[NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind

Wed May 14 12:35:34 UTC 2025

hi i do a lot of standard sewing and can tell you about a lot of
accessibility issues that you need to prepare for. the most important ones
involve colors and patterns. fabrics often have patterne that need to be
lined up such as plaids, stripes, or pictures that repeat throughout the
fabric. i have been sewing for years as someone with low vision and for the
past 25 years totally blind..
the biggest issue i have is the cutting of parts to make sure the patterns
are lined up on the fabric and also if it is a directional print, that it
is going the correct direction for what i am making. i have started to make
shirts and hoodies over the past few years and this is something i find i
need to do a lot with those projects.
you shouldnt have to cross this bridge until you start making clothes or
pillows or things that require fabrics that have prints or patterns on
them.
color matching thread to fabric can also be a big issue if you are a person
who cares about this. i rely on someone with eyesight to help me match the
thread color to the color of the fabric as best they can. then i label
things so i know what color they are.
if i am just sewing a tear that is on a seam, the repair is pretty easy to
do. if the tear is in the middle of the article, then there is more chance
of visibility so i am more picky about matching thread colors.
cutting out patterns is also an issue i have so i often ask for help with
this part of my sewing projects as well. it just depends on what it is. for
my shirts i ask for help for sure. i am not a good cutter but can do some
pattern cutting with a rotary cutter which is basically a round razor blade
that looks like a mini pizza cutter. i have done this to cut out patterns
for my teddy bears.
some people find threading their sewing needles to be the mostbasic issue
with no eyesight. needle threaders can help a lot with this and there are a
few different kinds. i practiced with a larger hole needle and worked on
things until i could use the treaders on a smaller hole needle. larger hole
needles leave larger holes in your fabric and can damage it. also they
sometimes dont fit through button holes.
these are just a few accessibility issues. there are others but i dont want
to overwhelm you. thr truth is that you will need some help to get started.
i have been taught by people who have eyesight so if you wanted to take a
basic sewing class, that would be great. just be sure to tell them which
things you need help with. there are also sewing books available in
accessible format from the various libraries.

On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 7:47 AM Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters <
nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Ellana.
> I was hoping Ramona would answer, but she's very busy.  Hopefully she'll =
> see your message. =20
> I'm not sure what you mean by standard sewing, but I use sewing to =
> replace buttons, fix holes and do hemming.  I usually do hand sewing.  I =
> have a small sewing machine, but I have to figure out how to thread it, =
> and I just haven't tackled that project. =20
> I did machine sewing a long time ago, and it worked fine.  I had to be =
> careful to go slow and not run over my finger.  I remember someone =
> talking about a magnetic guide that helps blind people stay straight =
> while machine sewing, but I can't remember the details. =20
> The hardest thing to me about sewing clothes is getting a usable =
> pattern.  My mom cut out some for me by pinning construction paper to a =
> regular tissue pattern and then cutting it out.  But I don't have that =
> kind of sighted help anymore.  I've wondered if I could pin paper over a =
> garment I like, then carefully cut it out, leaving a seam allowance.  It =
> should work, but I haven't tried yet.
>
> Does that answer some of your questions?  Do you have more questions?  =
> Maybe other people will chime in.
> I gave a simple hand-sewing class a while back, and could give another, =
> if people are interested.
> Tracy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On =
> Behalf Of Ellana Crew via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:52 PM
> To: nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Ellana Crew <eemcrew at gmail.com>
> Subject: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have been very interested in learning how to do standard sewing for a =
> few y=3D ears, but I=3DE2=3D80=3D99m unsure what kinds of blindness =
> accessibility issues ma=3D y come up. I am particularly interested in =
> learning how to do things like he=3D mming, fixing holes, and eventually =
> maybe making some of my own clothing lik=3D e simple skirts. I have been =
> considering signing up for local sewing classes=3D  in my area, but =
> since I don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t have experience yet, I=3DE2=3D80=3D99m =
> nerv=3D ous about what kind of accessibility issues might crop up.
>
> Does anyone here do standard sewing? If so, what kind of blindness =
> adaptatio=3D ns have you found helpful, or what advice would you give to =
> a new blind pers=3D on wanting to learn? I will be especially curious =
> about techniques used with=3D  sewing machines too.
>
> Thanks,
> Ellana=3D
>
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