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Posted by gjones2938 on March 17, 2008, 11:02 pm
Dear Much Regards,
If your local sewing class is anything like my classes, you will be
coddled by the other students. Men are such a novelty that everyone
will try to help you. Go ahead and make the garment for your wife;
she'll treasure it.
Teri
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Posted by Mary Fisher on March 18, 2008, 5:55 am
> Dear Much Regards,
>
> If your local sewing class is anything like my classes, you will be
> coddled by the other students. Men are such a novelty that everyone
> will try to help you.
I agree with that. Spouse didn't like going to pubs but didn't like to think
he was missing something so he'd go with me and sit tatting. He always had a
crowd of women round him, other men were indignant. What, apart from a
shuttle, did that little bald bearded scruffy chap have which they didn't?
Mary
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Posted by The Wanderer on March 18, 2008, 4:06 am
On Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:09:58 GMT, J.Lef wrote:
>> Could your spouse show you how to sew? If not, does she have a friend who
>> will? That would give you some hands on learning with someone who could
>> answer your questions.
>> Barbara in FL
>
> Thanks for all the responses to my query. :)
FWIW, I've never had any lessons or instruction on how to sew. I picked it
all up by trial and error. I was an electrical engineer by profession, and
I'd like to think blessed with pretty good logical thought processes. I've
found that's the key to successful sewing - think about what you're doing,
think about the pattern instructions, sort out in your own mind how it goes
together, IYSWIM.
I have a few reference books, including the oft-mentioned Readers Digest
book and one or two others I've bought over the years, but it's a bit like
using a computer, you can read all you like, but there's nothing like
actually getting stuck in and having a go. You will make some mistakes,
you'll get frustrated when you read the instructions that come with a
pattern and think to yourself 'How the hell do they think that'll work?'.
I'm sure I do some things that the purists here would shudder at, but it
works for me. A few tips, find some *good* scissors that you're happy with
and that cut good and clean - there's nothing worse than trying use a pair
of cheap scissors that gnaw at the material and leave a rough, jagged edge.
A small pair of good scissorsd is handy for cutting out into curves and the
like.
Also, as a beginner, allow yourself a little extra - say 1/4" extra -
around the edges when you're cutting out. You'll find it makes the seams
that little bit easier to do, without the material fraying as you're
working on it - it will, but not right into the seam stitching - and you
can always trim the extra off when you're done. I make and dress dolls, and
the seam allowances on the patterns for those is quite often 1/4" or less.
No way do I cut them that tight, I always allow a bit extra and then trim
them back.
As far as sewing machine settings are concerned, it will have been designed
to have all dials and knobs sitting more or less in the middle of the
adjustment range for 'normal' sewing - whatever that is! Get some scrap
material and experiment, see what happens to the threads when you alter the
tension. Again FWIW, I've had an overlocker/serger for about three years
now, and I still have to experiment with the settings, coz it always seems
different every time I use it. I suspect that could be a problem with the
user rather than the machine, however!
If you're trying something intricate, do a dummy or mock up first - the
posh name is make a muslin. I quite often do when I'm making bodices for
the dolls. Porcelain doesn't give like flesh and the fit has to be more or
less correct for the garments to sit properly. The mock up tells me where I
need to ease out one seam or take in another, and yes, it goes in the bin
when I'm finished!
That's it, I've had enough! :-)
--
Richard - The older I get, the better I used to be!
the dot wanderer at tesco dot net
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Posted by Bobbie Sews Moore on March 18, 2008, 4:01 am
Another suggestion would be to go to your library and look for a sewing
video that should show you most of the basics.
Or do a google search on sewing instructions. I just did and found one free
video, and lots of instructions on "how to make" free patterns you could
print off. You start with something sinple to learn the basics!
Barbara in FL
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