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Rinji
February 24th, 2008, 10:48 PM
My fiance visited me for the weekend, and dropped off my sewing machine! I'm so happy! I've been in a mood to make things recently.

Next weekend he'll come up to witness for a trial involving a car accident. That weekend I'm gonna make me a homemade dressmakers dummy. Here's one site (http://www.sewnews.com/resources/library/0806form/index2.html) we thought the instructions were through and very useful.

Hopefully we'll have time to finish it!

I'm also embarking on making some new pajama pants because one of my favorite pair is falling apart. I've had them since 7th grade, almost 9 years! I haven't changed in size any or height and they stayed together forever. I think they came out of an Avon book. They are still relatively good, except for an enlarging hole that started from a razor grazing the fabric in the knee. I'm seam ripping them right now to use as a pattern. They definitely did a good job on the seams, as it's taking forever to deconstruct my pants!

I have made a few clothes before. I've also familiar with a few alterations since I'm short, and in between junior's and women's sizes most of the time. I've read this site over and over, and it's very informative on the garment making process. It maybe old, but it's really good Vintage Sewing (http://www.vintagesewing.info/1940s.html)

I have a nice soft flannel and a thin t-shirt cotton fabric right now. The t-shirt fabric likes to curl on the edges. Any knit fabric handling tips? I read you can use a glue stick to tack the edges together but I'm not satisfied with this because I think it can gum up the machine (VERY BAD!). I'm considering taking some wax paper and pinning it to the fabric so it doesn't move.
Wax paper isn't exactly something a college student totes around... I'm just in luck because we had to buy some wax paper for making breakfast burritos this weekend.

Any other useful, time saving or unique tips are appreciated! :)
(And of course any cool embellishment ideas too! I can't seem to find any nice clothing fabric that has prints for cheap. It also seems like ugly is IN, at the fabric stores Iv'e been to, lol. I might invest in some shirt paints.)
RRuth
February 24th, 2008, 11:26 PM
That weekend I'm gonna make me a homemade dressmakers dummy. Here's one site (http://www.sewnews.com/resources/library/0806form/index2.html) we thought the instructions were through and very useful.



I happen to have that EXACT magazine at home! In fact, I wanted to make that dressmaker dummy for myself, but ended up buying a full sized female mannequin!

If you make this dressmaker dummy, please post a picture! I'd love to see how it turns out.

My suggestion for "fabric that curls" is to use a SERGE/overlock machine. I use my sergers for EVERYTHING, and it is such a time saver!

Ruth
Rinji
February 24th, 2008, 11:46 PM
I happen to have that EXACT magazine at home! In fact, I wanted to make that dressmaker dummy for myself, but ended up buying a full sized female mannequin!

If you make this dressmaker dummy, please post a picture! I'd love to see how it turns out.

My suggestion for "fabric that curls" is to use a SERGE/overlock machine. I use my sergers for EVERYTHING, and it is such a time saver!

Ruth

Sorry I forgot to mention this, but I don't have a serger! I have to stick with a knit fabric zig zag stitch combined with a straight stitch. It works, but takes longer. Then you have the issues with the fabric wanting to curl naturally and pushing it through the feed dogs without stretching.
My sewing machine is kinda an el cheapo model. It's a brother xl-2230. Finding bobbins is hard because the height is 3/8" instead of 7/16". I wish I had known about that before I got it. I'm not disappointed though. It's a very good starter sewing machine and even has how to thread it numbered on the machine case itself in case you lose the manual or forget! Loading the bottom bobbin is also a snap, literally! Compared to my mom's old heavy table top Singer it's so much easier.

Maybe someone will get me a serger for my wedding, lol.

Hopefully I can get a hold of a camera to take pics. I'd really love to take pictures for the whole process. It seems my camera technology is still in the stone age.
RRuth
February 25th, 2008, 12:04 AM
Perhaps you could hand sew first, and then sew over with machine. This is what I do for intricate work, or gathers/ruffles. Especially gathered sleeves! Hand sewing keeps everything in place before you place it under the machine.
christianmom
February 25th, 2008, 01:37 AM
I would use stitch witch for holding the seams in place then you can sew it with your machine. I love the stitch witchery and I got it at a great 50% off at Hancock Fabric's 4 day sale which ended today. :)
Nova
February 25th, 2008, 07:24 AM
The t-shirt fabric likes to curl on the edges. Any knit fabric handling tips? I read you can use a glue stick to tack the edges together but I'm not satisfied with this because I think it can gum up the machine (VERY BAD!). I'm considering taking some wax paper and pinning it to the fabric so it doesn't move.

Spray starch (comes in a can on the laundry aisle) would probably work. It makes the fabric stiff. Never tried it on T-shirt fabric, but use it alot for cottons.
HSmomto4
February 25th, 2008, 09:40 AM
Does your machine have a setting for knit? If not, play around with your dog feet on your machine.
Rinji
February 25th, 2008, 09:46 AM
It does it a stitch to work with knit, but that's about it. I have used it on some white knit fabric before and still had trouble. I did get it work with a lot of hassle, even when the tension was right. The number of stitches and settings on this machine is kinda limited, but it's just enough to get by.

The t-shirt fabric is even more stretchy and thinner than the white I have worked with so I assume it won't be much easier.

I thought about using starch too! I just wish I knew where mine disappeared to. My mom gave me a huge can of it and Poof! missing. Tis life as a student moving around I guess. Now I have to wait until I can get a ride again to get some.
RRuth
February 25th, 2008, 10:28 AM
Are you struggling with sewing the fabric in general? Or just wrestling because it wants to curl? If your machine is having problems sewing the fabric, it could be you using the wrong needle for the type of fabric you're using.

I think someone mentioned ironing. That could possibly work. Try steaming the edges, as starch might cause residue. But you never know. I haven't tried this.
HSmomto4
February 25th, 2008, 12:21 PM
Are you struggling with sewing the fabric in general? Or just wrestling because it wants to curl? If your machine is having problems sewing the fabric, it could be you using the wrong needle for the type of fabric you're using.

I think someone mentioned ironing. That could possibly work. Try steaming the edges, as starch might cause residue. But you never know. I haven't tried this.

:thumb Yep, you need a ball point needle to sew on knits.