[NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind

Fri May 16 11:17:25 UTC 2025

now that is something i have seen. cats of all colors both realistic and
artistic variations. i have some fabric with black cats with glow in the
dark eyes that i made into a shirt to wear on halloween. it even has black
cat buttons.

On Thu, May 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM henry osborne jr via NFB-Blind-Crafters <
nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Sure kitty, come on aboard! I like cats too! Love, sophie
>
>
>
> *From:* NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Sarah via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 15, 2025 6:03 PM
> *To:* 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org
> >
> *Cc:* meow91 at gmail.com
> *Subject:* Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind
>
>
>
> How about kitties? Meow Meow
>
>
>
> Happy crafting!
>
> Sarah
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *henry osborne jr via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 14, 2025 2:00 PM
> *To:* 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org
> >
> *Cc:* hosbornejr at gmail.com
> *Subject:* Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind
>
>
>
> Moo! No cows, Black Labs, Shepherds or Eagles if you please, big beaky
> smile. Or, Wolves! Howl!
>
>
>
> *From:* NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Jolene Nemeth via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 14, 2025 11:41 AM
> *To:* List for Blind Crafters and Artists <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* Jolene Nemeth <radar500 at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind
>
>
>
> regarding the cows, that is the funniest thing i have ever heard. there
> are tons of types of cows of many colors. where does she think black angus
> burgers come from? lol
>
>
>
> regarding tape measures
>
> i use the one with the rivets but i think i am going to have my friend
> make one up the way Deb had suggested i think that was in  another group
> but you can put stapels in it at the inch and foot marks but also could do
> that for any other increment you like.
>
> if i need to go smaller than 1/2 inch i have a good tactile ruler for
> that. .
>
> if it is a length i use a lot such as 7.5 inches for a bracelet, i have my
> friend make a strip that is that length then i label it in braille and use
> it when i need it.
>
> let me tell you a cool idea i came up with that works for one of my
> projects.
>
> i love hawaiian shirts and truthfully the more colorful the better. i
> wanted to put decorative buttons on the shirts but have issues with the
> spacing. i had my friend make a template based on the shirt we took the
> pattern from and she punched holes where the knots should be for the center
> of the buttons. she made 2 holes at the top for pinning the template to the
> shirt. then i have a forked tail at the bottom with 2 holes above it as
> well. i also can put straight pins into the template because is is thin.
>
> once it is pinned in place, i put a knot in the center of each of the
> holes. then i remove the template and the pins.
>
> then i can place my buttons by finding each knot.
>
>
>
> it sounds a little involved but i find it works great for shank buttons.
>
> hey maybe i can make a shirt with cows on it!
>
> lol
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM Ellana Crew via NFB-Blind-Crafters <
> nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> This is great information, thank you all very much. I expected the points
> about color and pattern matching, but hadn’t thought about needles with
> larger holes making more of an impact on the fabric, so that is great to
> know. This is all very helpful though and makes me feel generally more
> comfortable going into a main stream sewing class.
>
>
>
> Upon double checking the website of my local sewing shop, it looks like
> they only offer lessons on sewing machines but not in hand sewing. I
> remember quite sometime ago back in middle school I had done some sewing
> machine work for a class, and I remember that I really didn’t have trouble
> Threading everything in the machine and found it very tactile, but I don’t
> quite remember how the process of actually sewing a line worked. I believe
> I do remember there being some sort of metal piece under the needle that
> could be used as a tactile guide of sorts if I’m not mistaken. Something to
> act as a barrier between the needle and my finger but still keep straight.
> If those of you who have used sewing machines could share a little more
> about your experiences operating the machine during the actual sewing part,
> that would be great. I do already appreciate the comment about going slow
> to stay on track.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ellana
>
>
>
> On May 14, 2025, at 10:59 AM, ReNae Anderson via NFB-Blind-Crafters <
> nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> 
>
> I used Be My Eyes one time, to determine if I had the correct color for a
> cow I was making.  This was a Guernsey cow, which is brown, with a little
> tan.  The volunteer stated I had it all wrong.  She said cows are black and
> white.  LOL  Obviously, she didn’t understand that there is more than one
> breed of cow. 😊
>
>
>
> ReNae
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Jolene Nemeth via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 14, 2025 8:44 AM
> *To:* List for Blind Crafters and Artists <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* Jolene Nemeth <radar500 at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind
>
>
>
> havent tried that since i dont have that service but my good friend is
> great with colors and sewing so i just ask her.
>
> one other thing i would have issues with was losing my needles so i got a
> magnetic needle case and i love that.
>
>
>
> On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 9:08 AM Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters <
> nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Thanks Jolene for sharing your experiences.
>
> I have used AIRA to match thread and fabric bolors, and it’s worked well.
>
> Tracy
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On
> Behalf Of *Jolene Nemeth via NFB-Blind-Crafters
> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 14, 2025 8:36 AM
> *To:* List for Blind Crafters and Artists <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* Jolene Nemeth <radar500 at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind
>
>
>
> 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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