Whether you are a regular sewing machine user or just the casual kind, you could always do with the right kind of guidance from professionals, or other sewing experts. Here are a few select sources, who have shared their detailed knowledge of the art.
Sewing Techniques – useful sewing techniques, and a useful Beginner’s Guide to Sewing
Dressmaking – includes a section titled Ask our Experts.
Sewing machines: Beginner’s guide to using a sewing machine
101 Essential Tips: Basic Sewing
Let’s have a look at some of the more useful sources that explain or show the kinds of tools needed along with the sewing machine. Most of the implements are likely to be of good use to advanced users.
Sew Essential – sewing machine and related supplies
Tools for Using a Sewing Machine – make sure you are able to see the complete series of video lessons.
Creative Grids – Sewing Machine Maintenance
Helen Howes’ Sewing Machine Tools
There are plenty of products that are related to the ordinary sewing machine. Many of these products serve as supplementary instruments to the main machine. Other complement the purpose of the basic sewing machine.
- Overlockers – These are used for edging, hemming and seaming on fabrics.
- Embroidery Software – These enable designs to be produced digitally, and to be replicated.
- Embroidery Machines – These are used to create patterns on textiles, usually for commercial production.
- Spare Parts/Accessories – The list includes bobbins, bobbin cases, presser foot, zipper foot, tweezers.
- Sewing Machine Needles – The variety is based on size, point shape, thickness and application
- Dress forms – These are three-dimensional models of the torso used for fitting clothing that is being sewed.
- Steam Presses and Irons, Lighting, Scissors, Thread, Craft Products
Avid sewing enthusiasts are sure to be interested in embroidery software. Technology has come to the aid of these enthusiasts, and that’s how you will find plenty of choice in embroidery machines as well as embroidery software in the market. There is a range of embroidery software from popular names like Brother, Janome, Husqvarna, Pfaff, Wilcom & more.
Embroidery software producers have come up with so many versions to cater to both professional embroidery businesses and home-based individual, small-scale users. Be sure to look up reviews of the products before you decide to get yourself one such product.
Here’s one source for you to select the right embroidery software for your need – look up Embroidery Software Products.
Here is some news on events related to sewing and needlework.
Sewing enthusiasts can watch out for the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexander Palace scheduled for Thursday, 6 October 2011. For a £10.00 deposit, you can secure a place at this annual event. Look up CCB Sewing to book your place.
Make It Glasgow, a unique ’sewing cafe’ meant as a ‘friendly and supportive social space for several kinds of textile craft’, has plenty of events scheduled regularly throughout the year. Here is a brief listing -
- Crochet A Granny Square – 9 August 2011
- Sew an apron – 16 August 2011
- Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 1 – 9 September 2011
- Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 2 – 23 January 2012
- Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 3 – 11 May 2012
- Royal School of Needlework Certificate: Session 4 – 7 September 2012
If you are scouting the market for a sewing machine, be sure to access the information on reviews and tips provided in these posts. There are plenty of resources meant for you to get ahead in your chosen hobby or profession.
The brands and models of sewing machines are many. How will you choose the right sewing machine for your purpose and use?
Here is a home improvement group’s picks of ten of the best sewing machines. You’ll find a variety of brands and models listed. Helpfully, the approximate prices are also indicated, as well as brief descriptions as to why the make and model figure in such a top 10 list.
Look up Sewing Machines – pick of the best
1. Ensure that your your machine is threaded right.
2. Have enough light in and around your work area.
3. Take care to measure twice and then cut once.
4. Make sure your scissors are sharp enough, and that you have spare scissors ready.
5. It is wise to wash materials that are washable, before you apply the scissors.
6. If you press all seams from the wrong side, you will ensure a better finish.
7. Make use of the right kind of needles for the type of fabric you are working on.
8. Keep a box of well-wound bobbins ready.
9. Make use of the appropriate presser foot / pedal depending on the function (hem / applique, etc)
10. Smile the while as you sew – so shall you reap!
Look up more sewing tips from Crafts and Sewing, Sewing Tips for Beautiful Results, and download a couple of pdfs of reader-contributed sewing tips.
Want a chance at winning a sewing machine? Then take part in a one-of-its-kind contest for craft enthusiasts.
All you need to do is put your creative side to work and come up with a design for a simple book bag. Then make the bag, decorate it as you would like to, and send a picture to the organizer the Little, Brown Book Group.
The contest, called Crafty Competition, is set to celebrate the June 23 release of the book Laura’s Handmade Life by Amanda Addison, author of “Lost for Words”. Of course, don’t forget to look up the small print terms and conditions when you design your bag. The contest runs from 21 April to 21 June 2011.
The winner gets a sewing machine, a Cath Kidson sewing box, and an author-signed copy of the brand new book. So get going with your very own book bag, and make sure you have fun as you do the needlework.
May 9th, 2011 in
Coopers Sewing Machines,
Sewing Machine,
Sewing Machine Guide,
Singer Sewing Machine,
Toyota Sewing Machines | tags:
Amanda Addison,
Cath Kidson,
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craft,
laura's Handmade Life,
Sewing,
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If you own a sewing machine chances are that you are possess professional knowledge on the art of sewing, or you are an enthusiast intent on learning and developing a hobby. You will do well to look up a few good guides that are designed to help out the novice as well act as a refresher resource for advanced sewing machine users.
The personal favourite for many a sewing machine owner is the book Complete Guide to Sewing offered by the Reader’s Digest group. The book, in its earlier and later editions has always provided delightfully simple descriptions of tried and tested sewing machine tips and tricks. Both hardcover and paperback editions are available with booksellers.
The Sewing Book by Alison Smith is a rather popular choice among aspiring seamstresses, and is highly rated and reviewed guide.
The Sewing Answer Book is a handy reference for full of exhaustive information on sewing projects, and attempts to cover every possible question faced by sewing aspirants.
The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook presents you explanations and demonstrations about nearly 30 sewing machine attachments and their proper use and care.
Complete Photo Guide to Sewing is available in a revised and updated edition, and contains over a thousand full-colour ‘How-to’ photos.
Browse all these guides and many more such sewing companions in Amazon’s listings of sewing books.
Whatever your brand of sewing machine, it is not unlikely that you might encounter problems with your well-liked sewing companion. At these times, it’s in your interest to resist the urge to call in the expert.
The simple reason – there are a few checks you can yourself make before calling the repair or servicing personnel. It appears that a huge number of machines that reach repair shops have very minor problems which could have actually been solved at home, even without expert know-how, say sewing machine experts. Remember that with professional repair, however minor, you will end up with costs that could have been otherwise avoided.
Firstly, check whether the needle has been put in right. It is possible that at the time of changing the needle, it was not fixed right. Secondly, you need to check the balance of the upper tension level and the tension on the side of the bobbin. Next, check whether the bobbin is wound properly, as well as the entire threading sequence. Only if you are completely satisfied that all these ‘technicalities’ have been taken care of, and the machine does not give you the desired output, call the authorised service centre for help.