[Nfb-krafters-korner] Sewing a straight or curved line

[Zimmer, Cindy]

See...this is my idea exactly.  Have this description posted on the web site somewhere so if someone down the road wanted to know how to do this exact skill, it is right there.

*smile
Cindy Z. 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Blindhands at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 11:23 AM
To: nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Sewing a straight or curved line

Now this is how I sew a straight line by hand. 
 
I first of all have to use a tape measure or my preference is a hem  ruler. 
 A hem ruler is 6 inches long, made out of metal, has notches on the  edge 
of the ruler and then has this metal piece that is attached in the center  
of the flat ruler part.  This piece of metal fits in the middle slot and is  
raised up.  Coming out from the sides of the centerred metal piece is kinda  
like two not quite triangles of metal.  Now I don't have one in my hand so  
this is pure memory description.  These notches on the side of the ruler  
are measurements of I think 1/2 inches [might be 1 inche, but I don't think 
it  is that large].  So if you want to Sew a 1 inche seam you put this center 
 piece at the 1 inche notch.  It is made to hold it in place at the point  
you put it.  It is more secure in the notched areas, but it does hold  
pretty well. 
 
Now I always use quilting pins.  They are the ones that have a large  
plastic head on them, are long just under 2 inches I believe and are really  
sharp.  So with the hem ruler measure what seam allowance you want or what  you 
want to sew.  Measure from the straight edge with the 2 pieces of  fabric 
together and matched up eevenly at the edges.  Now measure  having  the 
triangles of the ruler matched up with the edge of the  fabric.  Take the pins and 
pin through both layers of fabric pushing in and  out of the fabric once 
with the pin.  Use the straight edge of the ruler to  guide your pins.It is 
maybe 1/2 inche straight edge on the ruler.  Now  continue putting pins along 
this seam allowance maybe every 3/4 of an  inche.  You will eventually after 
using this method determine what spacing  is good for you.  Once you have 
your pins in place, they should be  paralell  to the edge of the fabric.  
Another wise laying in the  direction of your seam, not up and down from the 
edge.  Now sew along in  the directions of the pins using the pins as your 
guide in spacing down from the  edges.  If you have spaced them close enough 
together you can remove the  pins as you approach where they are pinned into 
the 2 pieces of fabric.
 
You can use this same method for sewing in chapes, but sewing curves or  
circles you will have to use more quilt pins to guide the shape you want to  
achieve.
 
The large pins are easy to remove as you go along and will hold in place  
the fabric.  They are also nice and sharp and will pearse thru the fabric  
easily.
 
I have a magnetic  pin cushion that you can get at Joann's.  It  comes with 
the long pins with the large plastic heads.  So while you are  sewing if 
the pin cushion is near enough to you, I kinda toss the pins to the  pin 
cushion and the magnet is strong enough to grab the pins.  If any pins  drop it 
is easy enough to pick up the pins with the magnet.  As long as you  don't 
have an awful lot of pins on this magnet, you can hold it upside down and  the 
pins will not fall off. 
 
Joyce  Kane
_www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com 
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