How to choose sewing thread

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date December 21, 2015
1 Comment on How to choose sewing thread

How to choose Sewing Thread

Another year almost gone and I’ve just got time to squeeze in a final blog post. Possibly the subject I’ve been asked about most this year is How to choose the correct machine sewing thread?

Beginners Sewing, Dressmaking, sewing

Tags all-purpose sewing thread, beginners sewing, best thread, care of a sewing machine, how to choose, How to choose the correct sewing thread, how to use a sewing machine, kilner jar, learn to sew, sewing classes east Lothian, sewing jersey fabrics, sewing lessons, sewing room, sulky, Vintage-style decoration

Autumn-Winter sewing classes

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date September 28, 2015

My schedule of Autumn-Winter sewing classes is here, covering October and November. These include some more of my popular ‘Essential Skills’ classes, now re-named ‘Beginners’ Sewing Skills’. This covers basic sewing tasks like sewing straight seams and how to finish off the raw edges, taking up hems, making neat machined buttonholes, and inserting zips.

Beginners Sewing, childrens sewing classes, Dressmaking, seasonal crafts, sewing, textile art

Tags Childrens Sewing Lessons, felting, Felting workshop, sewing classes, Sewing Classes for Beginners, Sewing for Children

What Sewing Machine should I buy?

Post author By Jen Skedd
Post date August 24, 2015
1 Comment on What Sewing Machine should I buy?

Buying a Sewing Machine

Buying a sewing machine is exciting but can be very confusing. If you’ve had a look already, then you’re probably baffled by the huge range of makes and models out there. Why are some less than £100 and others cost several thousands. Don’t thy all do the same thing? So you’ll be asking yourself ‘What Sewing Machine should I buy?’

Beginners Sewing, sewing, workshops

Tags buying a sewing machine, care of a sewing machine, Childrens Sewing Classes, choosing a sewing machine, how to choose a sewing machine, how to use a sewing machine, learn to sew, sewing classes east Lothian, sewing classes edinburgh, Sewing Classes for Beginners, sewing lessons, sewing machine features, sewing machines for beginners, starter-level sewing machines

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

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

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