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Archive: Sewing Machines
November 13, 2009
Hawaiian Baby Quilt
I have finally finished the Hawaiian baby quilt I've been working on. It's been my back-burner project for, oh, almost four years! The baby it's intended for is now almost three and not really a baby anymore, but hopefully he'll like it anyway.
While it has certainly been a lot of work (the central portion is all hand-quilted), it's the most satisfying project I've ever worked on. The thread color isn't consistent, the applique is crooked, and I have a lot to learn about mitered corners, but I'm ready to start another, this time for my own baby. Hopefully it will be done by the time he goes to college.
Here's a closer look at the stitching on the back side.
And here it is in all its glory.
If you want to make your own (and I highly recommend it--quilting is very meditative and also a great way to pass the time when you're on the phone or chatting it up with someone), check out our Hawaiian Quilt Project from the pages of CRAFT, Volume 02.
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Nov 13, 2009 02:00 PM
Babies, Quilting, Sewing, Sewing Machines |
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September 5, 2009
Find an Old Sewing Machine on Which to Learn
Instructables user MargueritaM gives some excellent tips about learning to machine sew using an old machine. She points out some basics that make it easy to get up and running.
Old Sewing Machines are Hidden TreasuresPosted by Becky Stern |
Sep 5, 2009 12:00 PM
Sewing Machines |
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August 5, 2009
Ask CRAFT: Sewing Machine Oil
If you have a question for Ask CRAFT, shoot me an email at becky@craftzine.com, or drop us a note on Twitter! We'd love to answer your crafty questions on any topic: technique, projects, crafty culture, or anything else! Each week the answers are here; include your name, where you're from, and your website or blog if you have one!
Holly Winter from Kennesaw, GA writes in:
I was wondering when, how and what kind of oil I should use when oiling my sewing machine?
The short answer is to read the manual that came with your machine. It should recommend a brand of oil, show you which parts to oil, and how often. Many of us don't have our original manuals, however, and some manuals may not contain that advice. You can usually download a PDF of your machine's manual from the manufacturer's website (or email in to request one), which could help.
As for oil, look for something that is clearly labeled "sewing machine oil." It's a clear oil in a bottle with a long narrow nozzle. Some brands that make it: Singer, Dritz, Zoom Spout, and others. When you open up your machine, look for marked spots to oil, since some machines will have markings. Others won't, so you'll have to look up your model online to see if the manufacturer published the diagram, or perhaps another crafter has been kind enough to blog about his/her sewing machine oiling process. A few drops will do in each place.
Oiling your machine lubricates the moving parts so they run more smoothly, and it also prevents rust. After oiling, sew for a bit on some scrap fabric in case any oil wants to come out, after which you can resume sewing as normal. I've heard you should oil your machine after every 20 hours of operation, but how can you tell when that's been? I'd say that oiling your machine once every few months should be sufficient unless you're sewing all day every day. If you have more advice for Holly, post it in the comments!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Aug 5, 2009 02:00 PM
Ask CRAFT, Sewing Machines |
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July 16, 2009
Singer Curvy Review
Let me start this review by saying that most sewing machines typically drive me to the brink of insanity, where I end up preferring to do my sewing by hand than to wrangle with an uncooperative machine. My pile of mends and hems was reaching skyscraper status, so I went into the MAKE and CRAFT Lab here at headquarters and asked our interns if they could recommend one of the machines for me to borrow. They sent me home with the Singer Curvy.
I set up my workspace, and settled in with my pile. From winding the bobbin to threading the machine to sewing with various stitches and on various fabrics, the Curvy was my BFF. It was the most user-friendly machine I've ever tried. I worked through my pile of mends and hems with ease. I used regular thread as well as invisible thread, and I worked on fabrics including denim, velour, cotton, and corduroy (did I mention how high my pile was?) without a hitch.
It's not like I expect my sewing machine to do backflips and make me coffee; I just really need it to be easy to use and not problematic. No tangles, no hassles is what I got with the Curvy. I know how to use a sewing machine but I'm no expert, and the Curvy was very intuitive. I liked the work space that it offered (great lighting too) and the smooth feed and presser foot. It also has cool little helpful touches like beeping when your needle is no longer threaded. My pile of mending is complete, I feel like I have a new wardrobe, and I spent no time being frustrated. Awesome.
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Jul 16, 2009 12:00 PM
Sewing Machines |
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July 8, 2009
Ask CRAFT: Sewing Machine Tension
Why is it that sewing machine tension can be such a bear to deal with? Here are some symptoms of tension problems:
- thread breakage
- skipped stitches
- knotting or jamming
- top/bottom thread visible on the other side of the seam
Many of these problems can be alleviated by giving your machine a thorough cleaning and making sure it's threaded properly, but in some cases there's a bigger problem. Before taking it to the shop, you can change out a few parts to help troubleshoot and isolate the problem.
Plastic bobbins
If you have been using plastic bobbins, they can wear out. If your needle catches the bobbin it can nick it, causing the thread to catch. Swap out your plastic bobbin for a metal one to see if it fixes the problem. Plastic bobbins can be gently sanded with a nail file to get out nicks. Over time the plastic can wear down as well from all the friction of the bobbin casing and thread, putting the bobbin out of commission.
Needles
If your needle is bent, dull, or inserted improperly, this can also cause tension problems. A bent needle is more likely to nick your bobbins, so watch out! Make sure you're using the right kind of needle for your thread and fabric; the wrong one can skip stitches (like using a sharp instead of ball-point needle on knits) or break your thread (if, for instance, the eye is too small).
Thread
Use good-quality thread. I found a site that shows magnified images of many different brands, showing how tight, loose, or fray-prone different types are. A poor quality thread causes more friction on the plastic parts of your machine and can wear them out prematurely. Which brings us to the biggest and possibly most expensive problem...
Tension discs
Most modern machines are made with plastic tension discs. Metal parts are great for durability and industrial use, but they are meant to be used all the time or they gum up. Plastic parts means a lighter machine and fewer maintenance and lubrication concerns when it comes to less-than-everyday use. However, as mentioned, fuzzy thread tends to wear down plastic parts over time (we're talking years, here). Plastic tension discs can become grooved, meaning you're out of luck when it comes to adjusting it, since they can't get a reliable grip on the thread. The tension discs are usually pretty far inside your machine, which makes it really hard to get in there and see if that's your problem.
NM State has a good guide for regular sewing machine maintenance to help you through the processes mentioned above. If you've tried everything short of taking the machine apart yourself, take it to a professional and explain all you've done. It's possible that your tension discs are fine and your timing is just off, which is relatively easy for a technician to adjust. Depending on the repair estimate, you might declare it time to upgrade to a new machine, vowing to only use high-quality thread (a small investment to protect your new machine). Your model might have easily-replaceable tension discs, but some manufacturers don't sell the replacement part. Thanks to Debbi Schlegel for her help on this topic. If you've got advice about tension problems, leave it in the comments below!
If you have a question for Ask CRAFT, shoot me an email at becky@craftzine.com, or drop us a note on Twitter! We'd love to answer your crafty questions on any topic: technique, projects, crafty culture, or anything else! Each week the answers are here; include your name, where you're from, and your website or blog if you have one!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jul 8, 2009 02:00 PM
Ask CRAFT, Sewing, Sewing Machines |
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March 30, 2009
How-To: Decorative Seams
Hoppo Bumpo has a great post on decorative seams: channel seams, piped seams, bound seams and top seams. And that's just for starters! This week's post ends a nine-week Seam Along. Hoppo-ver and check them out! (Sorry, just could not resist the pun.) Via Whip Up.
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Mar 30, 2009 01:00 PM
Sewing, Sewing Machines |
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March 28, 2009
Heather Ross on Vintage Sewing Machines
Cathy Callahan talks with Heather Ross on vintage sewing machines.
Cathy writes:
i complimented heather on her choice of sewing machine and she proceeded to tell me the most fascinating story about them. she then went on to tell me all about her grandfather's time as a singer sewing machine rep. you know i'm a sucker for crafty history so i was totally blown away. i knew that we had just the right topic for her stop at my blog on her tour! what follows (in bold type) is what heather sent me - i just love it and am sure you will too.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Mar 28, 2009 06:00 PM
Sewing Machines, Vintage |
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March 18, 2009
Patch 101
Patching is a great way to extend the life of an item of clothing that had a run-in with a nail or is simply getting a little worn out. While a really great piece of fabric or store-bought patch can rescue something headed for the scrap pile, sometimes you want a little more subtlety. In this how-to, I'll show you how to repair two types of holes from the back: a tear and a worn-out hole. (Funnily enough, I noticed that all of my husband's pants in need of repair have tears, and all of mine are worn through. Read into that what you will about how we spend our leisure time!)
Read full story
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Mar 18, 2009 01:00 PM
Mending, Sewing, Sewing Machines |
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March 10, 2009
How-To: Spring Clean Your Sewing Machine
Check out this great post on how to clean your sewing machine over on Craft Nectar. (All the better to mend with, my dear!) Sewing machine maintenance is something I have never attempted, which probably explains why my bobbin thread is always getting tangled up in dust bunnies! There are some really nice step-by-step photos that demystify this slightly scary-sounding process. Via Whip Up.
Posted by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith |
Mar 10, 2009 01:00 PM
Fabric, Fashion, Sewing, Sewing Machines |
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March 6, 2009
Checkin' In: Styley Seamstress Christine Haynes
In this week's installment of Checkin' In, we touch base with talented designer and seamstress Christine Haynes to find out what creative projects she has in the works these days. First, let's take a look at what crafty goodness Christine has contributed to the pages of CRAFT magazine.
In CRAFT Volume 03, Christine wrote a great feature called "Anatomy of a Sewing Machine," where she breaks down all the parts and details what they do. Here is this handy article in our Digital Edition for your referencing pleasure.
Then, in CRAFT Volume 04, Christine showed us how to bring a vintage garment to life by smithing and forming copper into a custom floral button. Hot!
And finally, Christine taught us how to make two adorably stylish dresses. The first, in Volume 05, is a festive cocktail dress made from your very own personalized, reusable pattern:
The second, in Volume 08, is a customizable summer classic that you can make as a halter, with shoulder ties, with straps, strapless, with ruffles, or none! It's like learning to make a whole closet full fo skirts and dresses. And the circular ruffle tutorial is awesome. Who doesn't need more ruffles? Here's one variation:
And what has this fab seamstress up to these days? Here's what she said:
"My big news is that I have my book coming out on April 14, called Chic & Simple Sewing. It is available for presale at the moment at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and at my publisher's site, Random House."
"I also am teaching sewing classes at ReForm School's Home Ec Department. For March I have 2 sessions of Sewing 101 for adults, and one session of Sewing 101 for teens. I'm currently featured on the cover of CraftStylish with my restyle project. And as usual, I have my website [christinehaynes.com], full of dresses, skirts, tops, and home accessories."
"In the works are kits, a collection of patterns, a second book with Random House, and a new Spring/Summer 2009 collection."
Thanks, Christine! We'll look forward to checking out your new book. Coming from you, it's guaranteed to be beautiful.
Folks can pick up back issues of CRAFT Volumes 03, 04, 05, and 08 in the Maker Shed.
Posted by Goli Mohammadi |
Mar 6, 2009 05:00 PM
Fashion, Sewing, Sewing Machines |
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January 8, 2009
SINGER®'s Sewing with Nature Contest Kicks Off TODAY!
SINGER® Sewing Company and CRAFT Magazine invite all of the crafty stitchers out there to create a project inspired by nature. As we look forward to the spring, with the new growth and beauty that it brings, we ask you to create something that is sewn using a sewing machine and integrates organic elements for our Sewing with Nature Contest. For a four-week period, crafters can submit pictures online of their nature-inspired projects to the Flickr group called 'The Sewing with Nature Contest'. At the end of the four weeks, SINGER will pick one Grand Prize winner and three runners-up.
The Grand Prize winner's project will be featured in the SINGER® ad in the Spring issue of CRAFT Magazine. The Grand Prize winner will also receive one (1) SINGER® Confidence 7467™ sewing machine with a retail value of $350 and a set of SINGER sewing books courtesy of Creative Publishing ($60 value).
Three (3) runners-up will receive a SINGER® dress form ($129) and a subscription to CRAFT Magazine!
Head on over to the 'Sewing with Nature Contest' Flickr group. Full contest rules and information are here.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Jan 8, 2009 03:30 PM
Contests, Green, Sewing, Sewing Machines |
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January 3, 2009
Brother Quattro 6000D HD Sewing Machine
PT @ MAKE posted up this sweet sewing machine eye candy, the Brother Quattro 6000D HD.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Jan 3, 2009 12:00 PM
Sewing, Sewing Machines, Technology |
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November 14, 2008
Sewing Machine to Visualize Sound
Jonah @ MAKE writes:
The "Visible Sound" project attempts to create a physical version of the sound around it by sewing sound waves in realtime. Although this was just a concept, we like ways of making invisible objects like sound waves into tangible forms.
This concept model looks like a stereo faceplate on a modified sewing machine, but I can't imagine it would be too difficult to rig up some sound sensing equipment to adjust the width of the zigzag stitch on a sewing machine.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Nov 14, 2008 03:00 PM
Arts & Design, Sewing, Sewing Machines, Technology |
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November 4, 2008
Dollar Store Sewing Machine Cover
Heather points us to this fantastic sewing machine cover made from a dollar store apron, bringing the total cost for the project to a whopping ... well ... one dollar. And the bonus: there was enough material left over to make a tissue case cover!
Posted by Rachel Hobson |
Nov 4, 2008 12:00 PM
Sewing Machines |
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July 18, 2008
Singer Futura Computerized Embroidery Machine - CRAFT Video Podcast
Download the MP4 Video or HD Version | Subscribe to CRAFT in iTunes
While at Maker Faire in May, I got a chance to get a terrific demo from Vivian Lavinskas of Singer Sewing Company on their Singer Futura line of computerized embroidery machines. Having one myself and being a techie, I can vouch for how amazingly cool these machines are. They connect easily to a PC and allow you to embroider from pre-set designs or in the CE-250 and CE-350 models, you can also use your own images for embroidery!
As mentioned in the podcast, each month a new embroidery motif is available for free download from the projects section of the Singer web site. You can also check out the many great sewing and embroidery projects as well.
My first project with the Singer Futura CE-250 embroidery machine was to test out the CRAFT logo above. The software was really simple to use and imports lots of file formats, then coverts it over to embroidery stitches that the sewing machine reads. Then I used that design template to embroider the logo onto vintage tablecloths which were used at our booth at the recent ICE Atlanta craft fair.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Jul 18, 2008 11:00 AM
CRAFT Podcast, Sewing Machines, Technology, Video |
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June 13, 2008
HOW TO - Make a Hand-y Pincushion
Why use a little tomato when you can poke your pins in this disembodied hand? Digital Misfit teaches you how to make this hand-y pincushion on Cut Out + Keep.
Posted by Michelle Kempner |
Jun 13, 2008 06:00 AM
Home Decor, Sewing Machines |
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May 12, 2008
Zigzaggers - Vintage Sewing Machine Reviews
Krista has started a cool new blog called Zigzaggers which is a site featuring reviews of older and vintage sewing machines by you, the crafter. Pictured above is a vintage Singer.
Krista writes:
I want this site to become an easy research stop for anybody shopping for for old sewing machines on eBay or Craigslist, or at garage sales or thrift stores. If you want to review your old sewing machine, email me!
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
May 12, 2008 10:00 AM
Sewing Machines |
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March 29, 2008
ThreadHeads - Freehand Machine Embroidery with Girl Popcorn
This week's ThreadHeads takes us to visit Julie Dunbar of Girl Popcorn with an exclusive tutorial on how she creates her awesome embroidery (which is a great way to make an old tee, purse or bag look like refreshed and new).
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Mar 29, 2008 05:00 PM
Fashion, Needlearts, Sewing Machines, Video |
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March 21, 2008
New Toy in the CRAFT Lab
Our fearless interns in the CRAFT/MAKE Lab, Lindsey, Matthew, Meara, Kris, and Ed, happily reported today that they'd received a new machine from Singer to replace the last one, which they'd overworked. Yay! Thanks, Singer! Ed Troxell documented the festivities in his Flickr set.
Posted by Natalie Zee Drieu |
Mar 21, 2008 01:15 PM
Announcements, Sewing Machines |
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February 20, 2008
The Sewing Machine by Betty Hutton
Many thanks to Julie Jackson for tipping us off to this great Betty Hutton performance from the 1947 musical The Perils of Pauline. Hutton plays an exhausted garment sweatshop worker, and this is her sarcastic ode to her sewing machine. Link.
Posted by Jenny Ryan |
Feb 20, 2008 12:00 PM
Sewing Machines, Video |
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