Sewing

I wanted to share this awesome Singer 611g I bought over the weekend. The person I bought it from told me it was her great aunts. It came with everything and more! It's in fantastic shape and still works great despite possibly not being used since the 80s. I put in some sewing machine oil following the manual (it had the manual, and warrenty card still). Manual shows a grease/paste(?) as well so need to figure out what to get for those areas that use that instead of oil.

I know sewing machines need maintenance every so often, especially in this case, so I plan to take it in soon for a checkup. I hope it it'll be fine to still use until then, I've had no problems except when I decided I was probably threading it wrong and tried another interpretation of the instructions. I was right the first time 😅.

I'm still a beginner with machine sewing. My family didn't have a machine and so I'm used to handsewing everything. I had a great sewing and embroidery machine I got from my grandma when I still lived in the USA but never used it as I was worried about breaking it (also was missing the power cord). I had to sell it when I moved to Finland, this is my first machine here. I did borrow a friend's sewing machine for a bit, so I at least know a bit more of how to use one in general. All I did was replaced a zipper twice on a coat and make a double pointed needle cover so WIP socks don't fall off the needles when I'm not knitting.

My first project with it is going to be making a dust cover for it. It came with a case that's still in great shape, but I want something easier to just plop over it as I plan to keep it on the table.

A Better Question

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In an earlier post (https://dice.camp/@Shkshkshk/111633486456196055) I asked about waterproof fabrics I could use in my next ruana cloak. I got lots of wonderful feedback, but I just thought of a new problem: at some point, I might decide to use a cloak pin to fasten it. I don't know of any waterproof fabric that can heal from having a pin poked through the middle of it. Are there any at least water resistant fabrics that can handle being pinned?

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Which waterproof fabric is best?

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I have discovered cloaks, and I am going nuts making them. I have bought so much fabric in the past few days alone. They are so warm and so easy to make! However, I would like to make one that suits the purpose for which they were invented, so that I may wear it outside in the rain. Are there any good waterproof fabrics that won't fuck up my fiancée's #sewing machine?

Asking here because I don't know what I am doing.

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I found this vintage printed panel for making a Cinderella doll, and it was so much fun to assemble and embellish. I added lace, ribbons, gemstones, gold thread, silver fabric paint, sequins on the crown, various beads, gold ric-rac around the pillow, and white piping on the cape. The cape is detachable (using small snaps). I also added a magnet to the shoe which sticks to a metal button on the pillow; that way it can be taken on and off. I'm impressed with how the arms can be moved. They are attached with a thread that goes through the body which allows the arms to pivot. I'm so excited to give this as a Christmas gift for my daughter!

I'd love to see other dolls of this sort assembled, has anyone else here made one?

My mother gave me some skirts she doesn't wear anymore, and a couple of them are pretty cute. The problem is they are too big for me. So how do I make them not too big?

I want to make my own iron-on labels and patches (small scale, for fun).

Does anyone know what the name of the adhesive is? All I can find when I search online are people wanting to sell me pre-made patches, not information about their composition.

I presume it's some low melting point (<100degC) polymer. For all I know a wide variety of things might work (maybe even PETG 3d printer filament, which softens around 70degC, or hot glue shavings), but I'd like to see if I can at least find out the name of what's commercially used.

EDIT: Solved, see https://aussie.zone/comment/4326482

All from secondhand curtain and bedsheet. Sewing, serging and handstitching. It has a lining and an inside pocket.

It will be a gift for someone.

It's so cheerful! Don't look to closely, but it is sturdy enough

Hi all,

(I hope) I am ready to try making a bodice sloper, using the instructions from the closet historian However, the patterns she recommends are pretty much unavailable, only a couple of small sizes, for which i would have to pay an enormous amount of shipping costs, as i live in Europe.

Do you have or use a modern pattern that would be really suitable as a bodice sloper? I would be looking for something like size 14-20

She also has a video on how to make something from scratch, but she advices against it and i'm not yet a very experienced sewer, so i trust her judgement.

As an aside, am i paranoid in thinking these companies retracted these shell patterns, because they don't want to risk loosing their audience?

It took me about four month between buying the fabric and completion. I had other things on my list and spent way too long on the design (two months to decide). I wanted a long flowy dress, but this quilting fabric is too stiff for that. So I attempted a tailored, more serious look, balanced by the print. I could have done it a bit faster if I didn't slack off the button holes. (Did some tests with the machine, but ended up doing it by hand.)
I am really happy about the asymetrical opening and neckline, it looks good and it's functionnal. I am very pleased with the buttons as well.

I continued the theme on the 3/4 sleeves. The result is a bit underwhelming, and I haven't worn that length of sleeves in a long time, we'll see if I find it comfortable.

Let's not be coy about it: the innards ! It has one continuous bit of bias tape from the neck to the bottom, which is a nice acomplishement but lays funky on the shoulder, would redo it differently. The facings were annoying but worth it in the end. I still need to secure the sleeves facing better, because I catch it while putting the dress on. Also still need to take a decision on the waist seam finishing, which is tricky because of the buttonholes and the hook and eye holding the inside in place.

Yes, of course.
(also look how the buttonblacket lies flat!)

There are a few weird folds under my arms and on one shoulder, which I need to fix next time. The sleeves fit very well and don't restrict my mouvement, which is weird given how much I winged that part.
Pattern my own, using slash and spread based on my bodice block. I used mostly straight machine stitch and hand sewing, no overlocker. Pocket fabric is of unknown origin (curtain maybe?)

Nothing fancy, neither is terribly new or old. Not being able to sew is really holding me back on DIY projects.

Is there an "Operating a Sewing Machine for Dummies" video or tutorial you like?

Nothing fancy, neither is terribly new or old. Not being able to sew is really holding me back on DIY projects.

Is there an "Operating a Sewing Machine for Dummies" video or tutorial you like?

Hi all,

I'm about to purchase my first overlocker -probably the Juki MO 654 DE, for the curious among you- and i can't find the answer to one question i have:

How do you choose yarn colors. I've heard it say that some use those 4 colors, like the threading guides indicate. And others use only white, i think? Does it have to do with the loopers and needles and what is visible on your fabric?

So, those of you with an overlocker; what do you do? Is it like choosing yarn colors with a regular sewing machine?

And bonus question; do these yarn cones last as long as they would on a sewing machine, or do overlockers consume more yarn per cone?

I'm going to cut a microfiber cloth in pieces to make small cloths to clean your glasses with. So, i was researching which overlock stitch best to use on my regular sewing machine and suddenly came across this scientific article:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723048726

Such a totally unexpected find, but it does make me think. I just had to share it with you, makes for a bit of a change, right :-)

(I submitted this post earlier, but it seems to never have made it to the community, so apologies if you see this post twice)

I got a singer 8606 from a yard sale and am having trouble finding a manual online and what parts work with it?

E.g. compatible bobbins, needles, etc.

From LIFE Magazine

But I love it and have worn it a ton since making it!

I'm a sort of "intermediate beginner" sewist and made a few things for a recent holiday that I will dig up pics and post about here over the next few days.

But one of those things was just this really basic tiered skirt from a bedsheet that I got for £2 at a charity shop. Can't go wrong for that price and a couple of hours work! Followed this WikiHow tutorial for sizes etc.

The sheet was a single, so wasn't quite big enough to get as much gathering on the bottom tier as I'd planned. But whatever.

Didn't even end up wearing this one on holiday but it's been great for flouncing around the house in, and that's a win in my book 😀

Sometimes it's the simple projects that bring the most joy!

I picked it up to do some canvas projects. Sews through 6 layers of canvas pretty easily! First simple thing I made (warning, pretty amateur sewing :) )

publication croisée depuis : https://jlai.lu/post/545865

So I added some tiny fishes!

The shirt itself was roughly copied from one I had and the fit is.... well, I can put it on which is nice, but I try not to move too much while wearing it. The shoulers and upper sleeves are tight and it's too long. But I bought an expensive fancy fabric that feels nice, and the details are ridiculously hard to do, so I keep it like that. I only wear it like 4 times a year.

Sloppy edge because I was just in a hurry to get it done, and I also ran out of that color.

Made it for a trip, but it's too large. I'm pretty frustrated at myself for that. Oh well..

Yay or nay?

I was looking at the special edition Bernina machines and they are pretty, but I can't justify the extra $1,000 price difference. I decided to add my own stickers instead.

They love it.