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Posted by Epodunk on March 23, 2008, 4:18 am
Hi All,
Ok, bear with me with some simple quesitons and others:
Some newbie stuff:
When you get a piece of fabric to work with, if it's cotton(or I guess
anything shrinkable) should you wash it first before using it? Especially
things you're planning to wear or wash regularly. And if so, what do you
do around the edges so it doesn't fray, pinking shears? I remember doing
this as a kid in 4-H but don't know if there's a better way.
When buying fabric, how much allowance should you give yourself for
mistakes, etc. Probably varies a lot for the project, but for example, if
I wanted to make a pillow 12 in. by 12. in, should I give myself at least
2 or three inches extra and buy what would amount to two 14X14in. squares?
I've just purchased a buttonholer for my 404 and it comes with four
templates. (I was going to wait, but it happened to find one in lovely
condition and went with it.) There are five other sized templates sold
seperately. Did Singer only produce one type of these additional metal
templates or is there a specific serial number set that I should be
looking for?
My 404 came with an automatic zigzagger and with it four pattern "cams"
that can be changed in and out. There are others that can be purchased
seperately. Are *all* of these type of cams interchangable with any ZZ
attachment regardless for which type of needle? I ask because I've seen
some that are white topped(where mine are red) and others being sold with
the ZZ attachment for the vertical needle machines. I think the cams for
the vertical machines would be interchangable with my slant machine
because it's only directing the pattern, and I think the difference is in
the attachment itself where the needle is(around the foot). Another reason
is that the cams had the same serial numbers as the pattern cams I'm
looking for.
A lot of questions, but thank you for any you'd like to reply to. And on
a happy note, my cord needed for the machine was on my front porch after
coming home visiting family, so I'll be able to start experimenting.:)
~Ariel
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Posted by BEI Design on March 23, 2008, 2:22 pm
Epodunk wrote:
> Some newbie stuff:
> When you get a piece of fabric to work with, if it's
> cotton(or I guess anything shrinkable) should you wash it
> first before using it?
> Especially things you're planning
> to wear or wash regularly.
Yes, always! There's nothing worse than putting your heart
and soul into a sewing project only to have it unwearable
after the first time it's washed.
> And if so, what do you do
> around the edges so it doesn't fray, pinking shears? I
> remember doing this as a kid in 4-H but don't know if
> there's a better way.
Pinking shears are good. Serging/overlocking is better. If
you don't have a serger, use a three-step zig-zag on the raw
edges before washing and drying. (Always dry the fabric the
same way you will treat the finished garment.)
> When buying fabric, how much allowance should you give
> yourself for mistakes, etc. Probably varies a lot for the
> project, but for example, if I wanted to make a pillow 12
> in. by 12. in, should I give myself at least 2 or three
> inches extra and buy what would amount to two 14X14in.
> squares?
For a finished 12" pillow, the squares would be 13 1/4"
including two 5/8" seam allowances. So yes, 14" would be
fine provided that they are cut on-grain. If you have to
straighten the grain allow a little extra for that.
> I've just purchased a buttonholer for my 404 and it comes
> with four templates. (I was going to wait, but it
> happened to find one in lovely condition and went with
> it.) There are five other sized templates sold
> seperately. Did Singer only produce one type of these
> additional metal templates or is there a specific serial
> number set that I should be looking for?
Singer made buttonholers with metal cams, and later another
one which used plastic cams. Be sure you buy the correct
cams for your buttonholer. I have 8 or 10 cams for my
original buttonholer, including several keyhole cams. I
also have the later model which used plastic cams, and uses
the swing of the needle instead of moving the fabric back
and forth, I like it better for some projects.
> My 404 came with an automatic zigzagger and with it four
> pattern "cams" that can be changed in and out. There are
> others that can be purchased seperately. Are *all* of
> these type of cams interchangable with any ZZ attachment
> regardless for which type of needle?
I'll leave that one for Ron, the sewing machine expert.
Beverly
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Posted by Pogonip on March 23, 2008, 4:03 pm
BEI Design wrote:
>
>> My 404 came with an automatic zigzagger and with it four
>> pattern "cams" that can be changed in and out. There are
>> others that can be purchased seperately. Are *all* of
>> these type of cams interchangable with any ZZ attachment
>> regardless for which type of needle?
>
> I'll leave that one for Ron, the sewing machine expert.
>
> Beverly
>
>
If Ron is taking the day off, I might be able to answer. The different
sets of cams have different colors on the tops. They come in boxes of
four cams. The cams themselves are like the buttonholer cams, they'll
fit either the slant-needle or the straight-needle attachment. So if
you have the regular set of red tops, and another set with white or
yellow, they will fit your attachment, just give you a few different
patterns. The attachment is rather clunky, both in size and in
operation, but it makes it possible to have zig-zag patterns on a
straight-stitch machine. The 401 and 403 use cams in the machine
itself, and is much more elegant in operation.
--
Joanne
stitches @ singerlady.reno.nv.us.earth.milky-way.com
http://members.tripod.com/~bernardschopen/
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Posted by Olwyn Mary on March 23, 2008, 2:24 pm
Epodunk wrote:
> Hi All,
> Ok, bear with me with some simple quesitons and others:
>
> Some newbie stuff:
> When you get a piece of fabric to work with, if it's cotton(or I guess
> anything shrinkable) should you wash it first before using it? Especially
> things you're planning to wear or wash regularly. And if so, what do you
> do around the edges so it doesn't fray, pinking shears? I remember doing
> this as a kid in 4-H but don't know if there's a better way.
Every piece of fabric I bring into this house is (1) taken to the sewing
machine, and has a line of stitching as close to the cut edges as I can
manage, then (2) taken to the washing machine and washed and dried as I
will treat the final product. If it is cotton or linen I might wash and
dry it two or three times to make sure it is fully shrunk. OTOH, if is
is a blend with some synthetic fibers in it, I only wash it once to
remove the factory sizing as it is unlikely to shrink. Yes, I even wash
wool and silk, but then I know what I am doing. If you need to deal
with either of these, come back and we will give you precise instructions.
>
> When buying fabric, how much allowance should you give yourself for
> mistakes, etc. Probably varies a lot for the project, but for example, if
> I wanted to make a pillow 12 in. by 12. in, should I give myself at least
> 2 or three inches extra and buy what would amount to two 14X14in. squares?
Give yourself plenty of room at first. In any case, you will be
unlikely to be able to buy a piece smaller than 18" x 22" - a "fat
quarter" is what the quilters call it - otherwise you have to buy in
fractions of a yard or meter depending on where you live.
> A lot of questions, but thank you for any you'd like to reply to. And on
> a happy note, my cord needed for the machine was on my front porch after
> coming home visiting family, so I'll be able to start experimenting.:)
> ~Ariel
I'm sorry, I know nothing about the 404. Glad you got your cord and can
start to play.
Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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Posted by AK&DStrohl on March 23, 2008, 3:49 pm
>
> Hi All,
> Ok, bear with me with some simple quesitons and others:
>
> Some newbie stuff:
> When you get a piece of fabric to work with, if it's cotton(or I guess
> anything shrinkable) should you wash it first before using it? Especially
> things you're planning to wear or wash regularly.
I *Always* wash everything fabric or RTW before it goes on my body!
This world is too filled with chemicals and I'm way too sensitive!
But even before becoming sensitive I washed everything before sewing with
it. There was something I read a couple of days ago that it was easier to
handle if it were not washed first but I've forgotten already.
> When buying fabric, how much allowance should you give yourself for
> mistakes, etc.
I usually only allow 1/4 yard extra as a 'just in case'. But then I
usually preplan everything. Check and recheck before cutting. As
carpenters usually say, 'measure twice cut once'.
AK in PA
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