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Post by davidswife on Jul 16, 2006 18:51:58 GMT -5
I can't sew  I am directionally challenged  Is there anyone here close to Atlanta that can sew? Is there anyone that can give me EASY  directions to learn? I have a nice sewing machine that David bought me years ago, I touch it and it breaks  I am so sick and tired of trying to find modest clothes for the girls. Friday, we measured a skirt at WalMart...it was 10" long!!!  That is not clothing!!! Let me know if someone can help me out Thanks, Denise |
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Post by prv31wife on Jul 16, 2006 23:07:13 GMT -5
Hi Denise, I can't sew but I'm teaching myself so from one sewing challenged sister to another I have a few suggestions. First you want to familiarize yourself with your machine. You need to learn the basics of your machine and what each part does. Study the manual if you have one or if it's missing a manual, go to sewusa.com(I believe that's correct) and you might be able to find one. Practice some stitches on some scrap fabric, old cotton sheets, etc. I would recommend your first sewing project be something very easy like a skirt or plain half apron. Here is a link to make a pocket tissue cover. This is for those little tissue packets that fit in your purse. I'm going to try and make one and so will my girls. sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa010405a.htmIf you have any questions, I'm sure the more experienced gals(or even guys  can help. |
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Post by Andrea on Jul 20, 2006 10:43:08 GMT -5
Thanks Sis. Regina! That's good advice for newbies to sewing, which includes myself...  .. I don't have a sewing machine right now, but Lord willing, soon. I found a good site that shows different stitches and how to do them. I've been looking over these and even printed them off to practice (although I haven't started yet  ). It's very informative.. maybe it might help some of you all, like me, that has absolutely no idea when it comes to sewing.. .. I'm learning though.. 
www.sewing.org/enthusiast/html/el_handstittch.html
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Post by christena on Jul 30, 2006 14:51:18 GMT -5
Sisters,
Many of us are sewing challenged! LOL! That your dh blessed you with a machine is wonderful! May I suggest you find the manual for your machine and see if it has directions for the specific stitches etc. . I am one to make sure I have directions and the manual for about everything and my ole Singer has wonderful directions of use.
To begin with just sew a straight line in each of the stiches to learn what they can do and what they look like.
I also for my first sef taught lessons bought some cheap fabric and made curtains....simple straight stitches...like a hemline on the edges and a room for the rod to go through.
My DD has Home Ec workbooks shes been studying a year and is finally on the sewing part...which cna be purchased by any of us from Christian Light Publications. Its made by the Mennonites/Amish but is very detailed and teaches you how to sew from a pattern a plain dress,apron, and even a cap if your inclined.
I need to get my dd to teach me as she learns too!
Blessings,
Christena
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Post by Brother Randy on Jul 30, 2006 20:11:11 GMT -5
Dear sisters, GVS is also a very good source for books on sewing and also a very good prices on sewing notions. The majority of their things are geared to wards those of us that are plain. My DW buys from them alot. their info is phone- 1-800 398-2494 email: sales@gvsdis.com My wife is a very good seamstress making all of her and Hannah's clothes, also sell some. I wish she was feeling better and could be on here some , I am sure she would be of great help to you. I have boughten her a number of very nice machine so she can do a nice job on what she makes. And in an older extra house that I use as a office she has her own sewing room and fabric store If there are some things that maybe she could help you will I will talk to her and see if she might be able to be of some help. Bro Randy |
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Post by Donna on Jul 31, 2006 4:35:37 GMT -5
What is GVS? Do they have a web site or offer a catalog?
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Post by Brother Ben on Jul 31, 2006 7:48:53 GMT -5
GVS, Goods Variety Store, in PA. I doubt they have a web site. Call them, they have a regular mail catalog.
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Post by Brother Randy on Jul 31, 2006 22:30:37 GMT -5
Sorry I did not give more information on them. Their snail mail is GVS
P.O. Box 310
Versailles, Mo 65084-0310
e-mail is all they have internet wise, no web site. Also like bro ben said they do have a catolog, just call them and they will be glad to send it to you.
Bro Randy
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Post by prv31wife on Aug 1, 2006 11:36:51 GMT -5
I totally agree regarding GVS. It's more than just sewing stuff but it has baby items, a cappella music, cookbooks, you name it. And the people there are very sweet I must add. |
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Post by moses on Aug 1, 2006 19:01:17 GMT -5
Hi all. This is actually Moses' wife. I've been reading several of the topics, so this post might cover some things that aren't in this topic. I sew quite a lot and even for the public, so I could probably give you quite a few hints and tips if you wanted to be more specific, such as how your machine breaks. As for just general sewing, I don't know where to start.
I have added instructions for a simple skirt at the bottom of this post. Store bought patterns are in general a mess and I don't like them. I have nearly pefected a men's shirt pattern in all sizes for anyone that is interested. Also, someone had asked about a dress without darts. My grandmother uses a pattern that calls for a dart and simply makes a pleat at the waist line. That way she has plenty of fullness in the bodice, but it still comes in at the waist.
As for fabric stores. We love Hobby Lobby's sale tables as they have really high quality fabric. It's really frustrating to put all that effort into a dress only to have it wear out in 6 months. Expect to pay about $3 a yard even on sale. However it will last at least 3 times as long as your $1 a yard fabric and you only have to sew one dress. Also if you get on the mailing list for JoAnn's you can get 40 percent off coupons at least once a month and they have some fantastic sales.
Skirts are really very simple to make and you can find decent blouses at most thrift stores. To make a basic elastic skirt, simply measure your waist and length you want the skirt. You will need a piece of fabric twice as wide as your waist measurement and 7 inches longer than your skirt length. (you may have to sew two pieces of fabric together) You will also need a piece of 1 inch no-roll elastic half an inch longer than your waist measurement. (or if you are worried about an elastic skirt coming off too easily, you could get a flat cord to make a draw cord -this will need to be long enough to tie.).
Now sew the two ends of the fabric together up the length of the skirt (right sides together) to make a tube. At the bottom, fold up two inches all the way around and iron flat, then fold up two inches again and iron flat, This is your hem. Sew it down.
At the top, fold down 1 and a half inches and iron. Fold 1 and a half inches down again and iron. This will be your elastic casing. You could sew this down all the way around except for about two inches and thread the elastic through, but I have an easier way although it's not quite as easy to explain. You place the elastic into the casing and safety pin one end in place. Start sewing one inch farther down the elastic and sew up your casing while you keep the elastic inside (don't sew it down), scrunching up the fabric as you go so that you always have a good long tail of elastic outside of the casing. When you have gone around the skirt to within two inches of your starting point stop sewing. Un-pin the elastic and pull both ends of the elastic out, so that you can sew them together. Overlap the elastic one inch and sew together using a zig-zag stitch. Now push the elastic back in the casing and sew it up. For a draw string you will want to sew a 1 inch section between your other sewing, leaving two half inch sections open for the cord to come out. (You will want to always keep the area around where you are currently sewing flat and scrunch the rest out of the way.)
You could sew this on to a ready made blouse if you wanted to as well.
I hope that's helpful. Once you've mastered that it's really not difficult to go on to waistbands and pockets. Tops and sleeves get a lot more difficult, but I have a lot of tips and shortcuts there as well.
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Post by benshelpmeet on Aug 2, 2006 10:17:20 GMT -5
Dear sister,
Thank you for your helpful post. Please feel free to share more helpful tips!
What size is your grandmother? I'd be interested in trying her pattern.
What is your name?
Have a great day!
~ sister Darlene ~
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Post by moses on Aug 2, 2006 11:53:28 GMT -5
What size is your grandmother? I'd be interested in trying her pattern. About the same size as me ;D I guess around 5'4 medium weight. We actually make our own patterns. Most of us (My in-laws) are about the same size, but we've made patterns for all kinds of people. (That's a full day process, not really very easy to do across the internet) What size are you? We might have something close that could get you started. You can alter a pattern that is close fairly simply. You will need someone to help you. Cut out a bodice from your pattern out of scrap matierial and cut off the seam allowances around the neck, sleeves and waist line. Now pin the darts and baste the shoulder and under arm seams together. Wearing just your standard undergarments (and hiding in your room  ) put the bodice on with the seams on the outside and pin the back together on the sewing line. Now you can pin fabric out, decrease or increase darts, cut a slit in the fabric and pin more fabric in, etc. A good fit will generally require waist darts in the front and back, side darts in the front and shoulder darts in the back, but it will depend on your shape. Cut the armholes in far enough so that you can move your arms without moving the bodice. Cut off the waist at your waist (or add matierial) and cut the neck line to where you like it. (Remember that you do not have any seam allowances at these places. When it fits you can take the bodice off. Mark your new darts with a pen and unpin them. Unbaste your seams. Your fabric should lay flat, go ahead and take small tucks to allow it to do so. Trace out your pattern onto paper, make a new sample bodice to ensure that it still fits, then add your seam allowances back on. Any full sleeve pattern your size should fit. If you like a fitted sleeve, good luck ;D I don't use them and they are VERY difficult to fit. What is your name?
Minor detail ;D Crystal |
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directions to learn? I have a nice sewing machine that David bought me years ago, I touch it and it breaks 
That is not clothing!!!
can help.
.. I don't have a sewing machine right now, but Lord willing, soon. I found a good site that shows different stitches and how to do them. I've been looking over these and even printed them off to practice (although I haven't started yet 
). It's very informative.. maybe it might help some of you all, like me, that has absolutely no idea when it comes to sewing.. 
) put the bodice on with the seams on the outside and pin the back together on the sewing line. Now you can pin fabric out, decrease or increase darts, cut a slit in the fabric and pin more fabric in, etc. A good fit will generally require waist darts in the front and back, side darts in the front and shoulder darts in the back, but it will depend on your shape. Cut the armholes in far enough so that you can move your arms without moving the bodice. Cut off the waist at your waist (or add matierial) and cut the neck line to where you like it. (Remember that you do not have any seam allowances at these places. When it fits you can take the bodice off. Mark your new darts with a pen and unpin them. Unbaste your seams. Your fabric should lay flat, go ahead and take small tucks to allow it to do so. Trace out your pattern onto paper, make a new sample bodice to ensure that it still fits, then add your seam allowances back on. Any full sleeve pattern your size should fit. If you like a fitted sleeve, good luck ;D I don't use them and they are VERY difficult to fit.