Tips, tricks and FAQs for Clueless Sewing Members

Welcome! Here is the place where sewing ignorance and expertise shall meet.
Where helpless, hapless and clueless members trying to learn to sew can be instructed and guided by our more learned members and their resources.

If you have a sewing question, post in this thread. If you have an answer, post in this thread. Let's try and keep things to the basics, if you're trying to figure out how to sew a wedding dress, perhaps that's worthy of a thread all on its own.

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great idea Nelle!

It was Astrid's idea actually, I'm just doing what I'm told. :nahnah:

This is great, I might learn to sew after all :)

Okay.

Why does my thread come out of the top needle every so often? Is it just cos I don't have enough spare thread pulled through? I've done it on a few different tensions, so I don't know if it's a tension issue. Or is it just the result of having a cheap machine?

With tension...what do the numbers mean? My manual's in a sort of translated English so it's a bit tricky to grasp.

Do most people press things like hems before sewing, or just pin them?

That'll do for now. :lol:

Are you sure you're threading it properly Nelle?
Mine used to do this too, but I worked out it was because I hadn't threaded it around the bobbin bit very well (yes, I use really technical terms lol)

I would check how you are threading your needle, then make sure you are holding onto it when you start sewing, and thirdly the tension may be too tight and the thread isn't feeding through, what brand is your sewing machine, that one someone may be able to give you a specific answer for your machine :D

Ooo oo have you oiled it lately, and given it a clean with the little brush that comes with it, also sometimes if you thread the needle the opposite way and see if that makes a difference, I had a really old machine (the motor was separate :lol: and if I didn't thread the needle from the correct side it would do the same thing :wall:

After just making some clothes for myself, I would definitely press the hem before sewing, it makes it a LOT easier and a neater job as well :D

Nelle - with the tension, mine goes from 0 - 9. 0 being very loose & 9 being very tight. If I have it too loose the bobbin thread will be loose on the bottom of whatever I'm sewing & will be untidy. If its too tight the top thread will pull too tight & break. Most stitches on my machine need it between 2 & 3. My machine is also tempremental & I have to change it often while sewing.
Some machines from what I've read can have the numbers oppisite as far as I know. Mines a Jenome.


Oh I have a tip. Someone saved me a few months ago by sharing with me. Now mine is a pretty new machine. Has an auto thread bobbin etc. I was having problems with my top thread getting tangled on my bobbin case every time I tried a stitch. It almost drove me insane trying to work out how to fix it, thinking it was something to do with the bobbin case being broken.
But all I needed to do was completely unthread & rethread the top thread & it was back to perfect :)

Oh it's a Homemaker, you know, the Kmart brand? :rofl: DH has a really very wise policy, which is 'let's buy a cheap one first in case this is one of your 'phases''. I had to use a really cheap brand mixer for a few years before I got a KitchenAid, so it does pay off if I can prove I'll use it.

I'm threading the top thread from the front. I can't really understand the instructions, but that's what it looks like in the diagram! Although...they seem to also thread it through a part near the needle I can't even find. :lol: Errr...

I just oiled it and brushed it yesterday! It's amazing how much maintenance I do, just because I'm not actually sure how to USE the machine. :rofl:

Thanks for the tension info! I think I actually have the bobbin thread sorted, after years of being scared of bobbins (after not listening in class and so not even knowing where it went).
I've heard you can get little pressing irons just for sewing. They sound handy - I can't decide if that's incentive to get a cute little iron, or actually sort out my laundry system so that I can get the iron out for clothes efficiently. I know which option sounds more fun......

great thread Nelle!!! Ive only just learnt to iron a crease into something and OMG it makes the biggest difference!!! Word of wisdom though...dont iron in the lounge as the hot iron might fall on the carpet and leave a nice outline :rolleyes: :hiding:

Can someone explain binding to me please? I see 'binding' stuff everywere lately..it looks like a cotton ribbon and I want to know whats its used for.

Do you mean like bias Binding for necklines, sleeve holes etc? So instead of an overlocker edge, the binding fabric goes on top of it and is sewn down.

Gee I hope that's not confuzzling

ahhh yep I hink thats it P hon. How does it stay on then? does it have to be ironed on in place first?

Tbh I've been too scared to use it as I have NFI. It looks hard :/
I will get my aunty to show me she's a seamstress

I think I may let google be my friend aswell :ROFL:
thanks P hon...will let you know how I go

OH OH OH

found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUVCeYBUQ64

WOW it actually looks quiet easy.

There are some cool little tutes on Bias Binding on the net, I'll see if I can find one. I followed that to sew some bias binding on the bottom of a doll's dress, and it was atrocious, but I think I get the idea. :lol:

Here it is, it seems like there are (as usual) lots of different ways to do it, but here's the one I found.

Can anyone help explain why my sewing machine is dropping stitches?

It was sewing fine and then all of a sudden it started just sewing blanks... after I re-did the bobbin actually. I double checked the threading instructions and made sure I had the bobbin threaded correctly but it's still doing it. Every now and again athread will catch so it can look like my threads are 1cm long when they are supposed to be about 2mm.

When did you last change your needle? Is it an appropriate needle for the fabric (I.e what type of fabric is it? And if it's pul then I am running for cover...I have to use my industrial machine on that stuff).

Hmmmm...otherwise I would suggest checking your bobbin to make sure it's thread properly.

Double post.

When was the last time you had it serviced? My old machine used to do that when it needed a service

Thanks so much for your thoughts and help!

It's only a little cheapie machine. I've had it for almost 3 years, its had minimal use and never been serviced... how much does a service generally cost? I've never changed the needle- maybe I should try that? I am sewing PUL (and filling it with holes!!!)... but I'm repairing nappy covers and have done a few already with no problems so surely the fabric isn't an issue? How do I know what type of needle I need?

You ARE sewing PUL? Arrgghh! Okay, here is what I found:

*The best needles are leather needles, or ones that "spear" down (so not a ball point needle).
*The stitching can muck up if you are sewing it shiny side down, because it doesn't seem to slide easily through the teeth. I have found a walking foot helps a lot with this (thus why I use my industrial because it is a walking foot, although I have a special adapter for my domestic, I just can't be arsed to change the feet all the time).
*The stitching can also muck up if sewing lots of layers, because the plastic coating of the PUL makes it hard for a domestic machine (and motor capacity).

So, after all that, I am not sure if I am helping. If you have done a few nappy covers already I would hazard a guess your needle might be blunt, because the PUL is tough stuff.

Maybe just pop in another needle and see? Any one that's not ball point will do at this point.

GL! I have found different brands of PUL are stickier/thicker than others and my machine reacts differently.

I'm actually sewing PUL pocket nappy covers- so the slippery side is contained within the cover and shouldn't effect the movement- thanks for the walking foot tip though.

So a blunt needle can possibly cause this? Think I'll change the needlethen because it's very possibly blunt! I've had to sew some very thick parts of the cover with layers of elastic etc.

Well it might just be that the fabric is too thick. I am thinking that perhaps the needle isn't feeding into the bobbin properly (when it goes down below the bed) and so is not making a stitch. A blunt needle would mean you're not piercing the fabric enough to reach the bobbin properly, but likewise really thick fabric might be the issue.

Can you try going reaaaaally slowly, say using the hand wheel and see if you pick up the bobbin thread at all? How is if sewing on other parts of this garment? Or have you tried similar garments since this one?

I did find if I was sewing slowly it worked a little better. I'll change the needle this weekend and try again. Have to unpack the sewing machine now after putting everything away in frustration :lol:

I just picked up my sewing machine and am now looking at it like it's the most scary thing on earth :ROFL:

I learned to sew in early high school, but other than the basics, we were only taught to make a stuffed animal and a sloppy joe top. I'm hoping it's going to come back to me. The machine came with an instructional dvd so here's hoping that will help! I want to make some very basic curtains, just with a hem at the top and bottom - that shouldn't be too hard right? I read Maz's instruction of ironing in a crease. Am I thinking that a crease would work here, to indicate where I need to sew?

:ROFL: Clueless much!

:clap: Yay PRM! Ironing it does make it easier when hemming hun, and pinning it too will help. Have a go - worst thing that can happen is that you have to unpick and redo it! Enjoy it - you will love it and be hooked in no time! Check out the Ottobre mags and there a few great forums around too, I love crafty mamas for all things wonderful!

Thanks Tanstar! I found some material that I like so just want to get started now :)

well, here's the thing...my sister has never sewn in her life let alone threading a needle, then one day I told her to try my sewing machine and just play with it, she refused at first insisting that sewing is "not my cup of tea!" That was 3 years ago...today she designs, creates and sew handbags and selling them online and having fun!
And me? I've been sewing since I was 12 but that's another story!

I'm sure you too will enjoy sewing, just persevere...sewing is cool, it's no longer for nanas!
~ M xx

:bump:

So what are your basic tips and tricks?? Worked out recently.

• If the machine is not sewing properly, try re-threading. Had a terrible time with tension and feeding, popped in a fresh bobbin and all was better.
• Get a seam gauge!!! Consistent measuring of folds, hems etc with one of these makes the project so much neater ;) How I lived without one I do not know!
• Get set-up for working! Yes it takes a bit longer to get going, but speeds up the whole process
• Get out the ironing board. Not only for pressing as you go, but so much easier on the back when pinning and doing other work on the fabric.