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

Fri May 8 16:00:31 UTC 2020

Hello Ari,
I've started learning how to sew just before Easter. My Mum, who is
sighted, is teaching me. I have learned some stitches by hand. I don't
feel up to a sewing machine and I'm enjoying sewing by hand. Once you
get the hang of it, buttons will be fun, although I don't like the
tiny ones much. I'm hoping someone will point out a comprehensive
sewing video series on YouTube like the Crochet videos posted
yesterday, they were fab!

I hope you get on well with your sewing machine. Between us, we'll get
sewing classes back on the KK menu.
Very best wishes,
Sandra.

On 5/8/20, Ramona via NFB-Krafters-Korner
<nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Ari, Amy's instructions about sewing on a two-whole button are spot on.
>
> It sounds to me as though you received a self threading needle in your kit.
> That means that the end closest to the eye is slightly split. You can put
> the sharpest end, the point, of the needle into a pin cushion and pull the
> thread across the very end of the needle, and it will pop into the eye. You
> can also use a needle threader on any needle. The wire loop threader is the
> cheapest and most widely available. If you decide to go that route, let an
> experienced sewer know if you need help.
>
> Seams on machines: Remember that the needle goes down into the machine to
> make a stitch through the presser boot. You can use the presser foot as a
> guide. It is essential that your fingers do not get on top of the presser
> foot, just in front of it. Many machines also have a seam guide with them or
> available for them. The seam guide is made of plastic or metal and is
> screwed into the sewing table of your machine. These can be set for #enst?
> or one half inch seams and other widths. You can baist the seams, but
> pinning works. I like to place the pins with the heads to the right-hand
> edge of the fabric so they are easy to remove as you sew. Most modern
> machines are supposed to sew over vertical pins, but then you have to go
> find them after you finish the seam. It seems easier to ramove them as they
> approach the presser foot.
>
> Good luck. Let us know how you are doing.
> Ramona
>
> On May 8, 2020 8:02 AM, Amy Stannard via NFB-Krafters-Korner
> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> For sewing. On buttons i usually get a pair of eyes to thread the needle
>> for me and then if you lay the tow hole button on top of the fabric that
>> it needs to be sew to . Bring you needle thrugh the bakc of the fabric. If
>> yo cna put a knot in the end of the piece of thread before bringing it
>> thrugh the fabric that does help to hold it in palce. Just pull the thread
>> all the way through then once you have done that poke the needle through
>> one of the holes, does not matter which one pull it through and then put
>> the needle back down through the hole and bakc thorugh the fabric that you
>> need to put under neath as you do this and pull the needle thorugh the
>> hole and through the fabric. You keep pulling the needle through form the
>> bakc and up thrugh the button and bakc down again severla times unto the
>> button is secured tightly against the fabric.
>> In easy steps
>> 1. Thread needle and tie a knot in the end, if you have eyes aks them to
>> do this
>> 2. Pull the needle through the fabric and through one of the holes in the
>> button and pull thread all the way through
>> 3. Make sure you start first by pulling the needle and thread thorugh form
>> the bakc of the button, coming up form underneath and pulling thread form
>> one of the button holes
>> 4. Poke the needle bakc through the second hole going in the opposite
>> direction pulling thread all the way through
>> 5 repeat coming up form the bakc through the button hole and bakc down
>> through the second hole two or thread times until the button feels like it
>> is securely in place
>> 6 when you have finished your last stitch you will end up with your needle
>> with thread on the bakc side of the fabric the button in attached to. If
>> you have eyes ask the to tie is off for you for this is was way. If not
>> then you  can instead pull the needle with thread bakc and forth thrugh
>> the piece of fabric under the edge of the button by piercing the fabric
>> just edge of the button you have sewn so that the thread is univ.
>> invissable out the outside of the garment. Pull the through from the bakc
>> through to the front of the fabric and bakc thorugh to the bakc again,
>> doing this severla times and ending up with the needle at the bakc of the
>> fabric once done. Then just a i of the thread and this should hold it all
>> in place.
>> Hope that is of help t those who need it
>> Amy
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> > On 8 May 2020, at 12:55 pm, Ari via NFB-Krafters-Korner
>> > <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > 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
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