Just Sew It

THIS is my baby. She’s my favorite machine. She is a smooth ride and doesn’t skip a stitch. She has plenty of stitches at my finger tips and she is German Engineered and made in the Czech Republic.

Choosing a sewing machine is very much like choosing a car. Test driving a bunch of machines is your best bet when choosing a machine. Pfaff, Bernina, Janome, Husqvarna-Viking, Brother, Singer, etc. I highly recommend going with a dealer as they do offer on-going support. Yes, you can go to Wal-Mart and buy a Singer or Brother but if you have problems or questions don’t count on Betsy-Jo the walmart employee to help you.

If you are not sure if you like sewing, maybe pick up a second hand machine for the beginning. If you decide you love it, go out and buy the best machine you can afford. Sewing on a quality machine can make a world of difference as to how well you sew. My first sewing machine was a Singer. I loved it because it was my first but it was so hard to control the speed. That was the only reason I sold it and bought my Pfaff Hobby 1042 model. I still have my Hobby but my Quilt Expression is my main machine. When this one dies (and I hope it doesn’t for a loooong time) I will probably invest in a commercial machine.

If you have any questions about this particular machine or about any machine you are interested in, just ask away.

This is cute but informative:

How to Measure Curtains for Poles

Video by Natural Curtain Company

1. Use a zipper 2″ (5 cm) shorter than length of finished pillow. Pin pillow front to back with ride sides together. Position zipper along pinned seam, leaving equal distance at each edge. Mark ends of zipper coil on seam.

2. Stitch 3/4″ (2 cm) seam at each end of zipper opening; backstitch at marks. I basted the rest of the seam to help make it easier to press. Press under 3/4″ (2 cm) seam allowances.

3. Open zipper. Place one side face down on seam allowance of pillow front with zipper coil on seamline. Secure with pins, glue stick or basting tape. Using zipper foot, stitch tape to seam allowance only.

4. Close zipper. Spread pillow flat with right side up. Pin the zipper in place from right side catching the zipper tape underneath.

5. Place 1/2″ (1.3 cm) transparent tape (I only had 3/4″ tape so I moved the tape over a bit) along seamline as stitching guide. Starting at seamline, stitch across bottom of zipper. Pivot and continue stitching. At top of zipper, pivot and stitch to seamline. Pull threads to wrong side and tie.

6. Open zipper. With a seam ripper, take the basting out. Turn pillow wrong side out and pin front to back on remaining three sides. Stitch 1/2″ (1.3 cm) seam. Turn pillow right side out and insert pillow form or liner.

I recently picked this tip up from a sampler machine quilting class.

If you live in a very dry climate, it is very wise to store your thread in plastic containers. The dry air deteriorates cotton thread. Thread racks are not advisable storage for Albertans.

I did not know that.

I have started to do some reading BEFORE I start my project.

1. Read up on the fabric I will be working with.

2. Read up on techniques that I should or could use for the construction of the garment.

3. Look at reviews on PR to see what other sewers have dealt with the pattern.

4. Make sure I have the proper tools.

5. Do a tissue fit and make adjustments as necessary.