[Nfb-krafters-korner] question about sewing and woodworking

[Zimmer, Cindy]

Greg and Jewell,

When I teach sewing on a 4 hole button I use the Braille G as an example.  If the person knows how to Braille the letter G it works good to teach this skill.  A person needs to determine the way the buttons are on a garment.  Buttons can be sewn on several different ways.  Going across the holes such as a 1, 4, 1, 4, 1, 4 and 2, 5, 2, 5,2, 5 Or, you can go at a crisscross 1, 5, 1,5,1,5 and 2, 4, 2, 4, 2,4  or sometimes they even go at parallel lines such as  1,2,1,2,1,2 and 4,5,4,5,4,5.

Greg, the Dental Floss threaders that Jewell mentioned are also good to thread sewing machine needles.

Good Luck!
Cindy Z.


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jewel S.
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 5:08 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] question about sewing and woodworking

Hey Greg,

I do a bit of sewing, mostly handsewing because I don't have room to
leave my sewing machine out. I make clothes for stuffed animals, book
covers, and some other craft items. I would certainly be willing to
connect with you and your friend on brainstorming.

A few ideas:
1. For threading a needle (not for the sewing machine), whitch's
chimneys are great. These are automatic threaders, though they take a
little practice. Different needles require different size chimneys,
though.
2. Threading any needle: Good for threading needles, buy those
flossers for braces. These are very cheap and very easy. They work
like the threaders that come in sewing kits, but are easy to
manipulate.
3. For buttons, start with a single-hole button, and once they master
that, go to a two-hole, and then to a four-hole. Easiest to hardest.
4. For hand sewing, use a piece of tape that is about a fourth of inch
wide (scotch tape is easiest to feel). Tell the sewer to sew on the
edge of the tape, and afterward, pull the tape off. Make sure not to
put tape on plush fabrics' fronts, like velvet, as it'll mess up the
plush.
5. For sewing with a sewing machine, there are hem guides that are
really useful for keeping straight. Some machines have the attachment,
and others come seperate.
6. For patterns, make the pattern with white cotton (quilting cotton
is the cheapest, and white is the cheapest of that type). Then, if the
student gets the pattern off a little, they can fix the mistake by
cutting off excess or sewing on extra as needed to fix it. Can't do
that with paper, and with the white cotton, you can pin the pieces
together and try it on or put it on whatever first, to make sure the
pattern is what you want.
7. Solid colours are easiest, and if a pattern is necessary, make sure
it's a raised pattern that can be felt (like embroidered images or
every other strip raised a little). Don't expect a blind student to be
able to line up visual strips without lots of help.

That's just a few ideas. Depending on what kinds of things they want
to sew, I know more for different topics. Can't help much with
woodworking...I've only done a popsicle stick-style plant holder
*blush* They might consider basketweaving, too, though. That is just
as easy tactilely as it is visually, and basket weaving is a good
profession.

~Jewel

On 3/30/10, Greg Aikens <gpaikens at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello all,
> I am brand new to the list. I am doing some research for a friend
> overseas who is doing occupational training with young adults with
> disabilities. She is hoping to reach out to the blind and visually
> impaired community in her area and is looking for resources to help
> her figure out how to gear their current occupational training toward
> blind students. They plan on teaching students woodworking and sewing.
> I am totally blind, but these are not areas of expertise for me. I
> thought there might be some experts in this area on this list though.
>
> I don't have any specific questions yet, but if anyone could point me
> toward resources which might be helpful in looking at doing
> woodworking and sewing while blind, I would really appreciate it.
> Also, if anyone would be interested in connecting with me and my
> friend to brainstorm on some of these things, I would also appreciate
> it.
>
> I hope these topics are pertinant for this list.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> Greg Aikens
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
> Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Nfb-krafters-korner:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>

_______________________________________________
Nfb-krafters-korner mailing list
Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-krafters-korner:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-krafters-korner_nfbnet.org/cindy.zimmer%40nebraska.gov