The Sewing Room

Rikki

Anacrusis wrote: »

Hi, would this be the right place to ask about a sewing machine problem? I'm a sewing machine novice and I think I have a tension problem... what it is is I'm sewing two layers of thin velvet type material with a thinnish piece of wadding (a spike in a dinosaur costume!), and the bobbin thread is going bonkers - does anyone know what I should be doing to sort this out? I've tried the manual and adjusting various things but I'm not getting anywhere, if anyone can help that would be fantastic!

It could be as simple as re threading.

Before threading, lift the presser foot, make sure the needle bar is at the top then thread making sure the cotton is between the tension disc, thread it through the needle, catch the bobbin thread and try sewing again.

cambermam

Hi, any room for a sewing newbie?

I've been given a machine and it's taken me all afternoon to work out how to thread it, using my Readers Digest book for help.

But i'm still confused about the knobs on my machine and what they all do. It's this machine. From my confused reading of it all, i'm thinking my tension is too tight, how do i change it? And how do i know what to have it on, or is it just trial and error?! Even figuring out how to change the stitch has confused me big time lol. (I told you i'm a newb hehe). Also been reading about pressure and feed which is equally confusing.

Has anyone here got this machine?!

Thanks

Tamster150

jayne2011 wrote: »

Hi another newbie here
I am a big sewer, I have started up my own business, and I am doing a craft fair in Coventry in November.
I make kids clothes, bunting, bags, blankets, bibs and more.
Look forward to sharing my goodies and tutorials with you
I would share my facebook page, but don't want to get into trouble for advertising xxx

Not sure about FB, but you can add a blog or photosharing site to your profile.

Tamster150

cambermam wrote: »

Hi, any room for a sewing newbie?

I've been given a machine and it's taken me all afternoon to work out how to thread it, using my Readers Digest book for help.

But i'm still confused about the knobs on my machine and what they all do. It's this machine. From my confused reading of it all, i'm thinking my tension is too tight, how do i change it? And how do i know what to have it on, or is it just trial and error?! Even figuring out how to change the stitch has confused me big time lol. (I told you i'm a newb hehe). Also been reading about pressure and feed which is equally confusing.

Has anyone here got this machine?!

Thanks

I am guessing that the dial in the middle at the top of your machine is the tension dial as that is where mine is. I find on my machine (an old Bernina record) that the tension dial is VERY sensitive and only needs to be turned a mm or 2. also one way adjusts top & the other the bobbin but I can never remember which, will have a google for you. The other dials on the right will be for the stitch width & length.

Any machine probs, I was told to rethread (possibly with better quality thread if using cheapo thread or old thread) and then new needle. Most machine probs are meant to be due to old needles.

hth

hmo

cambermam wrote: »

Hi, any room for a sewing newbie?

I've been given a machine and it's taken me all afternoon to work out how to thread it, using my Readers Digest book for help.

But i'm still confused about the knobs on my machine and what they all do. It's this machine. From my confused reading of it all, i'm thinking my tension is too tight, how do i change it? And how do i know what to have it on, or is it just trial and error?! Even figuring out how to change the stitch has confused me big time lol. (I told you i'm a newb hehe). Also been reading about pressure and feed which is equally confusing.

Has anyone here got this machine?!

Thanks

the ones bottom left are the needle position, right, centre, left

are there any colours on any of the dials that correspond with the yellow, orange, purple diagrams along the top or are they buttons that you press to do that stitch

the one on the top of the machine i think is tension as tension is normally factory set about 4 on most modern machines

round dial 0-1 & 234 looks like stitch width or length

twin needle setting and reverse and 4 step button hole

Rikki

cambermam wrote: »

Hi, any room for a sewing newbie?

I've been given a machine and it's taken me all afternoon to work out how to thread it, using my Readers Digest book for help.

But i'm still confused about the knobs on my machine and what they all do. It's this machine. From my confused reading of it all, i'm thinking my tension is too tight, how do i change it? And how do i know what to have it on, or is it just trial and error?! Even figuring out how to change the stitch has confused me big time lol. (I told you i'm a newb hehe). Also been reading about pressure and feed which is equally confusing.

Has anyone here got this machine?!

Thanks

The tension dial is the one on the top of the machine. If the dial has an auto use that if not set it to 3/4 to start with.

You must have the needle bar up when you lay the thread through the tension discs.

Check the needle is in correctly and threaded correctly.

The bobbin cotton should be clockwise when slotted into the bobbin case, then the thread is pulled back on itself into the little clip on the right. The bobbin case then clicks firmly into the machine.


Hold the needle thread turn the wheel so the needle goes down and picks up the bobbin thread, pull the threads to the back of the machine.

Off to look at the dials...

..the dotted arrow square knob is reverse, you'd just hold this on briefly.
Personally I just leave the needle in the fabric, lift the foot, turn the fabric 180 and sew slowly along the original row of stitches.


EDIT: Dials...

Bottom dial outer is for the needle position indicated on the left of the machine.

Bottom dial inner is zigzag width.

Top dial on the front is your stitch width.

The orange marks on the machine indicate the settings for buttonholes.

raven83

Hi i would like to make some bunting this year for crimbo, can anyone give me any tips and also what is the best ribbon to use, grosrain or bias?

Thanks!

cambermam

Thank you all SO much for the help with the machine, i've sat reading your posts getting my head round it all and have now stuck some little sticky labels to my machine so i have no excuses now lol.

One thing though i still confused about is the yellow, orange and purple boxes on the front (they're not buttons) so are they just to tell me what is possible by changing the zig zag width/stitch width? If that's the case then how do i do the purple ones (curvy stitch)

nuttywoman

cambermam wrote: »

Thank you all SO much for the help with the machine, i've sat reading your posts getting my head round it all and have now stuck some little sticky labels to my machine so i have no excuses now lol.

One thing though i still confused about is the yellow, orange and purple boxes on the front (they're not buttons) so are they just to tell me what is possible by changing the zig zag width/stitch width? If that's the case then how do i do the purple ones (curvy stitch)

i`m not sure but i think they`re for when you do buttonholes ,:D hope that helps x
yes, almost certain its for buttonholes , the purple box sort of shows you

rufusdog52

raven83 wrote: »

Hi i would like to make some bunting this year for crimbo, can anyone give me any tips and also what is the best ribbon to use, grosrain or bias?

Thanks!

I made bunting a few weeks ago after being inspired by others on here. You just need to decide what size pennants you want and then draw it onto a thick card and cut it out, then you can draw around this template onto the backs of your fabric. Cut two bits for each pennant if you are using cotton and dont want the edges to look frayed. Sew two pieces together by placing right sides together and sew around the two long pointy sides. then turn through (snip the raw edges at the point without cutting the stitching so you dont have so much fabric inside). Make sure you get the point bit out as best as you can then what I did was place the cardboard template insde the pennnant and press, this gave it the right shape. Do this for all the pennants then get some bias binding. Fold it in half and start sewing along the folded bias binding until you want to add a pennant then place the top of the pennant inside the folded bias binding and carry on sewing then sew a bit more straight until you want to add the next pennant etc.

Hope this helps xx