I think anyone who has ever worked with a sewing machine has had problems with it at some time or another.

Like any kind of machine, sewing machines need regular maintenance to keep them running along smoothly.  Changing needles, cleaning the lint and oiling your machine will do a lot to keep it going for years.

But what happens when the thread starts breaking, or the fabric starts bunching up under the foot?

First of all, stop, un-thread the machine and completely re-thread it.  Lots of sewing issues can be solved by making sure the thread path is correct.

Did that help?  If not, try changing the needle (remember, needles are only supposed to last for about 10 hours of sewing) and cleaning out the lint from around the bobbin case and under the foot plate.

Still not helping?  Check out this great online trouble-shooting guide from Sewing USA.

And don’t forget, sewing machines need regular tune-ups from a qualified repairman – like the dealer you bought it from!  Not sure where to go for a tune-up?  Ask at your local fabric or quilt shop.

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

What to do when your sewing machine says “NO” – trouble shooting

It’s the time of year again when I browse through my archives from the past year and pick out my favorite posts – as well as your favorite posts!

The all-time reader favorite post from this year has to be the free pattern to sew your own snuggie. This post has got to be one of the most popular ones I’ve ever written!

My ribbon roses tutorial is another top reader favorite – month after month, people still enjoy it… even though I wrote it in 2007!

In no particular order, here are some of my favorite posts from 2008:

• I’ve gotten a few requests for a basic, round yo-yo tutorial, and no – you don’t need any fancy gadgets to make them!
• I rescued this tutorial from a previous computer – it’s an older one, but I love to make fiber fusion and definitely wanted to share the technique with you all
• Make your own hand-fringed scarf with this tutorial – it’s really quite easy!
• Launching two new blogs this year was definitely exciting, here’s my announcement for The Doggy Blog.
• Figuring out how to make my cutting table work better for me was very useful discovery – I only wish it hadn’t taken me so long…
• Here are a few tips to make mending blue jeans a little easier.
• This is one of my favorite ways to make marking button holes an easier task.

Do you have a favorite Tangled Thread post from 2008?  Share it in the comments!

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

Tangled Thread – Favorite posts of 2008

“Thrifty” is the hot topic in the crafting world – actually, I think it’s a hot topic anywhere these days!   I’m really putting an emphasis on thrifty Christmas crafting and sewing this year – it just makes sense to be a little more frugal.

One of the biggest things I’m doing to be a thrifty Christmas crafter is “shopping my stash”.   That means that I’m tailoring my gift projects to use up fabric I already have.

Four years of working in a fabric store and a lifetime of being a fabric-aholic has left me with a pretty extensive stash.  So far, I haven’t needed to buy any extra fabric to make sewn gifts for anyone on my Christmas gifts list.  That’s including several garments, bags and smaller projects!

It’s worthwhile to take a look at your stash and see what can be sewn and shared with your friends and family.  And don’t forget – if you’ve been holding onto that “perfect” piece of fabric for five years without sewing it, maybe it’s time to actually use it?

If you’re coming up blank with ideas for using your own stash, try having a stash busting party with your other sewing friends.   Everyone goes through their stash, brings the fabric they want to share and exchange it.  It’s a fun, no-cost solution and can be a great way to get some new ideas and fabric!

Got more thrifty Christmas crafting tips?  Leave a comment to share them

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Thrifty Christmas crafting

I’m getting into full-blown sewing and crafting mode for Christmas!

It can be overwhelming sometimes to think about everything that you want to get done before Christmas and the holidays – so many presents… so little time…

One thing that I use to help myself stay organized is a simple page on my computer that I have everyone’s names listed on, what I’m making them.  I sometimes also list the fabric and pattern I’m using.   I normally just use a basic word-processing program – but you can use whatever you’re comfortable with.

I find it really helps to keep everything written down, in order – where I can refer to it as needed.  Of course, you can also print it out and keep it pinned close to your sewing machine… but I don’t want to spoil the surprise if anyone sees my list

You can get as fancy as you want – but I find keeping it simple works for me.  Don’t panic – try organizing your list instead.

image: Stock.xchg 

Post from: Blisstree

Christmas sewing & crafting tips and tricks

But since this isn’t a perfect world, and my fabric has to live in a separate room from my sewing machine – let’s talk about some options!

I used to cut out fabric on the floor.

In a house with five dogs, several birds and a variable number of cats.

It got a little frustrating when one of the dogs would run across a fragile paper pattern, or the cat dived head-first into the pin-dish.

And oh my goodness – my back sure objected to bending over for that long!

But I also didn’t have the space or $$$ for a dedicated cutting table (at least not at $200 from my local sewing shop!).

My options for sewing tables?

• Use a pair of sawhorses with a table or sheet of plywood on top.    This works great – but don’t try and move the sawhorses around with anything on the table top!  It’s very messy to have a full table slide onto the floor.
• Get an inexpensive cardboard cutting mat ($12 at my local fabric shop) and use it on top of a bed.  I’ve done this in a pinch – but it’s still low enough that I strain my back.
• Use a standard dining room table, with a mat on top.  This is my current table solution and it works great for me.  The table is sturdy and now that I’ve raised the mat (plastic boxes!), it’s the perfect height.

Design walls or photography walls:

• Make small photography boards from styrofoam sheets (cheap from the hardware or building supply store) and cover them with a neutral fabric.  I use an old ceiling tile, covered with natural linen as my photography background – which you guys have seen hundreds of times now!  I just pinned the fabric to the back of the board.  It’s small, lightweight and can easily be tucked away.
• If I need to photograph a large piece of fiber art, I hang a background on the outside of my house.  My studio just isn’t big enough to photograph a piece of art that’s 6 feet square – but going outside works.  I’d recommend photographing artwork on an overcast day – you’ll get the most even lighting that way.

Task lighting:

• My studio doesn’t get enough light in the mornings – especially in winter!  I like small lamps with built on clamps, so I can clamp them to my shelves, sewing table etc and place the lights exactly where I need it.  Don’t forget that florescent light bulbs are a better way to go for the environment

Feel free to share any tips or tricks you have for making your own studio more effencient!

Post from: Blisstree

tip of the day – alternative studio solutions

There are a few things that can make your life easier, especially if you have a small sewing machine, or a machine with a small harp or large base.

• First of all, try rolling up the pant leg as tightly as you can – reducing the bulk can make your life easier.
• Use safety pins to hold the rolled areas together – that way you won’t have to worry about holding them together tightly. Just make sure you don’t sew over the pins!
• Try a different angle. If you’re trying to sew a patch from the bottom of the cuff, upward – try going from the waistband down – it can be easier to slide the larger areas of the pants onto the machine.
• Make sure the patch is fused on – again, if you’re not having to hold extra things in place it will make your life so much easier!

Unfortunately, there are some sewing machines that are simply too small or under-powered to tackle heavy fabrics like blue jeans. If your machine stalls when you’re sewing – stop and ask someone else for help!

Post from: Blisstree

tip of the day – problems mending blue jeans or pants on your small sewing machine?

My name is Kelly Saunders and I write with my best friend, Karen, over at Thrifty Mommy. Our goals are to save you time and money in your everyday lives. Recently, I have begun a quilt. It was the biggest mistake I could have ever done because it is very addictive. I love to sit down and relax with my handwork. But I hated it when my thread would get tangled up and I would get so frustrated.

Then a co-worker told me about Thread Heaven. You guys might already know about it but it is a wonderful tool. It is just a simple little box of wax that you press your thread into and it keeps your thread from breaking and tangling. It has been a God Send for me. Hope this helps your sewing. It sure has helped my quilting.

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Thread Heaven for peaceful sewing

I don’t think that the extra seam on the front facing is going to be missed… and the button holes look pretty good too (okay, so I should have ironed it again)!

Noreen left an excellent comment, reminding me of another favorite short-cut. When you’re cutting out shirts, place the back on the center fold of the fabric, instead of cutting out two halves of the pattern. You’ll save an extra seam down the back – and I think it looks just fine:

images: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

the reveal – the new short-cuts shirt

I’ve sewn the button holes, opened them up (I like to use a stitch ripper to open button holes).  I’ve laid the shirt over my ironing board and folded the front of the shirt to mark the button placements:

Instead of just marking them with a fabric marker or chalk, I like to insert pins through the button holes, and into the other side of the shirt front (just the front, not the back).  You can now hang the shirt up and check the button placement when it’s hanging naturally, as opposed to flat on a table.

Sew the buttons on as you would normally – just remove pins as you go

I find that this allows me to be more accurate and allows more fine tuning – after all, if I’m making a shirt – I want it to turn out well!

image: C Findlay-Harder

Post from: Blisstree

tip of the day – marking button placement on shirts

Have you ever needed to glue, oh say – a chunk of leather to… let’s say a ceramic vase – and then had no clue what to use to accomplish your task?

Okay, so I haven’t actually needed to do that – but if I did…

Well, I just discovered this cool website called “This To That” that will tell you exactly what glue you’ll need.  Just enter what you’re gluing, and the website will give you the answer.

Too cool!

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

great websites – this to that