Sew much fun!

[amberica]

Well, I inherited a sewing machine over the weekend. My mom's friend had gotten it in high school years back, and was getting rid of it, so my mom took it in from her friend, tested it out, and deemed it ME-worthy! Not that I know how to sew. Oh no. But apparently I should learn. I had a lot of trouble focusing when my mom was trying to show me how to use it when I was still in Fargo, but then last night, I decided to get it out on the kitchen table and try to figure it out again.

Well! Let me just tell you RIGHT NOW that I am SUPER proud, becuase I finally figured out how to make a blind (invisible) hem!! Sure, it took probably about an hour and a half from the time I started searching online to the point where I actually found the manual for my machine (it was a $7 download of a pdf file - normally I'd complain, but hey, I got a free sewing machine), and then figured out how to get all the switches and dials and the right presser foot all set up on the machine, and then I had to figure out how to get the bobbin threaded back to the OUTSIDE from the INSIDE, but THEN I did it! It took me probably 10 minutes just to figure out all the weird folds and stuff that you have to do to the fabric, but I DID it! An invisible hem!

For those of you who don't know what this is, I'll try to explain it. Look at the bottom of a pair of jeans. You can see that the fabric was folded up towards the inside of the leg and then stitched all the way around. You can see the line of stitching on the outside of the pant leg. That's the hem. (duh! hee hee)

An invisible hem is used on nicer slacks and/or finer fabrics... stuff like that. The fabric is still folded up to the inside of the pant leg, but then it is only attached to the inside of the fabric with teeny tiny little stitches, about an inch apart, and you can't even see them. What happens is that the very edge of the fabric, the part you folded inside, gets all nice and sealed up all by itself with stitches, and then every 5 stitches or so, the needle goes thru the OUTSIDE of the fabric to attach that folded inside piece.... Gosh I don't think I'm describing it very well...

OK, that first picture shows how you have to fold the fabric while you are doing the stitching. It's a view from the INSIDE of the pant leg (or whatever you are hemming)... And then the second picture shows what the final hem looks like from the outside. Just those few little tacks of thread, and if you use thread of the same color of your fabric, they are virtually invisible! Amazing stuff.

I sure hope I can get at least halfway decent at using this machine. Then I can make my own costumes and not always have to ask my BOYFRIEND to sew clothes and stuff for me! ^_^

Comments

[onewomanshow.livejournal.com]

Isn't it FREEING? It's like, why did they ever stop teaching this in school? Now, you need a rotary cutter and a self-healing cutting mat (if I had the money, I would get you one - they are INVALUABLE). And on to the wild world of following patterns..... :) You should take the PJ bottom class at Crafty Planet!

[amberica.livejournal.com]

Well, my dad has both of those, but I have only ever seen them used for his desktop publishing stuff... Sorry if I'm just too dang goofy to understand, but can you use those in sewing too? (?_?)

[onewomanshow.livejournal.com]

To cut your fabric, it makes a smoother, straighter cut to work with. Especially goof for patterns, since you wind up cutting all kinds of weird shapes. :)