# tips on sewing

Category: Crafts and Hobbies

## Post 1 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 8:54:19

Ok, so I've started into a new venture. My hand sewing is beyond rubbish, with stitches all over the place, not uniform and not in line. So I bought a sewing machine.
Now, I've found a quilting teacher who is going to tutor me once a week, but I'm keen to pick up tips from those of you who already sew. Given that she hasn't taught a blind person before, and a lot of the normal techniques will need o be done differently, I'd love ideas from you folks. I can run a seam by lining the material up with the edge of the presser foot and keeping it level with that, but I don't know what to do when it comes to sewing down the middle of something, sewing off at an angle, sewing in a circle, applique etc etc. I'd really love feedback from any of you who already use a sewing machine with confidence.

## Post 2 by sia fan bp (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 10:00:37

oh god... I want to learn how to sew too! My grandma has sewn all her life
and she says she does it with her eyes closed. I said if she could teach me
but she says, "how could I show you when you can't see?" thanks for this,
moonspun!

## Post 3 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 15:34:52

I'll second that. If I could sew, I'd be just bad assed. Lol
I want a hande made quilt at the minute, and people are asking like 300 bucks for one.
I believe I could make one for 30 and of the thickness I want exactly. Colors too.

## Post 4 by VioletBlue (Help me, I'm stuck to my chair!) on Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 16:42:17

I don't even want to use a machine, I'd just like to know how to sew by hand!

## Post 5 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 22:43:57

I was a sewing machine opporator in a factory for 12 years. One really handy thing to have is a big magnet. You can stick it to the machine and use it as a guyde. This will help you sew faster.

## Post 6 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 23:07:56

What is a guyde?
Do you mean guide, something to follow?

## Post 7 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 28-Jan-2016 23:12:54

My question wasn't to be funny. I honestly know little about sewing.

## Post 8 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Friday, 29-Jan-2016 2:28:04

Haha, yes, I thought I'd corrected that. I'd originally typed guy. LOL shows where my mind was, I guess. But basically, there should be metal all around the pressorfoot, so a magnet will stick. They actually make sewing guides for machines just for this very purpose. The guide isn't round, but it has rounded edges, so the material will slide past it and not stick.

## Post 9 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 29-Jan-2016 10:00:46

Describe if you will how you use it?
Lets say I want to sew a line across an item. Do I attach the guide before the needle or behind it?
In wood working, I've used a blade guide on saws, so I am assuming it is similar?
The guide snaps on the front of the saw and you bring it level with the wood piece.
This allows you to follow your line you've made on the woodfor a cut.
I'd buy a sewing machine if I could use some sort of guide that way.
I'd not be a pro, but I could surely make that quilt and some other items I'd like to have in my house.

## Post 10 by Gingy (the musical gingy with the loads of music boxes) on Monday, 08-Feb-2016 3:53:57

umm, well i never used a sewing machine alone it might be to dangerous. I sew by Hand. I have even sewed a stuff doll as big as a living human. she looked quite realistic so ... yeah, better sew with your Hand it is less dangerous.

## Post 11 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Monday, 08-Feb-2016 4:14:38

The guide goes on the side. The machine pulls the material forward for you, stitch by stitch, so you align the guide at the side of the needle, but not exactly level with it.

## Post 12 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Monday, 08-Feb-2016 4:32:09

I should add that most of my sewing was done on industrial machines. There are things about home machines that I'm fuzzy on, but if I saw one, it would come back to me.

## Post 13 by forereel (Just posting.) on Tuesday, 09-Feb-2016 17:58:53

I have seen machines working, and it be easy not to stitch your hand.
Put the guide idea would keep you stitching straight, or in a passible line, and that is what I wasn't sure how it could be done.
I've not really thought about sewing with a machine until this post, but it is doable.
Now I've got to get some gumption and try it. Lol
Cool!

## Post 14 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Saturday, 20-Feb-2016 3:49:41

Sigh. If I wanted to sew by hand, I would have asked for tips on that. I've already mentioned that my hand sewing is really bad, so that's just not an options. Machines are perfectly safe as long as you observe some safety precautions.
Anthony, thanks for this. Really great idea as I'm using a mixture of pressers with seam uides on them and quilting arms at the minute, so a straight magnet would be great. They don't mess with the electronics though, do they?
Forereel, a machine doesn't really work the same way as woodwork as it feeds the fabric away from you rather than sideways, so you'd need to attach the guide to either the left or right hand side of your needle to be able to line the edge up against it.
Anthony, another question if you will. If I want to put a line down the middle of fabric and give a really generous allowance on either side, have you any ideas for that? Someone's suggested pressing a crease into the fabric that I could use, or pinning it or marking with low tack masking tape.

## Post 15 by forereel (Just posting.) on Saturday, 20-Feb-2016 11:13:20

Ah. Okay. It has been a really long time sense I've seen how it works.
I just assumed it went side to side.
So it be more like the machine is in front of you and as you go, the fabric drops on the back side of your table, right?

## Post 16 by DevilishAnthony (Just go on and agree with me. You know you want to.) on Saturday, 20-Feb-2016 11:52:01

Hmmm, that's something I've never had to do, but yes, either the crease or the tape would do a pretty good job of guiding you, I'd think.
Yes, Wayne. That's correct. The material is pulled along by something called the feed dogs. You can set the stitch length, to tell it how much it should move the material for each time the needle goes up and down. It moves the material forward as a rule, but depending on the type of machine you have, it can move backwards, as well as side to side, especially on the industrial machines. Most home sewing machines won't be that fancy though. When you get in to the machines that go all over the place like that, the setup is usually a bit different. In most cases, you'll have a moving clamp that holds the material. If you've ever heard of a bartacker, this is a great example.

## Post 17 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 15-Apr-2016 7:08:12

Glad someone posted this. I can sew not terribly bad by hand but want to learn
to use a sewing machine. Does anyone have any suggestions as to getting
started or which machine I should go for? I'm only going to be making pretty
simple stuff like curtains for my new apartment, but I'm totally not making
those by hand. Hahaha! I know my gread nan's perfectly willing and able to
make stuff for me, but it costs so much to send them because of the weight etc
and it's stupidly expensive to buy even a single pair of curtains, so it's cheaper
and easier to make them myself.
Thanks for any ideas guys.

## Post 18 by vh (This site is so "educational") on Friday, 15-Apr-2016 14:34:21

Harmony, I'd just aim for an inexpensive second hand model that works--I suppose they are much harder to find these days since sewing machines are less common. Freecycle.org, craigslist, ebay, etc? Those free community newspapers or just the plain old classifieds in your local paper?

## Post 19 by forereel (Just posting.) on Friday, 15-Apr-2016 21:00:15

But doesn't she wish to know if a blind person needs a specific type of machine?
I'd bet, and I've not searched, you can buy them new for good prices too.
Maybe do a search for them online.

## Post 20 by moonspun (This site is so "educational") on Thursday, 19-May-2016 15:02:11

Well, having been learning for a few months now and not getting many answers anywhere as most people believe blind people can't do it, I've started a blog. blind-stitch.com will send you there. It's just started so at the moment is only giving my history, but I've been sponsored by companies, so will soon be doing product reviews with a specific focus on accessibility. I'll also be sharing tips and tricks I've picked up to help with the actual sewing.
Harmony, it depends very much what you want to do with the machine. I've got a Pfaff Passport 3 and a Brother Innov-Is 55. Both are very accessible but both do different things well and others badly.