[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing Machines?

[Judy Jones]

Oh yeah, what you want to do sounds definitely possible.

There has been a book out there called, So What About Sewing.  If you Google
the title, you may be able to find it.

I have not used a surger, so can't address that, but first started sewing in
our home ec class in junior high at the Colorado school for the blind.  I've
made dresses and pants for myself, but has been a long time ago.

When taking something in, in general, pin where you want to sew, then, once
sewn, trem the extra off from the seam.  Much easier than cutting first,
then making this narrow narrow seam.

While raising kids, and now, I mainly use my machine to do mending, put in
zippers when I want one, and modify clothing.  I always have to hem my
husband's new pants, they are always 2 or 3 inches too long.

Seam guides are great, but for those times when not appropriate, I position
my cloth under the presser foot where I want to start.  Lift the presser
foot leaver up, and slowly turn the wheel counter clockwise with your right
hand, and you will feel the needle tip coming down with your left hand under
the lifted presser foot.  You can position it exactly.  Then turn the wheel
the rest of the way so the needle penetrates the cloth and sort of anchors
it for starting.  Push the leaver back down to put the presser food back in
place.

On the presser foot, there is a notch in the middle aligned with the needle,
so if you sew, you can keep your fingers close to that presser foot notch,
or make sure everything is aligned correctly before you start and sew
slowly.  Make sure your fingers are flat so  the moving needle doesn't catch
them.  I usually have my right hand up by that presserfoot, and guide the
cloth with my left.  If I'm not sure or feel I need to check my needle
placement, I stop the machine.

You can sew a curved seam in this way as well, as well as using those
selvage finishing stitches.

If you want to check your needle placement, stop the machine in the needle
down position, lift up the presser foot and you can feel exactly where your
needle is.

For sewing zippers, I like to pin my zipper in first, then use the regular
presserfoot and sew from the top of one side, taking out pins as I go.  Then
sew across the bottom, turn, and back up the other side toward the top,
taking out pins as you sew.

Not too long ago, my daughters gave me a tie robe, but I wanted a zipper, so
put one in.  If you're doing that, you want to make sure the zipper is on
the straight edge, and not on the rounded part that makes the garment flair
out.

For patterns, the only sighted assistance you need is cutting the extra
tissue from the pattern edges on the inked line, and tape to mark any darts.
People in fabric stores are great at helping with that.

Practice on some sheets of paper or scrap cloth.  Make yourself some curved
or rounded edges.Let us know how it goes.

Judy
-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Krafters-Korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Dani Pagador via NFB-Krafters-Korner
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2018 2:02 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Cc: Dani Pagador
Subject: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing Machines?

Hi, Everyone.
I'm coming out of lurkdom to ask if it's possible to learn to use a
sewing machine beyond just sewing straight seams. I have a seam guide
and access to a surger and an industrial strength sewing machine--my
Mom used to sew out of her home and has four or five different
machines that she might let me use if I could help her be comfortable
with the idea, and could get help learning how to use them. I need too
decrease the size of a bed encasement, which would mean taking it
apart and cutting the fabric down to fit my matress, then sewing it up
again, including a zipper and Velcro closures. The concept seems easy
enough to do aside from the zipper learning curve. What are your
thoughts?

I know I could probably bring it to Mom and get her to do it, but I
want to be able to work with the machines and materials and concepts
myself and manage my own sewing project needs. I've always wanted to
learn to sew, but there's no local resource. My local VR center has a
manual arts/woodworking class, but no sewing class. And I don't want
to have to enroll in the whole program just to be able to take a
sewing class.

Mom is in her seventies, and I want her to be around for a looong time
yet, but have to think about that she might not be for some unforeseen
reason. I want to learn to sew to keep her with me after she's gone.

Thanks,
Dani

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