Best Foot Forward – A Guide to Sewing Machine Presser Feet & Accessories

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date August 17, 2015

sewing machine presser feet are diesigned to make each sewing task easier — sewing machine presser feeet

A Guide to sewing machine presser feet and accessories

Sewing machine presser feet are specialised for every sewing task and are designed to make your sewing easier. If you don’t use the best foot for the job, then you’re making your life more difficult that it needs to be. When you got your new sewing machine home, did you eagerly unpack it and start sewing, wondering what the bag full of strange little metal and plastic thingies were for? Well these are your sewing machine presser feet. And have you got them out and used any of them since? Or have you struggled on, wondering why the fabric was pulling and puckering?

Beginners Sewing, Dressmaking, sewing

Tags applying bias binding, blind hem, buttonholes, darning foot, embroidery foot, Pfaff sewing machines, pin tuck, presser foot, quilting guide, zipper foot

How to choose the correct size of pattern

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date August 11, 2015

The first question I need to address with new dressmaking students is ‘How to choose the correct size of pattern’. One of the main problems with commercial paper patterns, is that they are not sized like ready-made high street clothing. Therefore you can’t go into the fabric shop and buy a pattern in your regular dress size. Pattern sizing also varies between the different pattern companies too, so it helps to be prepared when you go shopping for your pattern.

Dressmaking

Tags correct size, paper patterns, size measurements for paper pattern

Generation Hop

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date August 3, 2015

Generation Hop

This sewing class shows a generation hop. Here we have 14 year-old Sophie and her Gran (14 years plus), learning to make a fold-up tote shopping bag. This was Sophie’s first ever sewing project and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Sewing is an activity that can be undertaken by everyone, and truly spans the generations, as evidenced in this photo.

Beginners Sewing, childrens sewing classes, sewing

Tags fold-up tote bag, gifts to sew, learn to sew, sewing for beginners

Get to Grips with Zips

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date July 22, 2015

One of the most tricky things to do in sewing is putting in zips – but once you get to grips with zips, they’re not that bad. As my Tuesday evening regulars agreed last night, whatever you want to make – a skirt, trousers or dress, you need to put in a zip. Here they are getting to grips with zips. Everyone agreed that they’re not so difficult after all once you know how!

Get to grips with zips - How to sew in zips - a pile of brightly-coloured zips — How to insert a zip – zips aren’t so scary when you know how to sew in a zip

Beginners Sewing, Dressmaking, sewing

Tags beginners sewing, inserting zips, learn to sew, sewing classes, sewing lessons

Project: Make a super-cute Jam Jar Pin Cushion

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date July 20, 2015

Make a gorgeous jam-jar pincushion – free project tutorial.

jam-jar pincushions - an easy upcycling project Make a jam-jar pincushion from that lovely little jar that’s just too nice to throw away. This clever upcycle is an easy, child-friendly no-sew project.

seasonal crafts

Tags easy crafts, free downloads, gifts, no-sew crafts, no-sew projects, pin cushion, sewing, storage, upcycling projects

Get to the Point! How to choose the best sewing machine needles.

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date July 6, 2015

How to choose the best sewing machine needle. A selection of sewing machine needles

How to choose the best sewing machine needles.

Sewing machine needles come in an assortment of types and sizes. Using the correct needle is important to achieve a successful outcome to your sewing project. The wrong size or type of needle can cause breakages of either needles or thread. Uneven or skipped stitches, and snags or holes in the fabric are also symptoms of the wrong needle. You should choose your needle firstly according to the purpose/project, the fibre-type and fabric construction, then the fabric weight.

Beginners Sewing, sewing

Tags avoid broken needles, best needle for stretch fabric, care of a sewing machine, how to sew stretch fabrics, how to use a sewing machine, sewing jersey fabrics, sewing needles, sewing stretch fabrics, skipped stitches, why does my thread keep breaking

Get to know your sewing machine

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date June 24, 2015

Get to know your sewing machine.

I had a client in for a one-to-one tutorial this week who was having trouble altering her T-shirts. She was quite short in the body and needed to take up most of her tops or they were more like mini-dresses. She’d bought a new sewing machine last year, and came to me for help convinced that the tension was wrong. The top she had recently altered had several breaks in the sewing of the hem and there were lots of skipped stitches.

sewing

Tags broken needles, burst seams, holes in the fabric, how to sew knit fabrics, knitted fabrics, sewing jersey fabrics, sewing stretch fabrics, skipped stitches, wrong tension

Are you practising Safe Sewing?

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date June 22, 2015

How to practice safe sewing.

Are you practising safe sewing? If you’ve been using a sewing machine for a while and are completely comfortable with them, it’s easy to be blasé. But remember sewing machines are electrical devices and are potentially dangerous. You could also cause damage to your machine by incorrect use.