The Sewing Room

Bunny200

If you want a rotary cutter (like a pizza cutter) you need a mat as well otherwise you will have lines in your carpet/floor! The long rulers are brilliant, they give you a hard surface to cut against, they have measurement (usually inches) all over them in a grid so its easy to measure the fabric, they also have 45 degree lines which quilters use. I use mine ALL the time, I use it for cutting fabric & drafting patterns anything I need a measurement for. Yes they are not cheap but once you get one you will never regret it. Best advice I can give is to get the biggest mat and ruler you can afford, sometime ebay can have some good offers. I bought mine from CottonPatch and it cost about £50.

danemi1

I have the green mat - that all - just confused as to which rotary cutter and plastic grid thingy

Bunny200

Does anyone have an overlocker? I'm considering asking for one for my birthday but not sure if it will be the right thing for me.

Atm I have 2 machines, which between them have a number of stitches I regularly use (staight, zig zag, overlock(single thread), blind hem, stretch stitch). I have a thing about the inside looking as good as the outside and always use french seams but get really bugged when I fit an invisible zip (the only type of zip I'll use!) and have to have exposed seams so I overlock those edges but its stilla little untidy for me. I'm assuming that with an overlocker I can have a better finish as the edge will be stitched and trimmed. I would also like to be able to coverstitch, I've done a faux version with a twin needle and while its good, its not good enough! From the very little I've picked up about overlockers they don't all do coverstitch AFAIK.

So basically,
would an overlocker enable me to do the things I mentioned?
what questions do I need to ask about overlockers?
Do you need specialist thread for overlockers?
Are the needles/accessories expensive?
does anyone have any recommendations or don't-touch-with-a-barge-pole suggestions?
How much would they cost (was thinking £150-£200?)

Unfortunatly I don't have anyone in real life to ask these questions to (no sewers in my family/circle of friends) or who has an overlocker what I can play with. I intend to go to the local sewing machine shop to chat to the man and probably buy it there but want to be informed first so I can ask the right question and get the right one and don't get fleeced!

Thanks you guys are a great source of support and inspiration to me!

shirlgirl2004

danemi1 wrote: »

omg - aaagh - totally inexperienced - saw one in dunhelm today and it was nearly seventeen pounds but when I picked it up a lady that was passing me said oh my they are fabulous - I wouldnt be without it - its fab for measuring and cutting!" it was I dunno about 4 inches across the top and then about 4 times as long in length very roughly and she said you ise it with a rotary cutter - but when I looked the two combined worked out at about £38 - any ideas/tips??? thanks xxxxx

This place is cheap. It may not look as cheap as Ebay but you are buying the best makes (olfa and fiskars) rather than cheap unknown quality. Obviously some people don't mind buying the cheap bits from Ebay and taking pot luck but I'd rather pay a little more and know what I'm getting. The service is good although you have to email your order and then they call you for your card details, well obviously you could just call them but I only have time to do lists in the evening when the shops are shut.

danemi1

thank you but for someone starting out which ones do you suggest - which cutter and which ruler??? many thanks

Bunny200

danemi1 wrote: »

I have the green mat - that all - just confused as to which rotary cutter and plastic grid thingy

I'm not sure theres much difference between the cutters, I bought a set which included a Clover rotary cutter but I also about an OLFA cutter so I could change the blade to a pinking cutter, but tbh I haven't bought one and now probably never will as I don't think I would use it! Obviously you will need to change blades as you use it (must get round to changing mine!) so maybe look at the prices of replacement blades as a factor.


The ruler - I would say get one thats as big as you can afford. I don't think there are many different brands or versions of the ruler ( waiting to be corrected!) but a rectangular one with either imperial or metric grid would be the best. Cotton Patch do 6" x 24" ruler with 30, 45,& 60 degree marking for £15.50. Thats what I have but no idea if you can get a better price.

hth!

PootleFlump_3

danemi1 wrote: »

thank you but for someone starting out which ones do you suggest - which cutter and which ruler??? many thanks

Hi Danemi,
Not sure about rulers (as Im looking for one too) but when I was looking for a cutter I was told to definately get Olfa. The ones with the retractable blade (it has a handle that you press to get the blade to come out which means you can add more pressure as well. I bought one and love it (sure Ill love it even more once I get a rotary ruler instead of my wooden yard stick!) Think mine was about £20/£25ish. x

danemi1

thanks love x

Rikki

Bunny200 wrote: »

Does anyone have an overlocker? I'm considering asking for one for my birthday but not sure if it will be the right thing for me.

Atm I have 2 machines, which between them have a number of stitches I regularly use (staight, zig zag, overlock(single thread), blind hem, stretch stitch). I have a thing about the inside looking as good as the outside and always use french seams but get really bugged when I fit an invisible zip (the only type of zip I'll use!) and have to have exposed seams so I overlock those edges but its stilla little untidy for me. I'm assuming that with an overlocker I can have a better finish as the edge will be stitched and trimmed. I would also like to be able to coverstitch, I've done a faux version with a twin needle and while its good, its not good enough! From the very little I've picked up about overlockers they don't all do coverstitch AFAIK.

So basically,
would an overlocker enable me to do the things I mentioned?
what questions do I need to ask about overlockers?
Do you need specialist thread for overlockers?
Are the needles/accessories expensive?
does anyone have any recommendations or don't-touch-with-a-barge-pole suggestions?
How much would they cost (was thinking £150-£200?)

Unfortunatly I don't have anyone in real life to ask these questions to (no sewers in my family/circle of friends) or who has an overlocker what I can play with. I intend to go to the local sewing machine shop to chat to the man and probably buy it there but want to be informed first so I can ask the right question and get the right one and don't get fleeced!

Thanks you guys are a great source of support and inspiration to me!

Very few overlockers do cover stitch and those that do are expensive.
I have an Elna 744 that does cover stitch as well as overlocks and was over £400 at the time of purchase.

Thread for overlockers is the same but in bigger reels.ie: 1000yards spools. You don't have to buy many colours just black, grey, white and cream to be used with the main garment colour thread.

Extra feet can be expensive but you don't really need them. Maybe only a blind hem foot.

MSE thread on overlockers. CLICK HERE

moonpenny

Good Morning ladies!

I want to start making Baby blankets (fleece and the fur pile fabric)
Could anyone tell me what sort of machine/overlocker I would need to do the edges like a "blanket stitch"?
I have tried on my normal machine but it doesn't work. The stitches areway too small even at the highest setting.
also, does anyone know what sort of thread is used to edge blankets?
Thanks!