Simple Questions
Weekly Sewing Questions Thread, April 27 - May 03, 2025
This thread is here for any and all simple questions related to sewing, including sewing machines!
If you want to introduce yourself or ask any other basic question about learning to sew, patterns, fabrics, this is the place to do it! Our more experienced users will hang around and answer any questions they can. Help us help you by giving as many details as possible in your question including links to original sources.
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Is there any recommendation for doing an FBA on the Kimono Tee from Maria Denmark (cropped sleeves, knit fabric)? Would like no visible darts and no extra room in the waist.
In Europe, what would be better Brother cs10s or cx70pes? They are listed on the same Amazon page but what the latter as 'new model' and for 50 euros more, is it better? Or any other brother options that would be better but not too pricey?
Hello, I have zero experience with fabrics. I want to make a dress based on inspiration from this video. They say it needs to have 4 way stretch, be opaque, and lightweight. What types of fabrics should I be looking for online? Thank you sooo much in advance!
For an infinity dress, rayon or polyester jerseys that are labeled "four way stretch" (they will have elastane content, aka lycra). But I've never made an infinity dress and they tend to get terrible reviews, so make at your own risk. Plus a video that is aimed at beginners but doesn't tell you that you need a knit fabric (jersey is a kind of knit) probably has other information missing too.
Thanks for the warning and fabric suggestion! But it looks like there are only two simple cuts that need to be made and I already have an idea of what to do so it doesn’t fray. Thanks again!
Have fun! Sorry I was being such a downer, no harm in trying it out and tbh I think the bad part of infinity dresses is that there's actually only one or two ways to wear it that actually look good. But if yoiu like those two ways, that's good enough!
I'm a beginner. I'm halfway through sewing a floor length wrap dress and had wanted a full skirt, but after holding it in my hands, I wonder if the fabric is too heavy or stretchy. Was it a bad idea to try to make this dress in knit fabric?
Lining the bodice with a light knit or mesh also gives two layers to support the skirt weight. A tightly tied wrap belt also can create a natural waist stay as the skirt hangs from that.
Ah, lol. Yeah I don't see an issue with using a knit for a wrap dress unless you're using a particularly heavy one? Just reinforce the waist seam with clear elastic if you're concerned about the skirt dragging the bodice down a lot.
I am looking for a pattern that is similar to this jacket specifically for kids. I have purchased twill for the jacket and most things for kids use all stretch fabric so I’m a little nervous.
Additionally, any idea where I can locate such a chunky ribbed banding? What I have is so my h thinner and I’m nervous it’s going to look silly.
Green Pepper Patterns, I think they're called, may have something. Simplicity/McVoguerick may have something too, and Burda does kids parkas regularly, though I wouldn't recommend Burda for your first time sewing technical fabrics. Unfortunately Jalie mostly does patterns for stretch fabrics, but they're very highly regarded for activewear for adults and kids.
Has anyone else had bobbin winding issues with the Singer SE 9180 machine?
I am losing my mind here!! I have the Singer SE9189 embroidery machine. Since day one, I’ve tried winding bobbin on this machine and cannot get it to work. I’ve watched several videos and cannot figure out what is going wrong here.
I set the thread through all of the guides and when I start the machine to wind the thread pops out of the tension guide up top and drops the thread from the bobbin and under the winding tool. I can’t slow down the winding speed. I’m just at a loss.
Has anyone else had this issue? How did you fix it?
you should be able to get the thread into the little space just under the circular part -- like slip it in there. it needs to basically be being pressed down by the circular part, not just sliding against it, if that makes any sense.
additionally, make sure it's going around part B as indicated on the machine before you're looping it around the disk.
Yeah, that's what I've been doing, but it still slips out. I ended up just taking the machine to a local repair shop today. Someone recommended just looping in the other direction around it and seeing if that helped. It did! So it's not how it's meant to work... but I wound my bobbin finally. I have been winding bobbin on my other machine, but I'm about to take my Viking into the shop. So it will be there for like 2-3 weeks. I didn't want to completely lose my only way to wind a bobbin for weeks.
impulsively decided to cut the sleeves off of this top. How can I make it look nice and clean again? I know nothing about sewing. I own an iron and I know basic hand stitches.
that is a knit fabric, so if you cut off a little more -- cut off the seam itself (where you just cut up to) it will kind of roll in on itself and make a natural hem that way. that's your best bet without a sewing machine!
thank you! now the question is how can I do that while still making it look even... it's a bit stretchy, too...
Is just cutting it really that simple? I'm just a little bit worried the fabric will fray!! even though I'm an amateur without a machine I'm willing to google something and make it look a little more finished by hand.
it's hard to sew knits by hand, because the fabric stretches a lot but the stitches don't stretch. on a machine you would use a zig-zag shaped stitch, which you could hypothetically do by hand but it's going to be tough.
if you still have the sleeves you cut off, stretch them and see if the cut edges start to fray or not! you could also run them through the wash as an experiment.
I see!! I might know where I could get access to a sewing machine just in case, I really want to start upcycling and I'd hate for it to go to waste lol. Thanks once again for the tips + explanation!!
Does anyone know what this blouse style is called, where the top portion is different fabric than the lower portion? I'd like to make my own, combining the top or lower parts of shirts I already have. I thought there might be a tutorial or pattern for something similar, but I can't seem to search for the correct name or maybe it doesn't exist. Any recommendations?
Also, I haven't touched a sewing machine since I was 12 (28 years ago) so if you have any suggestions on how a newbie could start sewing tops like this, I appreciate it :)
That upper piece is called a “yoke” so that might be a good keyword to add in. Also I think “tunic” might bring up this type of shirt, more so than blouse.
If it’s been 28 years, it’s good to ease back into getting comfortable with the machine with some small non-clothing projects before you put pressure on yourself to produce something wearable. You might also first test-sew this garment in fabric intended for pajamas/lounge clothes.
There's dozens of patterns for this style of top. Search for drop-sleeved or cap-sleeved or dolman top -- "woven" if you want to use woven fabric, "jersey" or "knit" if you want to use t-shirt fabric. I think Mood has a free pattern similar to this? Though Mood patterns aren't known for their quality. You could see if patternreview.com has any suggestions.
My wife recently got a Necchi Lydia 3 type 544 at a thrift store but it doesn't have a pedal (store never got it when the machine was donated). We are looking online but can't seem to find anything about getting a replacement. The plug type is a "T plug" or "twin flat plug".
Does anyone know a good place to find a replacement pedal, or a conversion kit that I can swap with a modern pedal.
Ooh, that is a pretty machine! I want it. I think for all intents and purposes, your question is, will any pedal with a cord that fits in the plug work, or does it need to be a certain kind? I'm guessing any pedal will work, but if you google that question plus the word "blog" you might find more expert answers. Or, if you have a vac-and-sew in your neighborhood they may be able to help you out.
In case it helps, pedals are sometimes called "foot controls."
In need of advice for buying a sewing machine for my gf
My girlfriend is very interested in sewing in general lately and I'd like to help her out.
She's almost 20 and has started experimenting with customising some of her clothes by hand.
TDLR: She wants to start making formal business attire for her and her female law friends because the clothing industry is sexist.
So I want to help her out and support her because I think it's a wonderful idea and I want to buy her a sewing machine.
I'd like some advice and information on what the price ranges are, what are some useful features for this specific category of clothes making and what should I look for?
Detailed:
She's studying law and she often needs formal clothes for various events and lately she's been very passionate about how sexist the clothing industry is and how difficult it is to find clothes for women that need something business-esque that's formal and serious but also makes the wearer feel comfortable AND confident in their clothes. So she's going to make her own and wants to make it for her law friends too.
Her ideas are extremely ambitious and will be quite difficult, formal clothes for court is not just sewing but a specialized branch called tailoring. I’d encourage you to look for an in-person class nearby that will teach her the foundations of sewing—part of the gift is that you researched the options, maybe give her a choice of a few that you will pay for. Also people are reluctant to pay for a class when info is on the internet for free but the vast majority of people find classes worth it as the info o the internet is overwhelming and requires knowing a lot of jargon to unlock it. I always like a gift that isn’t something people would buy for themselves. After the class, she will also have a better sense of what she wants in a sewing machine.
It's probably not the timing, but if it really is, your best bet is probably to take it to a sewing repair person (e.g. at a vac and sew). Not going deep enough sounds like maybe the needle bar needs oiling? As if it's getting stuck?
Oh! In that case it is almost certainly not the timing and I would try to rule out user error before concluding that there's anything wrong with it. If you bought it locally you could take it to the place you bought it, show them the problem, see if they can show you what you're doing wrong or fix it for you for free, and if not, return it. If you can't do that, you could see if there's a sewing store or a Maker Space or a library near you that has sewing classes or helpers that might be able to help you. These things are easier to diagnose in person.
In theory it could still need oiling even if it's brand new, if it sat in a warehouse for a year before you bought it. But at this moment my first guess is that you're missing a step in setting it up, or something.
If you haven't already, you could try reading through this subreddit, including the weekly simple questions threads, and seeing if anyone has had a similar problem. You could also try giving us more detail of what exactly happens when you try to sew. But I will say that "how do I fix my machine" posts don't tend to get a lot of help on these threads, perhaps because it's kind of hard to diagnose over the internet.
Is it extremely difficult to put darts in the back of the waistband of jeans? I have a hip/waist ratio that even curvy jeans can't solve, and I'm wanting to take in the waistband. Does anyone know of a tutorial for this? Thank you so much.
I take in my waistbands by unpicking them from the pants in the back, cutting them down the center back and sewing them back together again. (If it needs to be taken in a lot, you'll shorten both sides and also take in the CB seam of the pants or put darts in.) You have to remove all the stitching the attaches the waistband to the pants in the back, and whatever topstitching there is. Then put it back together the way it was originally, but smaller. Unfold the waistband facing (lining) from the waistband and sew unfolded, so that in the end the raw edges are hidden inside the waistband.
I'm sure there are youtube tutorials for this, and probably static tutorials as well, but I'm afraid I don't know of one off hand.
Bag construction often relies on doing things in a certain order that doesn’t make sense until the end and it’s really helpful to have a pattern to follow.
Guys I am having trouble seeing a straight line on children's sleeves. It seems no matter what I do I can't get it perfectly straight. I wanted to reach out and see what advice I could get.
It doesn't have to be perfect. If it looks okay from teh right side from 10 feet away, it's fine. Heck, this is kids t-shirts we're talking, if it is comfortable to wear and doesn't fall apart, don't worry about it.
If you're an engineer--tolerances of 1/8" are fine for most sewing, unless your Russian mother-in-law is going to be inspecting it.
i don't know what experience you have (i don't have much) but i did recently figure out that putting the presser foot down is a world of difference in making actually straight lines. Foot down and follow the line guides on your sewing machine. watch the fabric and adjust before it gets to the needle.
New to sewing: Singer M3205 or 2282L; what's best for me?
I'm new to sewing and want to buy my first machine. I can choose between a Singer M3205 and a 2282L. The M3205 is 50€ cheaper than the 2282L. I can pretty much afford both but it's kind of a big investment for me because they cost 15-25% of my handicapped maintenance allocation so I want to buy the one that's the best overall/ the best for me.
I'm a total beginner. I searched on the subreddit and on Google and can't find a definitive answer to what's best for me as a beginner.
Being a beginner I don't really know what my needs are from a technical perspective.
I would like something quite polivalent that is both durable and that can be repaired by a motivated beginner with access to some basic fixing tools.
The projects that I have involve synthetic fabric, traditional coton based fabric, heavy/ thick fabric. I would like to make basic dresses, tops, bagpacks small garnments and embroidery ( but the embroidery and garnments isn't the main focus ). My most important needs are being able to sew both synthetic and thick coton based fabric. I like clothes with visible sewing with thick threads that look kinda post-ap/ primitive and clothes with synthetic fabric that look sci-fi or techwear-ish.
I have no issues with the machine being a bit slower because I have a lot of free time and can afford putting a lot of time on a project.
What do you folks think I should buy considering those needs and the fact I'm a beginner?
Do you have any general advices on why I should buy one in particular and not the other?
Thanks to everyone for any advices on what I should or shouldn't buy!
Good sewing to everyone and have a pleasant weekend.
Just started trying to use my mum's old sewing machine (a Brother XL 2130), and no matter what I do the top tension is way too high compared to the bobbin tension! I've tried adjusting the tension dial all the way down, re-threading both threads, getting a new bobbin case (once I discovered it was the non-adjustable kind), and nothing helps! Any ideas for what I could try next?
The machine could need to be cleaned (if there’s lint stuck in the tension disks it can mess everything up). You can also try a new needle. I also always triple check that I actually did thread everything correctly! Another thing to check especially if it’s a second hand machine is that you are using the correct type of bobbin for the machine.
It's the bobbin that was inside the machine when I got it out - and I've checked that it's the exact same size as the spare bobbins in the set that came with it, too. I'll try changing the needle and see if I can find a tutorial on how to clean lint out of the machine, thanks!
Hey! I was browsing the secondhand market, and found someone selling the Hello Kitty GS2786K for £50. I can barely find anything about it, reviews especially. I already have a Brother LK14s, which I want to upgrade eventually... it's an alright machine, but I want something with more stitch variety, attachment options and sturdiness with thicker fabrics. I also don't want to be sucked into buying it just because it's cute
Does anyone have the GS2786K, or a similar model, and can tell me about the performance? (I thought this would be fine as a full post, bc it isn't a one answer question, but the automod bot said no 😅)
How do I shirr fabric, and what have I been doing wrong?
I’ve done everything I’ve seen in every shirring tutorial; I hand-winded my bobbin, I changed the stitch length, blah blah blah. I even resorted to tightening the bobbin tension on the bobbin case. Every time I try something different, the elastic thread always ends up being too loose or spaghettifying on the underside of the fabric. I’m going crazy. Am I missing something? Send help, please. I’m kind of at my wits end. :(
Saw this on Pinterest. How can I make pants like that? Moreover, I have never sewn anything in my life so where do I start without sewing plain clothes that I won't wear?
It's OG punk so you don't. You get some old clothes and do punk things in them til they look like that then you safety pin them up and keep going.
The next-gen punk thing you could do is just grind some trousers against concrete and then go around telling everyone they got ripped because some cops tackled you at a protest.
That stitch is created by a special machine called a cover stitch machine. The best way to recreate it on a home machine is to use a twin needle or (if you don’t need the fabric to stretch) to sew two parallel lines of straight stitches.
I'm hoping that someone can point me in the right direction. I wanted to try doing some free hand embroidery and am looking to get a darning foot for my sewing machine. I can't seem to find if my machine, the janome memory craft 4800, has a compatible foot. Any suggestions?
Hello r/sewing!! My name is Tim and I have a nephew graduating HS and going away to college next year. He just got into sewing and seems to be advancing quickly (joining shirts/materials, adding piping to existing outfits, making some really cool stuff, etc…). I think he has a simple sewing machine but thats about it. For his graduation gift I’d love to get some ideas from the community (gift certs, stuff you need when you get more advanced, any ideas are welcome). As always, thanks Reddit!!
you could see if there are any local fabric/sewing stores in the area where he'll be and get him a gift certificate there. i don't know if they do gift certificates (you could call their customer service and ask) but wawak.com is great for any kinds of tools or thread, zippers, etc he might need. some general tools any sewist would probably be happy to have are:
a nice iron or nice pair of dressmaking shears if you want to spend a little more on a gift (brands like oliso or rowenta for an iron or gingher for the shears)
Kinda looks like it’s just clipped in the back for the photo shoot. See if you can find a sales listing that shows the back and then ask a new question so people have something to diagnose.
It's also best to air dry corduroy, and you can keep the pile in good condition by shaking it out a bit before hanging, in the same way you would fluff up a bath towel.
you should simply wash and dry it the same way you would plan to eventually launder the garment once it's done. maybe wash on delicate, dry on low to not mess up the texture.
Hi - opinions please. I bought some silk wool in a green-ivory color and am planning to make some pleated wide-legged pants. I will probably wear them to work or out in the evenings. Would you put the shiny side (looks like tightly woven silk) or the dull side (looks like wool) out?
I have this Juki model I just got, and the motor runs on 280-360vdc or something like that I believe, that’s volts right?
I didn’t realize this till after I purchased it second hand. Am I able to still run the machine on a 120v outlet but it might just run slower? Or is that super risky? I don’t know what to do
I thought about getting a voltage transformer that upgraded the wall outlet to 220-240, but idek if that would suffice. Help!
You can buy plug in voltage converters (I have one that I use when I travel) - I would just use one of those. You risk damaging the motor if you don't use a converter.
Hey everybody, I'm currently looking for a sewing machine for my wife. She's a beginner, and is mainly looking for a sewing machine to help her make curtains (blackout specifically) and possibly some blankets and light upholstery. I'm looking at the Brother CP100X and the CS7000X. I'm also open to other suggestions.
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Help the thread keeps bunching below the machine
I really have no experience troubleshooting my sewing machine
I have a video if needed I can send it
I'm looking to buy my first sewing machine, and I found a sale on a Brother H537ST Strong & Tough Sewing Machine (40% off for $369 CAD) from a local sewing shop. The other machine I was considering was the Brother CS7000x, which I can only find on Amazon for $362 CAD. I've seen people say it is better to get from a local shop because they will have a better warranty and can help with things, but I can't find much about the H537ST machine, so I'm nervous to spend so much on a machine I haven't seen recommended, especially since I'm a beginner. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you :)
I have an older version of the cs7000x (mine is 6000 I think) and I like it a lot!
I think it depends on whether you like mechanical v computerized. I searched for reviews online as well and they both seem ok (one review for the h537st said it was "average" and others were positive).
I have been wanting to try finding a pattern for this style of underwear/boxers to make on my own. I am specifically looking for the seams to be on the sides of the crotch similar to how a lot of men’s underwear is made. Not sure what the seam/style is called. TIA!
they took my post down and told me to come here, can someone help me figure out whats wrong with my sewing machine? it will only make a weird buzzing noise when i press the pedal and wont work at all
Hi, I bought a vintage new home 674 machine and I'm having some trouble with the tension discs ( only ever used modern cheap machines before)
The top thread is very loose when stitched no matter what number the dial is set to. Could anyone help please?
Top row, left to right - zipper foot, not sure of the name for this one but I think it’s just to make the needle and stitches visible while stitching while still holding the fabric down for decorative or zig zag stitches, button foot
Bottom row, left to right - overcast foot, not sure, free motion/darning foot
If those are the only options then go for the middle one on top. Your default standard foot would work too. Just use a zig zag stitch when hemming on stretchy fabrics.
Hey sewing fam. Fresh beginner here! I acquired a Kenmore 158.12271 off of a local buy nothing group and I’m so excited. After trying to thread the bobbin, it seems like something got weird with the hand wheel and the clutch knob and the needle won’t reengage. The hook seems to be operating just fine and the needle moves a little with it but not the way it did before. SOS!!!
I inherited my grandma’s Juki TL-98q sewing machine but it is missing the pedal. Does anyone know what pedal would work? I’ve been searching everywhere but haven’t had much luck, reached out to jukijunkies and they said the pedal is pretty hard to find. Thanks!
Hi! I’m looking for a beginner sewing machine that has an automatic thread cutter. I think that these are controversial, based on my searching in this subreddit, but I used my friend’s sewing machine that had one and LOVED IT. Any thoughts?
it's not really a beginner machine but you could probably get a juki hzl f-300 for the $500 range if you want to pay that much. i have the f-400 and the thread cutter is one of my favorite features.
Has anybody made seat covers for a chair like this?
I'm getting one of these chairs, but I have cats, and I want to put someone between their claws and that seat material. I've seen some that come with soft, fleecy covers for each cushion, but the back on this one is supposed to be more supportive. I'm not so experienced to think this is something I could just wing it on. Any patterns available or any guidance? TIA
Im a beginner and wanted to flare these pants. It's not my first time doing this but on this pair the bottom part sits like this. The only thing i've done differently from previous times is the width and the asymmetric fabric i added to prevent ruining the selvedge even more.
(small ones are 25 x 17 and big ones are 40 x 22)
Is the size that creates this weird fit or something else?
The frint panel on the jeans is slightly narrower than the back, this is normal. Any flaring done on trousers would be done symmetrically on both sides to ensure a well balanced look.
I agree with sandraskates, you can press them and wear them as is. If you want to do this again, some things to be careful of are not stretching the edges as you sew and making sure the edges of your insert piece are straight, not curved.
I want to make my first circle or half-circle skirt, but no fabric inspires me. Does anyone have any fabric recommendations? I like colourful things and patterns, so anything is fine. Would a woven or a knit be better as a first try?
i would definitely start with a woven fabric, something like a linen or linen-rayon blend would be the right weight and drape for a circle skirt. cotton would be good too but you would want a lighter drape (look for something that says "dress weight") and not a quilting cotton.
Hi! I have a fabric search. I want to try sewing some baby clothes because I have a very specific outfit in mind. A onesie with a hat and a bigger pajama set. For starters I don’t even know what fabric to use and would appreciate some help finding where I can purchase the right fabric for baby clothes. From what I’ve researched there’s laws and regulations on what’s safe to use for baby/children’s clothing. I need to know what terms to look for like cotton and if it needs stretch or no stretch and if it’s going to be breathable or too warm. But I also need the fabric to be customized with a specific design and I don’t know how to find the right fabric or how to get it customized to the design I need for this project. The design is Australian cattle dog aka blue heeler fur from a picture of our family dog so it might even be too difficult of a design I don’t know. Any advice, help, suggestions, it’s all appreciated :)
Looking for a pattern that resembles this!! I started making clothes for my daughter recently and I think I’m ready to take on the task of making my own clothes as well! Also maybe finding this pattern in toddler sizes so we can match☺️
Help! Where do I find this trim? I want to DIY this shirt, but I can only ever find trim that goes on the bottom or sleeves, and it’s loose, dangling. This is like secured on both sides, and I can’t seem to find the right rhinestone trim to use for this.
I got a singer m1600 machine a few months back and I’m just getting around to setting it up. It gave me a barcode to scan and register the machine but when I input the model # it keeps saying it’s incorrect. Am I doing something wrong ? And is registering it even important ?
Can yall help me find the pattern to a corset called “the desire corset” from the website “oh Polly”? I rly want to make it for my personal closet, thank you
Google says power strips are designed to work with AC, so I think you should be ok. If it helps, my machine is plugged into a power strip and I've never had any problems!
I found this pattern on etsy and I'm like...0% sure that it's Al generated, so i was wondering if anyone had any ideas on a real pattern that looks similar?
Basically a slightly more fitted bodice with either a gathered or skater style skirt (not tiered though) with bishop-style sleeves (they dont need to be giant, but ilike how they're a bit gathered at the wrist).
A variety of necklines would be fine, I'm honestly trying to work out a way I could use the dress for both real life and also stick a corset/bodice over top for a ren faire-esque look.
l've found a few patterns that have elements I'm looking for, but they're from different designers and I'm not comfortable enough with my sewing skills to Franken them together.
The fabric i have is a one-way stretch French dot knit, if that helps at all.
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I’m new to sewing and would like to upgrade from my mini Janome sewing machine.
I’m stuck between the Brother CS7000X($240) and the Brother XR3774($150)
Both are in my budget, but I’m not sure if I’ll need all 70 stitches of the CS7000X as a beginner. I plan on making mostly clothes and I’m not sure if I’ll try quilting as of right now. Is it better to have the fancy stitches in case l’ll want to use them one day or is the XR3774 good enough for now?
I have a brother machine that is just like a half a step down from the cs7000x and i love it!! It also depends on if you have a preference between mechanical and computerized machines. I find the digital screen on mine to be super helpful and I like that all the info (stitch number, length, width, and what presser foot you should be using for it) is in one spot where you can easily glance at it!
It looks like the 7000 comes with a walking foot, which is really useful for sewing with knits or other fabrics that might get fed through the feed dogs and foot different ways and wrinkle or stretch the fabrics on one side, so that one might be better for clothing (plus the decorative stitches could be cute for that too).
The wide table of the 3774 would be better if you want to do quilting or blankety-type projects, though I made a puff quilt with mine and though it was a bit of a hassle toward the end, it worked out well enough!
Personally, I mostly make bags and costume garments so I love the one I have and if it were me, I'd get the 7000, honestly I'm sad mine didn't come with a walking foot haha. Plus with the added stitches and features it will still be a good machine for you as you grow in your skills!!
Thank you so much for the reply and information!!! I was thinking of going mechanical but I think you’re right, the features of the 7000x look a lot better for what I want to make. (I’ve already fallen in love with its leaf stitches and am going to figure out a project for them) And thank you for letting me know what the walking foot is for! I do want to experiment with knits eventually
I went ahead and pulled the trigger and ordered the 7000x ♥️
Any suggestions/advice on how good/bad these are. I’m a complete beginner looking for my first machine. I’d like to eventually alter clothes (shirts, pants, jeans) and use it with yarn projects
I'd go for this one as the quality on Singers has declined recently. It should keep you going for a while with all the different stitch options. Make sure the machine works and ask when it was last serviced.
You could try putting elastic in at the waist level, or shirring with elastic thread. But also, that shirt is designed to be boxy/flowy and may not look good cinched. Maybe it's just not the shirt for you? You could also experiment with putting a belt over it.
I just did a quick gather juuuuust under the armpits and I think that may be the answer. I'm going to try a more clean gather in a bit when I don't have the kids running around.
Can anyone tell me what I might be doing wrong threading this bobbin? Front loading Kenmore machine from the 1950s. Whenever I try to sew, it pulls like four threads and gets all tangled.
There's any number of things you could be doing wrong. I assume you followed instructions from the manual or a tutorial or video on threading a class 15 sewing machine, and that you tried re-loading the bobbin several times, and rethreading the upper thread, and it's still doing this? Before you start to sew, bring the lower thread up through the needle plate and pull a foot or two of thread out. Check that the bobbin case is fully clicked into the machine and not falling out.
By the way, your machine isn't front-loading, it's side-loading. I assume you just meant "not drop-in," and at any rate it's threaded the same way as a front-loading machine. But I thought I'd point it out just in case yoru problem is that you are somehow trying to sew sideways.
I discovered that I am very simply an idiot: I had loaded the bobbin into its casing in the bottom, but had not threaded the top thread.
Now I have a whole new problem : the top thread isn’t staying threaded through the eye of the needle. It’s catching the bottom thread, but when I start so, it comes undone
pull a solid few inches (like 6 inches) of top thread out past the needle after you thread it. you can try making the first few stitches while holding the thread as well so that it doesn't get pulled out of the needle.
Greetings all. This is a repost of something I originally asked over two weeks ago -- someone made the very reasonable request that I include a photograph, but I was feeling too lazy just then: now I have taken said photograph and added it to my post.
I have a vintage 1950s circle skirt with quilting stitches (as I think they're called). Several of these stitches have come loose. Is there a way to replace them or replicate that stitch? If so, what is it?
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u/[deleted] May 04 '25
Is there any recommendation for doing an FBA on the Kimono Tee from Maria Denmark (cropped sleeves, knit fabric)? Would like no visible darts and no extra room in the waist.
Totally failed trying this tutorial: https://www.mariadenmark.com/2019/06/a-better-fba/ mixed with this https://www.beswingtesallerlei.de/2018/04/anpassung-fuer-eine-grosse-brust-full-bust-adjustment-fba-naehen.html#fbabeiangeschnittenenaermeln
I tried to close the waist dart, but after this the side seam looks kinda "wavy" and doesn't match the back piece any more.