The sewing thread

Emm-in-a-pickle

Kittie you must be really proud of your DGD, and she must be rightly proud of herself too!

I bought my youngest DGD (9) and her new stepsister (10) a Brother LS14 for Christmas, and they`re loving it. They spend weekends in a little flat over family pub, while their 2 youngest brothers are with the other grandparents, so the sewing machine is kept there, set up and can be left safe from prying little brothers! So far, they are both able to thread up/change colours etc., and have spent time just `playing` - following outlines of printed stars and balls on a hideous cloth that was part of a bargain remnant pack from Abakhan! This has given them lots of practise with getting the feel of the pedal, co-ordinating hand/eye/foot and they are both quite good with the precision, the stitches are where they want them now!
We haven`t started with the zigzag stitches yet as they were keen to carry on exploring the straight stitch so far.
They are great at respecting each others` turn, hands OFF but watching and prompting, so I`m happy to declare them `safe` with the machine.
Actual `makes` so far is just 2 aprons (identical) for their eldest brother, and a cover for the sewing machine, a joint effort. Their pillowcases were scheduled for next weekend, but by then they may have other ideas - we go at their pace.
The ideas that were coming out at last weekend are exiting though. While the 10yr old is thinking of clothes (she asked about making shorts!) the 9yr old is thinking about `making pictures`, she has an arty streak so that could be promising, especially when we start using zigzag stitches.
They both have the knack of using pins safely too - I bought them a wheel of pins with coloured hearts on so they would be less likely to get missed and cause trouble, and it`s almost like surgical procedure accounting for each pin taken out of the wheel!

I thought things might stall a bit because they`ll only be using the machine at weekends, but it seems that in the weekdays they`re doing a lot of thinking about it, and we`re all looking forward to school hols and a bit more time for sewing.

[Deleted User]

so very nice to read that Em. so nice to know that skills are not going to vanish, thanks to patient grandmas

ELIZA_D

oh my god ...this (needle and )thread,could not be more timely. week 4 into dressmaking....chuffed to be able to thread a machine, life changing as my mom can and nan could,neither could teach me to sew or knit as I was always too "caggy handed".
excited

ivyleaf

That reminds me of my DD! She had endless trouble trying to remember how to thread the sewing machines at school, it just wouldn't stick in her head for some reason, but several years ago I bought her a machine of her own and she found she could thread it after all :j

loocyloo

I am still sewing sequins on!


... about 12 hours and 20m of 'stringed' sequins (and a few individual ones to finish the back of the waistcoat - IF I have time before skirt is needed, I shall match the pattern, but at the moment I still need to finish getting a matched pattern on the front, then pinned and then sewn!) I need to sit at the dining table to sew, as fabric needs to be kept flat, and sewing with 'invisible' thread is dreadful! - it is like using fishing line, and if too long ties itself in knots, or if too short, unthreads itself from the needle!
I also need to have the time, patience and inclination to sew the sequins, all of which have been in short supply lately. however, my aim is to finish it this weekend. ( if only because I have some more costume sewing to be doing! ;0) )


PLUS :0) a friends baby is due imminently and I have some lovely star patterned fleece & cotton waiting to be made into a blanket!

[Deleted User]

just a quickie, flicking through channels. I am watching 36 create n craft, just for interest and tips only, I am NOT buying but interesting to see some ideas of what people do and can do

they have `learn to sew and cushions` dvd, so not just quilting

a bag and other kits. Like that they include materials. I will be sitting on my hands but very interested and quite excited to see that sewing is not dead

Great to see a sewing business again, maybe they are starting up to feed a desire to sew in the general population

also pretty applique so the sewing kit will take a long time to make, nice, like the owls

https://www.accuquilt.com/ideas/totes-and-bags/

doh that site is american, never mind, good for ideas

Living_proof

I am filled with enthusiasm and had expressed an interest in joining a local sewing class which sounded wonderful. I was to go along tonight for a taster, but would you believe it, I couldn't find the sewing machine for the life of me.

It's a 32 year old Frister and Rossman, and quite the thing in its day, but either I have lent it out and forgotten or lost it in one of the two moves I have had in the last two years. Unless it is in one of the 20-ish boxes unpacked in the garage, but they are all labelled and not one of them says 'sewing machine'!

So I need to source another machine and finances dictate it will have to be second hand and a modest price. I reach retirement age in November and could devote a little more of the leisure budget then maybe. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good quality intermediate machine I could look out for locally please?

[Deleted User]

janome is a good steady machine, I used mine for many years and dd has it now. It is the make I chose for dgd. Maybe gumtree near you? Ebay has lots, just thinking for you to get a prelim look on there, not to buy one. I am so sorry about your machine, you must be gutted

sashanut

Hi all


Just wondering if any of you clever sew-ists could give me some advice please? I have never been taught to sew but taught myself a long time ago, mainly from a monthly magazine..Well I bought a new machine a little while ago (and an overlocker, never been out of its box!). I really want to start sewing again, but the first thing I want to do is take up some pairs of trousers that are too long in the leg...they are needlecord as well. I don't wear them at present as I bought the long length, not realising I was more of a regular gal... Any tips please - I don't want to ruin them TIA if you can help

Living_proof

kittie wrote: »

janome is a good steady machine, I used mine for many years and dd has it now. It is the make I chose for dgd. Maybe gumtree near you? Ebay has lots, just thinking for you to get a prelim look on there, not to buy one. I am so sorry about your machine, you must be gutted

Thanks Kittie. I am confused rather than gutted but I haven't used my machine for a long while as too busy working. Just when I can look forward to using it at leisure, it has done a runner. There is nothing on Gumtree within 30 miles but I have put a request on Freecycle so maybe something will come up even if for a temporary measure. It is sad in that it was bought for me on my eldest child's birth, literally that day, so it.s quite sentimental really.