[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing Machines?

Wed Sep 5 16:59:51 UTC 2018

Kaila,
There is a groove in most needles along the shaft of the needle.  If you feel for this groove you can follow it down to the eye of the needle.  Use the metal threader or a dental floss threader and direct it down the shaft to the eye.  If using the dental floss threader you will have to give it a little push because it is harder to get in the eye of the needle.  (it's a tight fit!)  It will work!!!!  When pulling the threader through the eye of the needle, you will need to give it a little tug as the thread and threder come through.  Sometimes I hold the needle steady to pull it through.  Give it a try!

Cindy Z

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kaila Allen via NFB-Krafters-Korner
Sent: Saturday, September 1, 2018 5:55 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Kaila Allen <blindbeautycrafts at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing Machines?

My husband said he would help me thread my machine. I know how it goes on the machine I just can’t get it through the needle by myself.

Thank you, 

Kaila
Blind Beauty Crafts

The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.   Nelson G Henderson

> On Sep 1, 2018, at 12:09 PM, Judy Jones via NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> The way it works with the patch pockets is to place them where you 
> want them on the garment, pin them in place then sew them on.  For 
> things like that I have lined the right edge of the presser foot with 
> the edge of the patch pocket and gone around three sides, starting out 
> with the needle placement check to make sure I am lined up correctly.  
> When you come to corners, you do the needle check thing as you are getting to the edge of the pocket.
> When the needle is where you want it, with needle position down, turn 
> the fabric 90 degrees, make sure you are lined up straight, then sew 
> your second edge.  That's the way to do corners.  It takes longer to 
> describe it than to do it.
> 
> 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: Saturday, September 1, 2018 4:19 AM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists
> Cc: Dani Pagador
> Subject: Re: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing Machines?
> 
> Then I guess I'm dated, too. I remember the treadle machine and miss 
> it. My Grandma on my Mom's side had one, a Singer, I think, and that 
> was the first machine I tried sewing with.
> 
> It's been 35 years since home ec class, but I can do a basic straight 
> seam if there's a guide, and have done the  basic bag, pillow, pillow 
> case. But curves and zippers daunt me, and I can't imagine how to go 
> about sewing a smaller pocket on top of a bigger piece of material.
> I'm out of practice re the sewing machine.
> 
> I'll go see if I can get hold of some material. I'd like to start 
> sewing again, and the first thing I'd like to make is a needle holder 
> to organize my knitting needles and crochet hooks. I see it rolling 
> up, and think it'd be an apron type thingy with a big pocket or two 
> that has partitions. I can also see it hanging behind my closet door.
> 
> I also need something like that for my hair ties and clips. I'm so 
> intrigued by the possibilities. I'm so inspired to know there are 
> other blind people who sew, that I'll be able to do it too if I work 
> at it and put my mind to it.
> 
> I also need to learn to sew because my Mom makes all of my clothes.
> I'm four-feet-nine and can't find anything I like in the 
> stores--everything is either too long or too short. I want to be able 
> to make clothes in styles that suit me, as opposed to having to chase 
> fashion trends that more than likely won't work.
> 
> But like I said above, I'm inspired now by your responses. I'll share 
> them with my husband, and between the list and the two of us here, 
> plus my Mom, we'll get me sewing somehow.
> 
> Thanks,
> Dani
> 
> 
> 
> On 8/31/18, Judy Jones via NFB-Krafters-Korner 
> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> I have a Pfaff machine I bought back in the early 90s, but we also 
>> have a working antique treadle I tought the girls on, and when I was 
>> a teen I
> used
>> my mom's Singer Featherweight.  That does date me.
>> 
>> Judy
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NFB-Krafters-Korner 
>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>> Behalf Of Ramona Walhof via NFB-Krafters-Korner
>> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2018 6:03 PM
>> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
>> Cc: Ramona Walhof
>> Subject: Re: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing Machines?
>> 
>> Thank you, Judy.  Didn't know you sewed.
>> Ramona
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NFB-Krafters-Korner 
>> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org]
>> On
>> Behalf Of Judy Jones via NFB-Krafters-Korner
>> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2018 4:16 PM
>> To: 'List for blind crafters and artists' 
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Judy Jones <sonshines59 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing Machines?
>> 
>> 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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