March Sewing Blog
March Sewing Blog
Dear Sister Fabricaholics,
Top o’ the morning to ya … May your homes always be too small to hold all of your friends … May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live … May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past. … Erin Go Braugh … May your neighbors respect you, troubles neglect you, angels protect you and heaven accept you …
These are just a few of the old Irish sayings that may be dancing in your head during this transitional month. If so, why not embroider a few of them on a set of dish towels or a grocery tote? Embroidered items can be charming, personalized, comedic or decorative and with today’s embroidery machines, your ability to customize almost anything is almost limitless!
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I couldn’t let St. Patrick’s Day go by without dressing Rocksy but consider using this scalloped edge technique to add a feminine flair on the hemlines of blouses, skirts, dresses or sleeves.
To make this dog neckercheif You will need:
1/3 yard cotton
Sewing machine with Crescent decorative stitch
Iron on-tear away stabilizer (this is a paper that’s shiny on one side.
If you don’t have any, try using freezer paper)
Spool of embroidery thread
Iron and ironing board
1. Cut an 11″ x 21″ by 23″ triangle on the fold. The short side is the folded side and on the top edge make a shallow (2″) scoop. Draw a slightly curved line from the bandana point on the bottom to the tip of the ties.
2. Cut stabilizer into 2’x1” strips
3. Press shiny side of stabilizer onto wrong side of fabric against the edge
4. Thread machine, program your crescent satin stitch to the widest width setting (6,7 or 9mm depending on which model machine you have) Here I used the elongation function 2X on Singer’s new L-500 with a 9mm wide stitch width and .04mm stitch length.
5. With right side facing up, Stitch along item’s edge through fabric and stabilizer paper.
6. Carefully cut around crescents with small, sharp embroidery scissors to remove excess fabric but be careful not to cut any threads.
7. Remove any residual paper and wear it in style!
Questions Answered:
I am so lost on what sewing machine to purchase… Do you have a recommendation of one over the other? Susan, I wish that I could give you a definitive answer to your question but there are so many different machines and varying prices. You have already boiled it down to electronic/computerized so you have narrowed the playing field a bit. It is difficult to find an economical machine that has every single bell and whistle that you would dream of so it becomes a matter of what you HAVE to have and what you are willing to do without. You may want to ask the following questions:
What type of sewing will I mostly do? Although every machine is equipped with multiple functionality, there are preferred machines for Quilting, Home Décor, Apparel, etc….. Does it have an extension table? Is it fast and heavy duty? Will I use the built-in alphabet?
Would I like to have endless creativity? Specialty feet and built-in stitch patterns multiply your creative and functional options. Machines that offer both will serve you well in the long run. Most packages at HSN have extra feet that will not be included anywhere else.
Do I want to embroider? Surface embellishments look professional and are relatively easy to accomplish. There are combination machines from Singer and Brother that can convert from sewing to embroidery. They are still portable and convert easily. Endless designs can be acquired from the internet and entry level models will less likely break your bank account.
Will I make a designated area to sew (extra room) or do I have to set up every time (dining room)? If you plan to take your machine to a friend’s house or a sewing class or if you have to pull it out and set it up every time you want to hem a pair of slacks, you may have to start lifting weights to lug your investment aroundJ BUT there are some machines that offer lighter weight and easier portability than others. Brother computerized is very light and fits in a tote!
Will I want lessons or am I self taught and motivated? Education is always a consideration and you often receive classes at a dealer store that you do not have from buying a machine in a box from a shelf. It may have a higher price tag initially but many people prefer/need the one on one attention they can receive from a dealer. Many sewers find that an included instructional DVD is sufficient. Some models of Singer machines come with multiple DVDs.
This is a start when considering which machine to purchase. After you answer these questions, take a look on HSN.com and study and compare the specs. We sell Brother and Singer machines at HSN but there are also other fine brands to choose from that offer a wide variety of machines for sewers at every level. When you purchase your machine from HSN you will be getting customer service, 30-day money back returns, extra accessories and flex pay. If you know that you’re going to be working on large items such as comforters, overcoats or quilts, you may be interested in knowing how much room there is to the right of the needle as well as the height on a particular model of machine.
Dawn asked for the exact measurement of the space where the fabric goes through on the Singer Heavy Duty. With tape measure and scrap paper in hand I went out to my sewing studio. I measured the width—–(needle to side of trunk) and the height—-(flatbed to under the arm) of the neck on the models below. If that feature is important to you, then this will help you when you’re comparing apples to apples.
| HEAVY DUTY | COMPUTERIZED 7430/7470 |
| Width—-6 ½” | Width—-6 ½” |
| Height—–4 ½” | Height—-4 5/8” |
| QUANTUM L-500 | FUTURA |
| Width—–8 ½” | Width—-6” |
| Height—-5” | Height—-3 ½” |
| STYLIST | PROFESSIONAL 2010 |
| Width—-5 ½” | Width—-6 ¼” |
| Height—-3 ½” | Height—-4 ½” |
Susan asked, “Why does one need a serger?”
Another good question. The truth is, we don’t NEED a serger but when you start using one, you’ll wonder why you ever waited.
Will a serger make your sewing finishes more professional looking?
YES! Better looking longer lasting than pinked and less bulky and faster to make than bound edges.
Will it help to cut down your sewing time?
YES! Sergers sew, cut and finish the edge all in one step at a whopping 1100-1300 stitches per minute!
Will it enable you to use interesting threads that you wouldn’t be able to use on your conventional machine?
YES! From monofilament to Pearl cotton, Wooly Nylon to Heavy Rayon, Metallics and more!
Can I use it to construct?
YES! Sergers work beautifully on both wovens or stretch fabrics so you can piece together everything from blue jeans to bathing suits!
Will I be able to make anything special?
YES! Sergers give you decorative edging options with a variety of over casting stitch finishes. You can sew wire, fishing line or strings of tiny pearls into the edges of fabrics to fashion your own dance dresses and costumes, ribbons and bridal veils.
Do sergers come with extra feet?
YES! Some models come with as many as six feet so check all the specs and decide which options, features and accessories are important to you. Feet may include, Blind Hem, Pearls and sequins, Elastic attachment, Gathering or Piping. Some models also include an instructional DVD
What if my serger doesn’t work?
A brand new serger out of the box should work. It should be threaded, tested and ready to plug and play….. Now you WILL have to lift up the telescoping thread holder, make sure that the threads haven’t tangled in shipping and replace the tiny spools of thread with regular serger spools. The tiny spools were placed on to test, not to sew and last.
TO DO THIS: When you first receive your serger and want to use cone threads to replace the temporary threads, Remember to work from the outside spools inward. Below are a few tips to help you expedite the threading. 1. Snip the thread close to the small spool and remove small spools from the pins. (this leaves a nice long thread tail)
2. Insert the large spool on the spool pin.
3. Tie the two thread tails together in a safety knot. (The old three-finger Wrap, Roll and Tighten trick)
4. Repeat on all spools.
5. With the presser foot lever in the “UP” position, pull all the threads along their respective ‘paths’ through the thread guides to the stitching area.
6. This should work for both looper threads and stop just in front of the eye of the needle on the two needle 7. threads. Pull more of the needle thread toward you and snip off the knot from both sides so you can easily pull the old thread through the eyes of the needles to discard.
7. Rethread the needle eyes front to back with the new thread.
8. Place the fabric under the presser foot and bring the presser foot lever to the “DOWN” position. Begin to slowly sew. You may pick up speed as you see that everything has cleared and is stitching properly.
The Fabric won’t pull through…what am I doing wrong?
Check these two things:
- the presser foot not being let down before you sew or
- the feed dog (little metal finger grippers that peek up through the needle plate to pull the fabric through) are not in their upright position.
My bobbin keeps bunching….What’s wrong?
Check these two things:
1. Bobbin is threaded correctly and thread is engaged in the tiny bobbin thread guide that runs along the housing track.
2. Upper take up lever must be definitely threaded. This area is often unseen and if it is not threaded, you cannot sew without bunching in the bobbin.
Can I do “Reverse Bobbin Stitching with the Athena?
Absolutely. Reverse bobbin decorative stitching works best on ‘forward moving stitches’ and could run you into a few potential problems by bunching up on tight, overlapping or reverse patterns. It’s best to Keep It Simple Sweetie!
1. Wind bobbin and thread machine and bobbin with one exception. DO NOT pull thick threads such as pearl cotton or 2mm wide silk ribbon through bobbin tension. Simply by-pass the last built-in bobbin thread guide and pull thread tail to surface.
2. Stitch with the right side of your project facing down with feed dogs engaged and your satin stitch presser foot.
May you get all your wishes but one, so you’ll always have something to strive for …
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Darlene, I was wondering if I could try something different. I have the Stylist II and it came with an attachment for sewing circles. Is it possible to use the circle foot to put the alphabet on fabric and make a circle sewing the alphabet with someone’s name? I still don’t know how to get to your e-mail address. Is it not available on your blog? Thanks for all of your teaching we sewers some of the tricks of the trade. Love watching you on the presentation. I am able to learn a lot.
Hello Everybody, I don’t know about you but I can’t wait until the 27 of this month for the Singer Special. There is no time frame set up for viewing. I wonder what new machine is Singer going to bring out on the special. I wonder if Brother is going to put a few of their machines on sale? Is Brother Co. going to bring back the sewing/embroidry machines especially the one with the thread cartridge? Well I guess it’s a wait and see situation. Until then – Happy Sewing.
I don’t think our group is a priority here. When a new month is not posted until mid-month, people get tired of checking on the blog. There’s nothing much to comment on or to look forward to.
Hi Anonymous,
I completely understand your frustration. I have felt the same way…. My monthly blog is always posted the first of the month on my personal website but I have no control of when HSN posts it here. The April blog is up in the top right window of this blog page. I’m so happy that the dotcom team has made the updates that will allow us blog authors to answer your questions in real time.. so ask away……
I bought the SES2000 embroidery sewing machine. I am still learning and am having trouble with the small hoop. When I download the design, it looks perfectly centered on my computer. I have selected the small hoop icon. But when the machine starts to stitch it is not centered, but off to the bottom left of the hoop. I visited the Singer help page but still can’t get it centered. Can you help?
Thanks.
Hi Charleen,
Thanks for yourb question. I have run into that exact problem. Try this: 1) turn off your machine and computer 2) remove the embroidery arm 3)Pull the sliding hoop holder (against it’s will) all the way to the left 3) replace the arm and turn the computer on, then the machine, then open the Futura program and select your design. Then transmit the design to the machine. This should reset the center calibration. Hope this helps~
Hi Charlene
We have SES2000 also, and had same problem. My take is the small hoop was designed wrong, it’s offset to make the top right corner have the same location as the large hoop, but it shouldn’t be the same because the drawings originate from center, not top right corner. This leaves the embroidery design off center exactly the same amount as the small hoop is to the large one. Software could compensate, but no updates yet. Sewthankful’s fix works, but a pain! Use large hoop for now.
Don’t know if you can get this done or if it is in your category. Can’t connect with Joy Mangano. Wish someone would invent an item—I travel out of state to my children-take my pillows-sometimes a blanket-but like to keep them clean. Generally use a zipped bag that comforters come in. The problem with that is the durability and I don’t buy comforters that often. Wish someone would come up with a durable, closable tote big enough for 2 regular pillows, couple of small pillows and a throw.
Hi Frankie,
Thanks for your inquiry. You are not the first to ask for an item like this. If you would like to sew a reusable, washable tote for these travel items, I will write directions for it. Do you sew? Is this something you would make?
Nancy,
That problem with the automatic needle feeder sometimes happens to me and I have a SES-1000 (which is the same as CE-150). Make sure of: 1) your needle is all the way up and 2) that the little tiny hook of the threaderer is entering the needle eye. If this is not happening get a tweezers and very careful move the hook so it gets on the correct position. Hope it is clear and it helps.
Hi Darlene Happy Easter to you.Miss Darlene Brother sewing machine Innov-is-2500 Duetta cost to much to bring. love HSN flex pay only way for me to buy any thing. Thank you…
I bought my Futura 200 several years ago and still having to thread needle the old way, can not get the thread to go thur the automatic feeder. Can someone help me in this?? I even bought a new one thinking mine was broken.
I would also like an DVD on this machine, very hard to get the stitch width and length just right. thanks
Hi Nancy,
Bet from Alabama made a very good post about the temperment of the automatic needle threader. (see above) You can readjust it as she mentioned. TINY tweezers, magnifying glass, lots of light…..
There is a Futura embroidery tutorial but the truth is that it is an electronic machine apart from embroidering with the use of your computer. The width and length adjustments on sewing are not quite as accurate as a digital computer setting on some of Singer’s other models.
Please try to get more felting needles for the Singer machine. They break easily and are $10.99/pack from Singer. I know HSN would offer them at a cheaper price. I love the machine and hope you have it as a demo on your next sewing session.
Marcy,WA, You can check out the video on the CE-150 machine. In the lower right hand corner there is an arrow to click on to enlarge the video. Darlene does the demo on the embroidry unit of the machine. This may be helpful to watch. You can watch the demo on the SES2000. The SES2000 is like the CE250 and CE350. The video is helpful. Hope that this helps.
HI Marcy,
I am agree with you. But have you check U Tube videos? There are a lot from The Singer Co explaining different things. Make sure is from them, HSN also has some from the Futuras.
Darlene, I bought the singer futura 250 from hsn after seeing you on their show using it. I’ve had it for over a year & have yet to use it because I’m hoping you’ll come out with a set of dvd’s showing how to use the machine. I have a laptop computer I could use to watch the dvd while using the machine & like so many other people am able to learn by watching the instructions on all the facets of the machine & what it will do rather than a book & I’m sure others would be willing to buy it too.
Can you tell me if HSN will be getting the Brother PE 770 in stock again?
For Irma if you go to the Singer website, click on sewing resources then n presser feet they have videos on how to use each foot for different venus of sewing which will help you. This blog has been too quiet, only 4 posts for March. I’ve been making a lot of Easter egg magnets with felt, decorative stitches, needle felting and putting individual childrens names on them plus still making dozens of jean purses for horse lovers. Getting ready to try my hand at thread painting.I have 7 Singers
Hey Darlene!
Love singer machines, I have a small business, custom window treatments
Bought the HD110, Love it but need info on using the gathering foot. Have googled singer and tried to figure out how to use it, only have used big foots on comm. mach. Can you help me? I love the machine and it has been good to me. Just don’t know why I got a book for basics but not these specialty feet. HELP! Thanks Irma
Hi Irma, You have probably realized by now that I posted instructions for the gathering foot on my April blog. Also featured is the ruffler attachment. Thanks for stopping by.
Best wishes to you for your business!
Darlene: Can you work with Singer to add the Melrose Thread to the Futura. I have been using the Melrose Thread and love it, the colors are vibrant and don’t fade or run. It would be so nice to have it added to the Futura software as an update.
I agree! I own the singer ses1000 and the brother sewing and embroidery machine, (the one with the thread cartridge,) and I just love them both! great job HSN for enlarging your inventory to accomodate all of us avid sewers!
Hi everyone, I have both the Singer CE-150 and the Singer 7470 sewing machines. I throughly enjoy sewing/embroidry/Quilting with both of my Singers. This is a first time I have seen so many different models of sewing machines on this website. I believe HSN has outdone themselves this time. I’m sure that if I could I would own more Sewing Machines than just the two that I have. There is so much more to choose from. Happy Shopping/Sewing every one.
I don’t think it’s Darlene. Her blog is always updated on her website. I go there at the beginning of the month and it’s always updated. That’s why I think it’s HSN that doesn’t update here not Darlene.
Hi Janice,
Thank you for your comments. What would you like me to post about? I do care and would love to know what the readers would like to see more of…..I’m pen poised and ready to respond now that HSN will allow the bloggers to log on.