Old Style Sewers - Help Needed

maryb

It helps a lot to hold on to the ends of your threads when you start a seam otherwise they get tangled up in the stitches underneath and that can cause looping and even chew up thin fabrics

maryb

sorry pressed 'post' too soon. The other thing that I find helps is to use Gutermann polyester thread. For some reason the tension does not seems to need adjusting as often as with Sylko. I had a Brother sewing machine before I splurged on my trusty Bernina but I found it was true of both machines.

Finally, it sound stupid but make sure that you put your bobbin in so that the thread is running in the right direction - whether that is clockwise or anti clockwise depends on your machine. It's surprisningly easy to get wrong.

Str4berr3

Hey Curry_Queen,

I Just spent all week dashing in and out of the local fabric shop so I could sew some lining on my curtains.

The curtain lining cost me 30 Pounds. But the actual curtains itself cost me 4 pounds a pair from Asda sale - Funny is'nt it - sewing seems like a expensive thing.

BTW: Is there such thing as buying curly mohair fabric? I want to make those fluffy mohair cushions.

sooz

Ticklemouse wrote:

i did wonder why you were asking about OS 'sewers' - I had visions of Old Fashioned drains

However, I can't be of any help but will read this thread with interest as I can never get the tensioning right on my machine and I really need to learn how to make curtains (properly:D)

me too. imagining pouring vinegar into cess pits............. :rotfl:

anyway, certainly tension problems. easily resolved by releasing tension with a hammer.

Curry_Queen

Am I the only one who immediately thought of needlework on reading the thread title? Or have most of you got your minds in the gutter :rotfl:

Ticklemouse

Str4berr3 wrote:

BTW: Is there such thing as buying curly mohair fabric? I want to make those fluffy mohair cushions.

Do you have mill shops near you? Even a Dunelm? They often have various 'fluffy' materials. I couldn't vouch for other haberdashers as I don't frequent them, but know when I've bought my (miles of) curtain material from mill shops,they have had some. Don't know if it's what you want though. You could always ask at your local material supplier - they will tell you or point you in the right direction.

MrsMW

Boyes stores are great for sewing stuff, fabric etc.
I agree about using Guttermans thread, I've always used it and if I have to use another kind I have trouble with the tension. Definitely a false economy to buy cheap thread.

xxbutterflygirlxx

I lost my ancient Singer to the 'clogging up' problem. If it can't be fixed by adjusting the tension I would definitely reccomend a service, it didn't help my first ancient Singer (a beautiful one built into a cabinet) but it cured the second. Having owned three ancient machines and two new ones I have to say the old ones were better, I'm just a sucker for fancy bells and whistles that I never use! Goodness 5 machines, makes me sound so old but I started using the first (which was then donated to me by my Nan) when I was 4 (34 years ago).

tootles_2

I love sewing machines at one time had 5, am now down to 3, I have an 1886 singer which still sews, alhtough I do not use it, also have a singer featherweight made in 1955 which fits into a small box, it sews beautifully, just a stright stitch but has an attachement that moves the fabric so it does a sort of zigzag stitch and and bells and whistle Janome 6500 with a large throat plate for machine quilting.

In the past I have had Janomes, Berninas and Singers. My grandmother had a singer treadle machine on which she earnt her living as a tailoress..... I would love one of those machines, the Amish in the US use then for piecing their beautiful quilts.

I worked for a while as a demonstrator for Janome when they were Newhome, next to Bernina I think they are very good machines.....my daughter has one I bought her back in 1984 which is still going strong in spite of the hammering she gives it making curtains, dressmaking etc, she has even sewed a tent with it!!!!!

Ticklemouse

I didn't know Janome used to be Newhome. Maybe I do have a decent machine in the attic I actually uncovered it last night whilst sorting out stuff for the boot sale.

I remember the treadle Singer machines - we had them at school - in the 70's We did have some leccy ones too. I wish I had one of those now

I PROMISE that once this boot sale is out of the way and I have a clear attic room, I WILL GET MY MACHINE OUT AND MAKE THINGS. There, I've said it, so you lot better hold me to that.