[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Sewing on buttons and sewing machine questions.

[englishrider91 at gmail.com]

Hello, everyone,


I've been tryingt to find tutorials for sewing on two-hole buttons. I purchased the starter kit from WayAround some time ago, which includes some two-hole buttons. I also had a button on a pajama top come off last night. So, I'd like to be able to learn how to fix my pajama top, and also be able to add WayTags to my clothes. I could use the oval-hole buttons that you use a safety pin for attaching them to your clothing, but I'd like a more permenant solution. Not that the pins aren't permenant, exactly, but I have had one time where the pin came out of a work shirt of mine (which had one of those aluminum Braille tag attached) and both the pin and tag came off. Luckily, I was able to find both, but this is why I'd like to attach tags by sewing them on. Besides, knowing how to sew on a button is just something good to learn.

Anyhow, I've read some tutorials on-line, and I'm still confused. I'm planning on buying the sewing kit from WayAround, which comes with thread that's invisible (I wonder how that works), 25 two-hole buttons, a needle with a hole in the eye to make threading easier, and a cork to stick the needle into. The instructions say to cut a piece of thread, bring it down through the eye, and then double it and knot the ends together. Why do this? Does it make things stronger when you sew on the button?

The other questions I have are about sewing with a sewing machine. I have a Brother XM2701. We purchased it before I really considered what features might or might not be useful for a blind sewer. It's not computerized, and has a dial on it, but the knotches that it clicks into are pretty small. I'm hoping each knotch on the dial corresponds to a setting, or I'm going to be in trouble. Anyhow, I've heard of screw-in seam guides, and I've been trying to figure out if this machine can use one, but either it can't, or I'm having a really hard time searching Google. So, does anyone who has this machine know if there is a screw-in seam guide? If not, could a magnetic guide work, if one is available for the machine? How do you like the magnetic guides? I'm worrying about the possibility of a magnetic one sliding, which is why I thought a screw-in type might be better.

Also, I'm trying to figure out if this machine has a needle guide, since I think that would be safer for someone who's totally blind. I mean, I can't see to guide the fabric, so I'm going to have to really touch it, not just hold it, which means getting rather chummy with that needle, which is wicked sharp. If their isn't a needle guide, could one be added? Could I just use a thimble?

Okay, so now for my last set of questions. This is about seams again. I know that you pin fabric together to keep it together while you sew. Do you pin along the entire length of the seam, leaving, say,  an inch or two between pins? I know the point of the pins is to keep the fabric together while sewing--but I'm worried about keeping the seam straight. Do I have the right idea with the pinning? Also, how do you know where to put the pins to make a specific seam, like, say, a 5/8-inch seam? How do you know that as a blind sewer?

Sorry for the interminable questions, but I'd like to get started sewing. It seems like such an exciting craft to get into. Besides, we've had our machine for months, and I haven't done a thing with it. This is primarily because the Brother video that shows you how to set things up is shot in 2D, and my husband is having a hard time figuring out how to use the needle threader. We're going to see my mother in-law tomorrow for Mother's Day, complete with carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, which I have to bake today, and we're taking the sewing machine with us. She has some experience with sewing machines, to see if she can help us with that.


Thanks,
Ari