

01-28-2005, 07:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	I got a Singer. I really don't know the difference between brands, since the only one I've ever used previously was ages ago in home ec. I really hadn't thought about stitching while I'm away doing things before....I may have to take that into consideration (as if I leave the house a lot other than work). I REALLY hope I don't get too frustrated though, because I want to make my son a quilt. My mom made us all quilts as children and I guess I want to pass that along to my son

01-28-2005, 07:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	That baby clothes idea is great...I hadn't thought of that but that could definitely be something I incorporate into his quilt. I'd just have to dig them out of storage!! And, totally off subject, but I searched before I posted and found your post on your wedding dress, and I just wanted to say that I loved it

01-28-2005, 07:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	well thank you!!!! and Im glad you like the baby clothes idea.....there were some I just couldnt bear to part with even though they were taking up storage space....it was a good way to keep them useful for a long time to come!! __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*