Category: Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics
Tips For Tuesday: Sewing a Rolled Hem
| April 19, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Tips For Tuesday, Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
Ready for another day of sewing greatness??? Of course you are. For years I ignored this cute little foot in my sewing machine stash of tools. It looked scary. Intimidating. Weird….
With a bit of practice on some scrap fabric, you’ll be making nice, cute, neat little hems on all your things! Have fun trying out this technique!
I’m sorry my big ol’ hand is in the way. I hope you still get the idea. Just finger press fold over and then fold again. Sew 3-4 stitches to anchor, lower needle, raise foot, pull folded fabric up into the guide of the foot. Then lower foot and sew. It should just self guide itself. It might take a few practice tries to get the hang of it. But once you get it, piece of cake! Good luck and happy sewing.
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My Singing Dog: Video snippet of my life
| March 30, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
Ever wonder what the singing dog in most of my video tutorials looks like? Well today’s the day you get a “behind the scenes” peak into my noisy household. I have 3 of my children taking piano, and thus there is always piano being played, and thus there is always a dog singing at the top of his lungs. Curley the dog absolutely loves music and sings his little doggy heart out every chance he can get. Hope you enjoy the video funny of the day. Oh, and sorry the video is sideways, I didn’t realize it would upload that way!
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How to Sew a French Seam: Video Tutorial
| March 26, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
I know it’s not Tuesday, my normal Tips and Technique day, but I felt like shaking it up a bit today. I recently learned how to do the French seam and it is so simple, I just had to share. Funny how all these years of my sewing, I never ventured into different techniques. Maybe it was because my kids were little and I barely could remember my name for a few years while they were all toddlers at the same time. And then there were the recovery years of my sleep deprivation. But the point that matters, is I’m learning all these fun new things now! I hope I can encourage others to try out this fun and simple technique.
I had to do this video by myself, so hopefully it is close enough you can see good. I guess my next thing to learn is how to video better! But it was quiet in the house and everyone was gone and I had to snag this rare occasion! I tried filming with one hand, but that was a bit of a motion sickness ride while watching that one! I had mercy on ya. 
- pin WRONG sides together.
- stitch 1/4″ seam
- open up seam and press
- fold RIGHT sides together,encasing the raw seam allowance and pin in place
- stitch 3/8″ seam
- press and your done! Perfect encased seams.
So what do you think? I’d love to hear how it went if anyone decides to try it out! Or if you have any tips on doing it better.
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Tips For Tuesday: How to do a blind hem!!
| March 22, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Tips For Tuesday, Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
I have to laugh at myself now for ignoring it and being afraid of it now that I’ve learned how to use it. So today I’m going to show you how simple it is to use the blind hem stitch to hem up those cute pants or skirt you have been dying to wear, but to cheap to get hemmed. After today, there will be no excuse for you. If you don’t have one, you can find them super cheap on Amazon
So what is a blind hem? Take a peak at some of your nice slacks, or pretty dresses and you’ll see they don’t have a visible stitch line at the bottom hem. If you look real close on the outside of the garment, you will see just tiny dots of thread around the hem. That’s a blind hem. So hopefully, with the help of my camera man (son), I can show you just how quick and simple this technique is to do. I think next time I’ll opt for my tripod.
I recommend practicing this on some scrap fabric and in no time you’ll be a professional. It just takes a bit of practice and then it is a piece of cake to do.
- How the fabric is folded is the key to the blind hem stitch. Place your item to hemmed wrong side up.
- Then fold back underneath so that just 1/2″ peaks out. The right sides will be touching. Imagine an accordion or folding a paper fan.
- Attach your blind hem foot. (you can use a regular zigzag foot too, just go real slow)
- Select correct stitch. There are 2 to choose from, one that looks like two boxes connecting, or the other like a heart beat on an EKG. You might need to adjust the width of your stitch so it catches.
- Begin with the hem allowance extended under the pressure foot. (be careful if using a thin fabric, it can get caught in the feed dogs, like mine did!) You will see the needle jumps to the left every 6 or 7 stitches. The goal is to line up the needle so when it jumps to the left it snags just a single thread of the fabric on the fold.
- Open up and press! Your done! Now go wear those fabulous slacks.
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My Homemade Duct Tape Dress Form!
| February 19, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Crafts, Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
Well I did it! I made my body double thanks to the help of my two sweet daughters, my wonderful husband and Jane’s Sew and So tutorial. It definitely wasn’t a quick project that’s for sure. It took us all day. I’m thrilled with the results though. We went to Home Depot and bought the Duct tape and PVC pipe. I was going to get a colored tape, but decided to go with black so it wouldn’t clash with all my outfits. They also didn’t have the tiki torch stand. Go figure. I guess not not much need for tiki torches in the winter in New England. Ha ha.
So therefore, my brilliant hubby made me a stand out of wood. Nice and sturdy. He also picked out a larger diameter PVC pipe than they used. He thought that seemed more “rugged.” He’s my “Tim the tool man.” Always having to make things stronger, faster and better than before.
Though it took all day, we had a blast making it and got quite a few laughs out of the whole ordeal. Ahhh, memories…..
Not sure I would have picked black now that it’s done. Kind of has a “trash bag” look about it! ha ha. I have decided I’m going to buy one of those bodysuit undergarments and put that on over it. That way I’ll have a fabric to pin my patterns to if I want and make it look less, ya know, trash bag like.
The measurements came out perfect! I couldn’t believe it!! Not that I’m thrilled with how my “real” measurements look, but they are accurate nonetheless.
I hope I can encourage those of you on the fence, to go ahead and try it! Make your own body double dress form.
Cost: $6 Duct tape, colored.
$4 PVC pipe
All ready had stuffing, foam and wood for stand.
Total Cost: $10, plus a day of laughs.
Now I have to come up with a name for my double….
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Jane’s Sew & So Home made Dress Form
| February 17, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
I found the coolest website that shows you how to make your OWN dress form! I am so going to do this! All you need is duct tape, pvc pipe, wooden hanger, stand, stuffing and a really good friend!
The video is fabulous! Once at the website, the dress form video is on the UPPER RIGHT HAND SIDE.
Click the link below to watch the video: It will take you to Jane’s website.
Any one else brave enough to try it out with me? I can only image the funny pictures my kids will take of me!
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Afternoon Tea Dress: Day 5 with Zipper Tutorial Video
| February 4, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Sew-Along, Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
Sorry I am so late posting this. The past two days have been extremely busy and I haven’t really had much time to finish up the dress. Tomorrow, I “hope” to have the finished dress picture to show you. It really is turning out nicely. I love the green color.
Today we put in an invisible zipper
1. Turn your dress wrong side out.
2. Fold the edges of the dress back a couple of inches so the right side is showing.
 |
| edges folded back to reveal right side-pin zipper tape |
3. Lay the invisible zipper so that the wrong side of the zipper is facing you. The edge of the zipper tape will be on the dress edge. Remember the back dress edge is folded out to reveal the right side of the fabric.
4. Pin the edges of the zipper tape to the dress. Then baste with long stitches to keep in place. Remove pins.
5. Using your invisible zipper foot
6. Stitch down to where the zipper stops. Then using your regular zipper foot, fold dress so you can see the back seam of the skirt and sew up the rest of the seam that is not done in the skirt, making sure to get as close to the zipper seam as possible for a smooth seam down the back. Make sure you leave the ends of the zipper tape free.
When I get more time, I’ll put up a better video of using an invisible zipper. It really is a simple process.
If done correctly, the stitching is underneath the zipper coil. If you pull the coil back, you will see your stitches. This allows for the zipper to fold in and be invisible. When you zip up the dress, you only see a nice pretty seam. Perfect. Now press.
Now all you have to do is the hem. To be honest, I’ve never done a blind stitch hem. So, since my resolution was to learn a new technique with each project, that’s what I’m working on right now. I understand how it works, and I was going along good, but being that it is a full circle skirt, I keep having bunching issues.
I’ll take a break and try again tomorrow. After a good breakfast and strong cup of coffee, I’ll be ready to tackle it again. Wish me luck!
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How to Wind Your Bobbin
| January 14, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
So you have a new sewing machine. Now what?
Here is a quick video tutorial on how to use your automatic bobbin winder. This is based on my Janome and Singer sewing machines. Your machine may be slightly different.
**Please excuse my very silly dog who is singing very loudly in the background! I have 3 daughter’s continually practicing the piano and one very “soulful” dog. This is about as good as it gets in my house! Hopefully you can hear the instructions and maybe even get a few laughs.**
Remember to read your manual for your machine. I know, “dull, dull, dull,” but oh so important. I reread my manual the other day and WOW! I learned so much about my machine I had completely forgotten.
- Place the spool of thread onto the spool pin on the top of your machine. Press the spool holder (cap) against the spool of thread to keep it in place.
- Guide the thread going left then pull toward you then pull right around the thread guide on the top of your machine. On my machine, the bobbin thread guide looks like a screw. It sits on top of the thread guide.
- Now take your bobbin and thread through the hole from inside to the outside.
- Put your bobbin, while still holding onto the thread, on the bobbin winder. On my machine, it sits on top and to the right of the machine. It is a metal pole that sticks up. Push it to the right until it clicks. On my Singer machine, I also have a nob on the right I have to pull out to keep the needle from going up and down while the bobbin winds.
- With free end of the thread held in your hand, depress the foot control. (In the video, I accidentally call the foot pedal the pressure foot, oops) Stop the machine when it has made a few turns, and cut the thread close to the hole in the bobbin.
- Depress the foot control again. When the bobbin is fully wound, it will stop automatically.
- Return the bobbin winder to its original position by moving the spindle to the left and cut the thread.
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How to Thread Your Sewing Machine
| January 11, 2011 | Posted by Karen under Video Tutorial on Sewing Basics |
This is based on my Janome machine and my Singer, yours may be slightly different.
”I have a new sewing machine. Now what?”
1. Put your thread onto the spool holder on the top of your machine and secure with the spool cap that comes with your machine.
2. Bring your thread around the back and under the thread guide to the left. Note, make sure you are not using the bobbin thread guide,which is on top of the thread guide.
3. Then pull the thread down and around the spring holder.
4. Bring thread back up and put into the the thread take-up lever (looks like a metal hook and moves up and down when you press the foot pedal)
5. Bring the thread down and slide into the lower thread guide and then thread needle from front to back.
**One mistake new sewers often make is to forget to put the pressure foot down when sewing. This will cause a clunking sound and knotting of your threads. A big mess will result! Remember, pressure foot down to sew. Also, it is good practice to start with the needle in the down position. This keeps the thread from pulling out of the needle and allows you to turn corners easily.
