Sewing Lessons & FAQ

[palespider]

thank you so much, that is going to help alot!

 

[Lady Day]

pants- ugh. love and hate. I have my eye on a pattern but it does not fit me- has anyone had much luck with just adding inches to the outer seams to fit and does that work well. Can it be that easy? *hope*

I know "only one way to find out" but id like to save myself the hassle if someone has been there and done that and think nonono.

Check out this article from threads magazine. I found it pretty useful.

LD

 

[kamikat]

I have done it with both a slim leg late 50's/early 60's capri and a wide leg 40's trouser. Both of which required nothing but 2in added to the side fronts and backs. As with any grading, make a muslin first. I'm short, so I didn't need to add any length to the leg or crotch depth, so YMMV.

 

[kamikat]

I would like some opinions, ladies. I'm considering making these 1930's beach pajamas in sweatsuit/tracksuit material for the jacket and pants. Would this be just as horrible as a regular modern sweatsuit/track suit?

 

[Tatum]

I would like some opinions, ladies. I'm considering making these 1930's beach pajamas in sweatsuit/tracksuit material for the jacket and pants. Would this be just as horrible as a regular modern sweatsuit/track suit?

LOL! I dunno, Kamikat... I tend to think that since the lines would be completely different, it would look nicer. I would be so curious to see the final project!

 

[HepKitty]

I would like some opinions, ladies. I'm considering making these 1930's beach pajamas in sweatsuit/tracksuit material for the jacket and pants. Would this be just as horrible as a regular modern sweatsuit/track suit?

kamikat I think you could make a potato sack look like an evening gown

 

[crwritt]

I would like some opinions, ladies. I'm considering making these 1930's beach pajamas in sweatsuit/tracksuit material for the jacket and pants. Would this be just as horrible as a regular modern sweatsuit/track suit?

I'm not sure what fabric you have in mind, sweatshirt fleece may be too heavy but nylon or poly knit or cotton spandex should drape nicely.

 

[crwritt]

NIcole ann
To dye something orange to black, you will need to add blue dye (opposite of orange on the color wheel)
and also the black dye.
The Rit Dye website has instructions and tips, http://www.ritdye.com/
also when dyeing wool there is a certain point where you
need to add vinegar, to set the dye, not at the beginning, but about 5 minutes into the process.
If they are truly wool, they will take dye. If they turn out to be synthetic, there is dye made for polyester
and nylon now called I-dye poly http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/5590684-AA.shtml?lnav=paints.html

Hope it helps you achieve black pants!

 

[kamikat]

kamikat I think you could make a potato sack look like an evening gown

Awwww, thanks!

 

[Lauren]

I think it would be so neat and comfy! Can't wait to see what you do

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

Does anyone have any advice for me on adjusting the tension on my sewing machine? I just went through the manual and honestly it didn't really say much. I know the tension is off but ...... I may run down to sears (were I bought it and see if they can show me on a model). Hope they arent put off by the pin curls or the bandana wrapped around them by the way these new emotions really are terrible.

 

[HepKitty]

Does anyone have any advice for me on adjusting the tension on my sewing machine? I just went through the manual and honestly it didn't really say much. I know the tension is off but ...... I may run down to sears (were I bought it and see if they can show me on a model). Hope they arent put off by the pin curls or the bandana wrapped around them by the way these new emotions really are terrible.

All fabrics are different so before I start I test on scraps to make sure the tension, stitch length, and needle are right

 

[palespider]

are you asking where to adjust the tension or what it should be?

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

No I was working on a muslin and normally I know were to set the tension for muslin but it kept getting loose on the bobbin side
I just couldn't figure it out.
So when my husband got home from work I asked him to look and we found the problem was with the bobbin not the tension.
Sometimes you just need a second set of eyes.
thanks ladies

 

[NicoleAnn]

NIcole ann
To dye something orange to black, you will need to add blue dye (opposite of orange on the color wheel)
and also the black dye.
The Rit Dye website has instructions and tips, http://www.ritdye.com/
also when dyeing wool there is a certain point where you
need to add vinegar, to set the dye, not at the beginning, but about 5 minutes into the process.
If they are truly wool, they will take dye. If they turn out to be synthetic, there is dye made for polyester
and nylon now called I-dye poly http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/5590684-AA.shtml?lnav=paints.html

Hope it helps you achieve black pants!

ohh my gosh that makes so much sense, about adding blue. okay, thank you so much im gonna try it out

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

Ok question about armholes. I am working on a muslin of a blouse, I worked on one last month that I did not end up following through on with some good fabric because I just didn't like the pattern. Neither of the patterns said to stay stitch the arm hole before putting in the sleeve. My friend told me I should always do this. So my question is do you stay stitch your armhole before attaching your sleeve?

 

[Lauren]

I think it depends on the fabric. If it's woobly or has a loose weave I will, but if it's just a cotton or something that retains it shape decently well I just go for it without staystitching.

 

[BoPeep]

ditto what Lauren said. I usually have good luck easing in cotton sleeves. I staystitch if I notice the fabric is warping too much just through normal handling.

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

thanks Lauren and Bopeep thats what I kind of thought and with a muslin I wasn't going to worry about it but she was so adamant.

 

[MarieAnne]

I would like to bind my seams in my next project, hong kong style preferably. I've made bias tape in a blue satin (?) and I'm not really happy with it. Can I use ribbon? The kind that comes on big rolls for crafts and gift wrapping. I've thought of using the bias tape sold at my local store but they don't have anything shiny.