<div dir="ltr">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..<div>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.</div><div>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. </div><div>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.</div><div>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.</div><div>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.</div><div>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.</div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 7:47\u202fAM Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters <<a href="mailto:nfb-blind-crafters@nfbnet.org">nfb-blind-crafters@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Hi Ellana.<br>
I was hoping Ramona would answer, but she's very busy. Hopefully she'll =<br>
see your message. =20<br>
I'm not sure what you mean by standard sewing, but I use sewing to =<br>
replace buttons, fix holes and do hemming. I usually do hand sewing. I =<br>
have a small sewing machine, but I have to figure out how to thread it, =<br>
and I just haven't tackled that project. =20<br>
I did machine sewing a long time ago, and it worked fine. I had to be =<br>
careful to go slow and not run over my finger. I remember someone =<br>
talking about a magnetic guide that helps blind people stay straight =<br>
while machine sewing, but I can't remember the details. =20<br>
The hardest thing to me about sewing clothes is getting a usable =<br>
pattern. My mom cut out some for me by pinning construction paper to a =<br>
regular tissue pattern and then cutting it out. But I don't have that =<br>
kind of sighted help anymore. I've wondered if I could pin paper over a =<br>
garment I like, then carefully cut it out, leaving a seam allowance. It =<br>
should work, but I haven't tried yet.<br>
<br>
Does that answer some of your questions? Do you have more questions? =<br>
Maybe other people will chime in.<br>
I gave a simple hand-sewing class a while back, and could give another, =<br>
if people are interested.<br>
Tracy<br>
<br>
<br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <<a href="mailto:nfb-blind-crafters-bounces@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfb-blind-crafters-bounces@nfbnet.org</a>> On =<br>
Behalf Of Ellana Crew via NFB-Blind-Crafters<br>
Sent: Monday, May 12, 2025 1:52 PM<br>
To: <a href="mailto:nfb-blind-crafters@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfb-blind-crafters@nfbnet.org</a><br>
Cc: Ellana Crew <<a href="mailto:eemcrew@gmail.com" target="_blank">eemcrew@gmail.com</a>><br>
Subject: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Learning Standard Sewing Blind<br>
<br>
Hi all,<br>
<br>
I have been very interested in learning how to do standard sewing for a =<br>
few y=3D ears, but I=3DE2=3D80=3D99m unsure what kinds of blindness =<br>
accessibility issues ma=3D y come up. I am particularly interested in =<br>
learning how to do things like he=3D mming, fixing holes, and eventually =<br>
maybe making some of my own clothing lik=3D e simple skirts. I have been =<br>
considering signing up for local sewing classes=3D in my area, but =<br>
since I don=3DE2=3D80=3D99t have experience yet, I=3DE2=3D80=3D99m =<br>
nerv=3D ous about what kind of accessibility issues might crop up.<br>
<br>
Does anyone here do standard sewing? If so, what kind of blindness =<br>
adaptatio=3D ns have you found helpful, or what advice would you give to =<br>
a new blind pers=3D on wanting to learn? I will be especially curious =<br>
about techniques used with=3D sewing machines too.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
Ellana=3D<br>
<br>
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</blockquote></div>