
Make a gorgeous jam-jar pincushion – free project tutorial.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I see many students who come to me because they’re having difficulties using a sewing machine and quite often the issues are very easily resolved. Sometimes the problems start the moment they sit at the machine so here’s a few quick tips to make sure your sewing session is successful, and isn’t damaging your health.
Thanks to all those who came along to the Open Studio event on Saturday.
It was a very popular day and lots of new faces visited Cockenzie House and Gardens to see everything that goes on within. We have artists, furniture upcyclers, glass and jewellery, textile artists, health practitioners and musicians all opening their doors and demonstrating their various skills.