Last General: >>2936243linktr(dot)ee/4chansewing <---- links and shitAlways remember, it doesn't have to be the theme, post your work, post what you want to talk about as long as it has something to do with sewing in general, or the craft in general. We welcome everyone and will try our best to help you out. Yes, sewing is an art, it's a practicing art, you will always suck at it, but remember that everyone starts somewhere, so Google everything!Or just show off your work.---------------------------------------------------------------Your question may be stupid, but ask it anyway.also:my bad, I didn't know our thread died. My bad.
My daughter lost her stuffed bunny, and she misses it a lot. I spent a half hour browsing online for the same bunny, hoping it was popular and mass manufactured, but have had no luck finding it anywhere (ebay, amazon, etsy)So I thought I'd do it myself, but then I realized I'm in way over my head. I've sewed like 4 things in my entire life. Guess I have to start somewhere though.There's also a site that will also build a stuffy from a picture + description (budsies) but holy crap is it expensive, like around $200 leafbux.No questions really, but that's where I'm at now, trying to figure out where to start... finding bunny patterns, testing them, modifying, sewing again.
>>2959624>Always remember, it doesn't have to be the themeOk but what is the theme?
>>2959624Have sewing machines ever gotten to that size?
>>2959667I got nothin.>>2959676I wanna know how that would function
>>2959676The machine is actually normal size but the girl is tiny.
>>2959653>My daughter lost her stuffed bunny, and she misses it a lot.Must be a strong motivator.I hope you figure it out, love to see what you come up with or how it's going.
>>2959653Start with this https://cholyknight.com/2022/01/14/starter-pack-plush/She also has a lot of free patterns and detailed instructionsThen look at https://craftresource.fandom.com/wiki/Rabbit_Plushie_Sewing_Patterns
>>2959624I'm not much of a sewer, but i've hand-repaired some clothes as well as performed some simple sewn leatherwork.A few weeks ago I found a Singer buttonholer attachment at goodwill for $4.99 and picked it upToday I went to goodwill again (I mostly look for antiques or uranium glass) and to my delight, they had a 1935 production Singer model 15 for $16 and I bought it. She works but this old girl is dry and in much need of some lube so I ordered some, and the wood is rather worn and im currently working on refinishing the wood surface.Anybody have experience with old singers? The manual is easy to come by and its nice that lube can easily applied via obvious holes in the machinery
>>2959875Treat her gently for the time being, only use your hand to turn it, oil it up according to the instructions and don't power it until you can feel with your hand that she runs smoothly. These machines can last many lifetimes but damage can be done if you force a dried or seized to run. Make sure everything is clean, the bobbin area, the moving parts (it has a stitch length lever, right?) just clean it thoroughly.You can clean the body with it's decals with a soft cloth and a drop of sewing machine oil.Also, may I see it?
>>2959879>Also, may I see it?I'd love to show you but ive already gotten to work on her. The top was heavily worn so I sanded it first with 120 grit, then 320 grit sandpaper, then applied a quickly wiped off coating of ebony 2718 wood stain which I think matches the original quite well (since i wiped of quickly as opposed to letting it set). Next is a polyurethane coating. This is just the top I eventually have to remove the entire sewing mechanism and treat the inside (dont want sawdust getting into the machine)
>>2959653children need to learn disappointment and loss. that if they don't take care of their things, then too bad.
>>2959653>but holy crap is it expensive, like around $200 leafbux>canadian minimum wage is $17.75>deduct let's say ~15% tax>roughly 9.5 hours of work to draft a pattern from image, test, modify and eventually produce the end product (not taking into account the materials and other overheads)Makes sense.At the end of the day, anon, I think that your daughter is going to love whatever bunny you make for her, and remember it forever.
I finally got my great-grandmother's old Singer 101-4 from 1930, after she sat in my uncle's garage for 50 years, then got driven up to me in multiple stages. My parents already did the basic tune-up on her, so she runs just fine. I practiced threading, setting up the bobbin, and going in a straight line on some scraps of fabric (I think my mom did the same thing, they were just sitting in the desk and some already had stitching) and everything seems all right. I got some remnants at the local fabric store and I think I'll start by making some drawstring bags to practice. Eventually I want to make myself a top from my handwoven fabric (I got some bigger needles too, since handwoven stuff is thicker than commercial) Just regular sewing machine oil should work, right? I don't want to gum anything up accidentally.
>>2959967Even the light still works. It seems you can get LEDs that will fit in that kind of socket, which is a load off my mind.
And before I got the machine, I made this bag for my lunch out of my handwoven fabric (the outside), a commercial liner, and a handwoven band for handles/decoration. (had to go down to the tool library, but I probably should've just hand sewn it all, since I had to do that for the band anyway) I like the band as decoration, but the handles are too thin. Eventually I'll make some ticker ones and do some surgery so the original band is just decoration and the actual handles are something more solid. But it works for right now.
Closed bag for showing off the pattern
>>2959967>>2959968>>2959969>>2959970All very pretty (including your bag) and so cool that you got to get something thats been in your family (im goodwill singer anon).Yes regular sewing machine oil is fine, the manual will have arrows showing all the tiny holes and you just put one drop of oil in each. Mines old light works too, surprisingly. There might also be some big underside threaded screwcaps that hold oil wicks that automatically oil pieces. Don't oil the motor itself, it will cause heat to transfer to the cord and meltI called my mom and told her i got a sewing machine and i asked her to guess what kind she thought i got and her first guess was a singer. She is comin over for thanksgiving and will probably teach me how to use it
I bought a cheap machine two years ago and haven't taken it out. I envy you guys that sew.
>>2959889Who hurt you
>>2959977>I bought a cheap machine two years ago and haven't taken it outGoodwill singer anon here. I remember in middle school, I had this cheap as fuck handheld sized sewing machine and i used it a few times. I honestly have zero clue what happened to it. But even being able to sew by hand is fairly useful for clothing repair, so maybe try practising both by hand and with your machine (some spots a machine cant get). I hope you don't have misconceptions that sewing makes you less manly because owning an object for utilitarian use like repairs is actually manly.
>>2959624>>2959676I keep telling people not to get an industrial machine for home because they're fuckhuge, but no one listens.
>>2959875>>2959879Like anon says, with the drive belt off it should turn with essentially no effort. There's a reason the 15 stayed in production for over a hundred years. It's a very good machine.>>2959886Did you buy the whole table? Is it a treadle?>>2959971>>2959967>one dropYah, when you are first un-sticking a neglected machine is the only time you use more than a drop or two. If it's old and sticky you pretty much flood it.BTW "lillywhite" or "white" oil won't stain your fabric if it drips.>101-4YOURS has an oil reservoir not unlike a modern industrial machine! Has a gear-driven rotary hook like and industrial as well. It was too advanced for it's time, didn't sell well. I'm jelly.
>>2959886>>Also, may I see it?>>2960214>Did you buy the whole table? Is it a treadle?PICTURE TIMEbefore/after pic of the topAnd sewing machine oil finally came in the mail and i filled all her holes :)Here is a video, please be patient i [unironically] have autism: https://streamable.com/4a6rjg
>>2960226Sweeeet!I like the mat finish on the wood, looks modern.I can't read the serial prefix but I assume you already looked it up on ismacs.
>>2960226Nice!One note, please lift up the presser foot if you use her without fabric! When it's down it can damage the feed dogs and presser foot as they now scratch against each other!When I don't use a machine, I always put the presser foot DOWN with a little scrap fabric underneath it, this is to ease tension on the presser foot spring when the machine is not in use and the fabric is just to protect the parts from rubbing against each other.Just be careful with that, it's probably fine for now but I'm all for 'good habits' when it comes to operating these machines. Anyway good job on the cabinet it does look lovely, the machine too! Hope you can do some nice things with it!
>>2960232>I can't read the serial prefix but I assume you already looked it up on ismacsYes (1935 production model 15-91), I already printed a manual too, 4 pages per side, cut and bound like a tiny book>>2960267>One note, please lift up the presser foot if you use her without fabric!okay i will keep this in mind. Ty on the compliments too, I appreciate it. I told my mother that I finally got a sewing machine and sent her the same before and after pics and she was delighted. She is visiting this evening and staying the duration of Thanksgiving and will assist me in learning how to operate it. She also uses an older knee-operated sewing machine built into a tiny desk but hers isn't as old, but still built like a brick shithouse
Goodwill singer anon here, I had to crack open the foot pedal, one of the terminal screws was loose causing the wiring to arc and the pedal to heat up. Other than that the wires are still in great condition and not cracked from ageMy hand sewing spools are too small for this, i told my mom to bring some spools, bobbins, and scrap fabric so I can practice and put this old girl to work. She'll be over this evening and stay for the duration of thanksgiving>>2960267>please lift up the presser footI followed your advice
What is the right grease to use in a vintage machines gear box(just below the feed dogs)? I have a white 764 that has all metal gears(some of the 764's have 1 nylon gear, mines all metal) an the grease in it basically turned into tacky glue. Some sites say lithium grease, others say mechanical grease, and some even say vaseline.I'm leaning towards vaseline since the guy advocating for it explains how its basically thickened mineral oil, and the other stuff has additives that fuck shit up...>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsHnABjKbPMBut then theres also the problem that it is designed to flow/melt at human body temp... I mean the gearbox seals up at the bottom with a lined sheet of metal, but i still worry about it seeping out.
>>2960292As it's metal gears, you don't have much to worry about.You're right about Vaseline having a low melt temperature, but that's not really bad as it will just flow over the gears. I don't think it will fling off or anything.The only advantage of Lithium grease is that it's compatible with plastic, other than that it's mid.Silicone grease is great but expensive. Red automotive grease won't thicken but it's also expensive because they make you buy a whole pound at a time.I would say you should go ahead with the Vaseline if you already have it, if you have to go buy something get a tube of silicone grease or a synthetic multi-purpose grease like pic related. That 3 oz tube is enough to last a lifetime.
>>2960271>cut and bound like a tiny bookGreetings fellow autistic person!You have needles? If you are in the US or Canada Wawak.com sells Organ brand (best in the world) for ten dollars per hundred. Your local craft store probably wants a dollar per single needle. Size 12 or 14 for regular polyester thread.
>>2960296Anyone get sewing shit off temu? The prices look compelling, and theres def. some things on it that would be a pain-in-the-ass to buy elsewhere when it comes to minimum orders(replacement motor belt and presser feet). Needles are prob. crap, but you can get a 50 pack for like $2.
>>2960318I've bought Flying Tiger needles from Ali Express, they're good. I saw some no-name needles from china that had burrs in the eye and would break the thread. The Flying Tiger needles come ten in a clear plastic packet, I paid around $5 for 100.
I've been reading a textbook on pattern making (Patternmaking for Menswear bt Gareth Kershaw) and I think I'm going to try and make an upper body sloper to my own measurements. Because I like jumping in over my head, I guess.Also, Trousers Anon has me inspired somewhat. The book suggests making a sloper then making a muslin and fitting it, adjusting the sloper, and so on. My goal is to end up with shirts and pants that actually fit, some day.I'm not sure if I should start out doing it in Seamly or if I should just do the first one on paper like a normal person. Seamly would be the modern approach but maybe i'm just making things harder for myself.Pic related, it's the shirt example from Seamly with my own measurements applied.Anyone here make their own patterns this way?
>>2960213For what I wanna do I would love one>>2960226Pretty machine but that table could some work
>>2959746Appreciate the links, thanks man>>2959704It's definitely a strong motivator. I ordered some stuffy fabric and when it comes in I'll get started.
>>2959970Nice white and gold bag.
>>2960398The singer 15 anons low key have industrial sewing machines
>>2960674once upon a time home and manufacturing was the same machine, just different accessories. Then industrial machines became more specialized, while domestics had to do *everything*Peak domestic was the 60's to 1970's, cast aluminum class-15 machines with zig-zag cams.But they were $1000+ in today's money, and since peeps don't make their own clothes because of globalism, the important feature modern domestic machines is price. All plastic for $100. Meh.>>2960398What are you doing that you need an industrial?
>>2960685Fursuits at some point. I work with faux fur as it is to make shit. BEFORE anyone here rips my head off, fursuits make bank if you get known which isn't hard
>>2960689>Fursuit tailorLolLOLlolWhat are you looking for in a machine? More space under the presser? More harp space?
>>2960692Mostly durability, something stronger is needed, something that can go through fabric more easily. I have times when I make multilayered things, my machine stops in the middle of it, and I have to push the needle through it with the side wheel. I have a Bernina 215. That's what the lady at the sewing store recommended, too, so I ran with it. Still a great machine nonetheless.
>>2960689fursuit makers are still subject to drama and if you're some literally who who only started making them to "make bank" and not because you like them, everyone will avoid you since they can get the same product on aliexpress if they don't feel like supporting a community memberthat said just look up ones for leather and get one of those
>>2960704>Bernina 215.>Sales lady's adviceMy 1920 white family rotary will sew through as much leather as I can stuff under the presser foot using text 210 thread with a flying tiger #22 needle. 8x5.5 inch harp space. Maybe you should be looking for a cast iron singer, or maybe one of those 70s kenmore's that will sew right through your thumb.
I finished my new corduroy trousers but now it's night and my home is really dark, even with all the lights on it's difficult to see the details of this dark green corduroy. You have to take my word for it.They are a solid 8, I would pay for these pair of trousersNot perfect. -1 point for the materials: the corduroy fabric is luxurious, but everything else is cheap. I wasn't expecting for them to turn out so well so I didn't buy good lining, buttons, waistband, and zip.-0.5 for the stitches. Using thick and cheap "lining" (actually, it's just leftover cotton fabric from other pairs) made the entire trousers too bulky to sew comfortably so it was difficult to sew in many places, especially the front notch and the waistband-0.5 for the silhouette, I've been trying not to emphasize my hips but it seems a losing battle. Why do they look so round? This doesn't happen with normal jeans
>>2960741The inseam pockets turned out almost perfect. They open a bit because of my thick thighs but nothing significant, for now at least. I forgot to put stabilizer on them so they will probably change as time goes on.I attempted to use the blind stitch on my machine, but I couldn't make it work for some reason. The stitches were too visible on the scraps I used so I did a normal machined hem.
>>2960743All in all, I think that with this pair, I can say officially that I know how to sew trousers. From now on it's about adding features like back pockets (which I don't like but I should learn how to do them), blind stitching, coin/watch/cash pockets, variations like extended waistband or button fly.But... I want to make a coat now. A greatcoat for the winter.
>>2960741Would ironing the pleats help? After that, maybe compare your pattern to a pair of jeans that fit your hips the way you like, and see where yours are going different. Thanks for showing us your project Anon, you have me inspired to try and make a shirt that fits me.
>>2960704No, I AM a furry, it was the main reason I GOT the Bernina. This was a sewing store specifically for sewing, everything you can think of, they had it, so I was really new at the time. I know how to sew decently but I haven't gotten to fursuit level yet. Several people like what I can do now and have told me when I finally start getting to that point let them know and they want me to make them a suit. I'm looking to make suits at a good price, make money, but make sure people don't break the bank too. I know how high some suits can go. I dont want to do that to people still. >>2960708When I get some money, I'll look into the cast iron stuff, that's a cool idea. >>2960741Dude, that's dope. Good job!
>>2960756You won't need much money at all for a cast iron singer. They made 50 million model 15s alone, there's nothing rare about these machines. I bought a Japanese made model 15 clone off of shopGoodwill.com for $30 delivered.
>>2960756Well, if you are a community member, I'd say to start with partials. A lot of people look at the high price of a fursuit and figure churning them out will make them money, but really, few people even want one, even fewer are willing to pay for one, and each one is a custom piece that will require more work in consultation and negotiation over design elements than the actual sewing.It's kinda like doing any other sort of freelance work in that regard. The work is "easy" -- the hard part is that clients are difficult, and finding clients is even more so.
>>2960757I'll look them up and if I have the money I mght go ahead and invest into one. >>2960766I know, I am on etsy. I know how hard it is to get into the business. I make tails right now. I KEEP forgetting to make paws and I have patterns for it. Are there actually more furries in this thread? I assumed I was the only one. I only brought it up I THINK in the last thread because of a machine maybe. I try to run off anyone for the sewing thread.
>>2960776I came in as a tourist on my way to /ohm/ to ask shitposty questions about an e-bike; but I like to sew myself, and have a horrid suede jacket I keep making alterations to.Honestly, you probably shouldn't listen to me; other than the community piece, I don't know a thing about heavy sewing. I do that shit by hand and it takes forever.I can confidently say to start with if not keep with partials though; it's a limited market, and full suits are designer custom pieces. But any machine that can handle leather should be able to handle synthetic fur just for strength of the machine, and fur should not be so long or dense that it requires a proper "long arm" machine. If you can get a half-inch of clearance but a strong enough motor and needles to deal with it, it should be fine. And worse case, you can do it by hand. They're paying for it anyway and time is no object when you have one client per year.
>>2960793>I do that shit by handLearn to ladder stitch. I sometimes make small pillows and practice on them. I made 1 specifically for me to take to plasma to go behind my neck, cause their chairs have 0 head support. Yeah I make tails mostly, but I dont have any buyers right now.
>>2960814unironically i just chain stitch everything. looks nice and is stronger than whatever crap fabric I'm doing it through. A true point of pride is that I have never had a stitch fail. Always the material around it wearing out first.>but I dont have any buyers right now.You won't in the future. Not to be mean, but not many people are buying fursuits.
>>2960819my first tail was hand stitched and my hands hurt like hell afterwards.>you wontyeah so I figured. I get some friends here and there and they ask me and they commonly pay me through cash app.
>>2960832If you are a member of the community pick up a machine that at least claims to be good for leatherbut if youre a real furfag you'll build a railgun
>>2960834>railgunI'm confused
>>2960842learn some engineering and embrace your destiny. every furfag should become a high end weapons engineer
>>2960845there was a joke at FWA that there were so many people in tech and PC shit that if someone tried to hack or fuck with us that we'd find him in 3.5 seconds.
does anyone have any similar patterns to something like this? this is just my favorite dooting around type dress and i want something simple to practice sewing with.
>>2961124If you have something that you like and fits already you can create a pattern directly off the dress. There are tutorials on YouTube for how to do it without taking the dress apart.
i just finished putting together the neck bracer- thing for my heartseeker yuumi doll im making. Its down to the last few bits on her before the project is wrapped up
>>2961221Nice!
>>2959624my question is indeed stupid, so i will ask it anywaysI want to make durable backpacks and duffel bags but don't even know where to begin. I just have been very disappointed with the ones I have bought, and I've bought a lot. I assume I will need a special sewing machine for thick fabrics but I barely learned how to use one as a kid and have already entirely forgotten how. I'm very good at math and geometry so I think I can make my own patterns but I'm not sure. I'm fairly certain the average grandma could make better patterns than me anyways. Where should I start? I can spend money on this project but I don't want to waste it. I don't want to waste time, at least.
>>2961250you'd be surprised anon-kun, most of us likely have a simple machine. I wouldn't doubt if a lot of the guys here wing it on some shit. Trial and error. I hear Cordroy is a good material for bags.
>>2960414>>2959653Great news! The lost stuffed bunny was found in a very weird spot: tucked deep in the corner of a closet, behind a dresser. Daughter is overjoyed to have it back.So with the fabric I ordered, I'll instead make a big blue blankie for the kid. Will post pics when the fabric comes.
>>2961250How durable are you talking?If you want to go crazy you can make a bag out of the same material whitewater rafts are made out of, i.e. Hypalon, or TPU/PVC coated fabrics.Stitch with UHMWPE thread.>>2961262>Cordroy Maybe you meant "Cordura" which is dense ballistic nylon
Reminder that the best zigzag ever made is the Kenmore 158 from the 70s https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0psROeOacRE
>>2961250Peeps that are into that kind of thing call it "MYOG" for Make Your Own Gear. There is, of course, a reddit by that name.You don't need a special machine so much as you need a strong stitcher. I like the older all-metal machines you find in thrift stores or for sale at the sewing machine-vacuum-keys made kind of repair shops. See the video in >>2961357 for an example. These machines can handle thicker needles and thread than the mostly-plastic things they sell today. Watch out for marketing tricks, like Singer renamed their "classic" to "Heavy duty" and doodz buy them to make gear and are disappointed.The techniques you need to learn for backpacks and such are pretty straightforward, not nearly as involved as garment construction. You use longer stitches and zig-zag to not weaken the fabric, especially non-woven materials like Tyvik. You'll make a lot of felled seams, but that's about as tricky as it gets.You get to argue with peeps about polyester vs nylon straps and thread. It's fun.
>>2961345yeah sorry, idea's spelled
>>2961124i wouldnt bother with a sewing pattern there Broi mean you'll have to reconstruct that thing entirely to accommodate your whole ass man shouldersjust measure yourself like the tailor you are you don't need a sewing pattern for that
>>2961420it would be easier to start from a pattern, everyone modifies their patterns anyway, do you not?
>>2961420Oh dear, the Manosphere has entered the sewing general.There's actual bio-grills here too, oh bearded one. Sorry about your crisis of masculinity.
I've got a migraine and I can't decide what thread to make these curtains with. Fabric is pretty heavy, but not canvas heavy. I got as far as loading T75 thread and adjusting the tension when I changed my mind and went back to T30 stuff.TLDR: Making little curtains/window dressing for the kitchen window because my wife wants me to.
Anyone know how to adjust the speed on this foot pedal? Is the silver disc in the corner the potentiometer?>>2960845It would be easy to self draft if you have one you already like but hubba ding on etsy has patterns that are a similar vibe
>>2961595yep, and take a good pic or use a sharpie to mark where it was before you mess with it.It may not adjust top speed but rather the starting speed or the sensitivity of the pedal, which is why you might want to put it back where it was.Are you trying to change the top speed or is the pedal just being a light switch?
>>2961338Thank God.
>>2961338whew!
>>2961262thanks. i have used and liked cordura before so may try it out.>>2961345just enough to get thrown around on rocks, ride on fourwheeler racks, and get drug through the woods. doesn't need to be bulletproof, i mostly want to make my own designs that hold my stuff efficiently. i'll look into those materials>>2961378thanks, these are good leads.
>>2961599Aah thank you! Pedal goes from 0-100 unless I put it behind my foot and "drive" very lightly with my heel. A part of it is definitely that I just need better control, but my friend who is an experienced sewist also finds the pedal over sensitive. Planning to buy a new one anyway because this one came with my facebook marketplace machine and I'm pretty sure it's not the pedal my machine comes with newwow this captcha is impossible
Singer 101 anon here, I've just been making simple drawstring bags and pouches to practice. I got the fabric to make myself a pillowcase, where I do need a new one. I'm thinking I could also use a pincushion. I could use the scraps from making bags, but it would be cuter if I got some fat quarters...I'm impressed at how damn fast this thing can go. I had to jam the stitch count up just so I could get it to go at a reasonable speed. I do like how easy it is to control manually (you can hear a click when a stitch cycle completes, it's super satisfying) so I can carefully get up to the very edge. It's also nice for beginning/ending, since my girl is too old to know how to go in reverse. I can do a manual three stitches, turn the work around, then go BRRRRRRRRRRR. What are some good resources for beginner patterns?
>>2961896I hope your adjusting works out, electronic pedels like yours are generally pretty good for speed control. I bought a kit from Amazon with the plugs and sockets for my White Family Rotary and it regulates nicely. >>2961903>super satisfyingI so feel that.I've been locking the ends of my seams by lifting the presser for and moving the fabric back a few stitches to go over it again, or sometimes just dragging my thumbs on the fabric so I get a few stitches on top of each other. I don't miss reverse at all any more. >What are some good resources for beginner patterns?See if there's anything for you in the link in the OP
>>2961124>xhe still hasn't made the simple bodice from the pattern drafting bookit's literally that except short sleeves doesn't even have a collar and gathered skirt like attachment at waist
>>2961431tits or gtfo then
>>2960285>>2960226those doors don't get in the way of sitting at the table and why is that chair so huge it's mismatched with both the tables
>>2961969Which book / system do you use?
>>2961977how to make sewing patterns by donald mccunn the book that was posted here few years ago what a retarded fucking pastebin btw
>>2961981Waiting on your improved pastebin, friend
>>2961994just link the rentry directly
>>2961981Haven't seen that one, this weekend I was about to launch into a sloper following this guy:https://archive.org/details/pdfcoffee.com_patternmaking-for-menswear-by-gareth-kershaw-pdf-freeMaybe I should see if I can find the mccunn book before I do. Or maybe I should stop overthinking things.
I have a miniature sewing machine. I’ve been able to hand sew since I was a teenager and was formally taught once and sewed like 5 things in my life so far. I was taught using a full size sewing machine and made myself an apron during that glass and have forgotten since. I’m not sure how to follow pattern or anything and I forgot how to set up the bobbin. I really want to make collars for my dog and cat how would I start? I also want to make a fabric flower like a rose on the collar. What fabric should I use? Also how do I stop sucking at sewing? I’ve hand sewed a plush that had it chest ripped open by the dog and arm ripped off and you can’t even tell there was damage but I feel like I’m over using thread. Anyways thanks for reading and I appreciate any help you’re willing to give.
>>2962241YouTube videos are very helpful. Especially for learning how properly use sewing machines. If you manage to pick up an older full size machine that is good quality they will be much better than that little thing. They can be found quiet cheaply if you keep an eye out. Manuals are often hard to come by. Anything from Singer before 1960's is excellent. Especially their top of the line models like the 201, 301, and 401. '60s-'70s machines are good but can have issues due to cost cutting (500, 600, Touch & Sew, Fashion Mate, etc). Anything made by anyone after 1980 is best to avoid unless it is an industrial machine.>Also how do I stop sucking at sewing?Preparation is more than half the battle. Properly pinning and ironing your fabric before it even goes into the machine makes sewing easy. Practice is key. Invest in a good seam ripper. Buy used clothing, rip it apart, and tailor it to your dimensions. Fucked up? Rip it apart again and repeat.
>>2962241>stop sucking Agreeing with first anon kun here. 2ndly, also, don't forget to iron your shit.
>>2962246Singer manuals are all digitized, you just have to figure out what machine you have
>>2962365Based on experience, the quality of those scans ain't always great and it is much more helpful to have a video showing how to threat it or what points to oil.Now, figuring out what machine you have, that is another story. Sometimes its on a badge is a very visible place, sometimes its tucked away somewhere, and sometimes there isn't one at all.
>>296224660-70’s non-singer models like Jaguar (Marutzen) branded Kenmore 158 in America and Frister & Rossmann in Europe are very good. Probably the best deal in a zigzag.
Huh... silly question, if you know someone who may be interested in this hobby, how would you make him "test the water"? What kind of task or exercise would you ask him to complete before fully compromising into this?You see, I have a son, he has a bunch of stuffed toys, mostly animals, but also couple pokemons and other characters like bluey. Due use (and bad quality, I assume), one had its ear rippen, ask me to repair it and after watching a youtube video, I was sitting with a needle and thread, fixing it while thinking on that scene in toy story 2 when they repair Woodie.Found it interesting to say the least, enough to spend couple hours fixing random clothes and other stuffed toys. Wouldn't say I'm an expert or something.However, I don't want to spend a lot of money in a sewing machine and other materials, but I dunno, sewing pants by hand seem a bit too much, specially because I screwed plenty of repairs and had to cut and start all over again. Would be frustrating to say the least screwing a lot of perfectly good fabric and thread by some dumb mistake.
>>2961221and here it is put on. had to add a bit of extra length to the back to make it reach all the way around but im still quite happy with it
>>2962507hand sewing is always good to learn and theres nothing really wrong with starting there. i spent a lot of time working on things by hand before i finally decided to get a machine. a machine is very helpful and improves your output but you can get by without it.as far as fabric i used to pick up a lot of fleece from joanns back when it was still around to muck around with (for plush) since it was cheap and pretty easy to work with for a beginner. for starting out something like that is probably better than dropping 20 dollars a yard on nicer stuff. i think you can get some at like walmart or other craft stores but you are probably going to be limited in variety.If you are leaning more towards clothing though im not to familiar with it so maybe someone else can add on...
>>2962507If you are enjoying hand sewing there's no reason to give it up. First, learn to use a thimble if you're not already using one. It makes sewing much more pleasant. Next, check out Bernadette banner on youtube, she's got a series on historical hand sewing which teaches the way garments were assembled super fast with needle and thread in the days before sewing machines existed. Also, Amy.mompreneur on YouTube has a lot of shorts showing super fast ways to tailor modern clothing with just needle and thread.
Anyone have experience with the janome 641? I can get it locally for $80. Problem is its like a 50 year old machine BUT it also has nylon gears which my understanding is are ticking time bombs since all plastic but especially pre-90s plastic is prone to cracking when under stress after being molded so long ago.
>>2962956I would personally not pay that much. Besides that I would have to be absolutely sure the machine is fine and I could potentially service it. Never used vintage Janomes, so I can't really tell if it's worthwhile. But for machines if the nylon era I just need to be certain. I made this mistake before with an Elna air-electric that ran fine but had zigzag issues because a pinion was stripped that I couldn't replace.
>>2962956$80 seems a bit high... I would only go there if I had a chance to sew with it first and I really liked it. If it came out of an estate sale and you have to buy it without being able to play with it first you might as well get from shopgoodwill.com. if it hasn't been used for a while you're still going to have to oil it carefully and work it back and forth with your hand to get it loosened up, just like something you got from Goodwill.The deal with Nylon in particular is that it's self-lubricating, and manufacturers used it where peeps never oil their machine, like the hook. Problem is nylon is attacked by acids and Isopropyl alcohol, and the fucking sewing machine repair guys would wash the gears with alcohol and smoosh some acidic grease on them and they would swell and split. Singer made some gears out of Delrin which was just a disaster, but replacements are cheap and easy to install.I have a White Jeans Machine made by jaguar in Taiwan with a nylon gear behind the hook, I bought the steel gear to replace it when it goes and the steel gear is still in my sewing box. So it's not necessarily a death sentence. Janome made in Japan is going to be excellent. Janome made in Taiwan is going to be good. Janome made in China or Vietnam isn't even necessarily a janome, it could be a contract manufacturer.
>>2962956>>2963014I think what I'm trying to say is, I think you could do better for the money, but you could also do far worse. If you really like the machine and the price is not stressing you, you should go ahead and buy it.
>>2962956If theres anything I've learned is that a sewing machins is a sewing machine kinda idea, if you know how 1 works, you get the idea of each one. Though, each one will be slightly different, but I would say that most of us seamsters likely know how to play with it. Also, I REALLY hate how that cord is wound in that case. But it looks awfully thick. How much power does this thing need?!
>>2963093It's a normal cord inside a vinyl jacket, quality companies did that to keep the wire from getting damaged when you ran over it with your chair.
>>2962956I see that replacement gears are available online, for what's that's worth.
>>2963112yeah I can see that
Anyone know where I can get a small refillable oil bottle with a long narrow spout? I'm going to need two, one for oil and one for kerosene (according to the machine manual). I have a machine that's missing them and I want to make it more-or-less complete but I don't really know what to look for.
>>2963286>small refillable oil bottle with a long narrow spoutSo...a sewing machine oil bottle?Also, only came here to shit a bit on the thread.Does sewing the soles to my boots' uppers count as sewing?Or using my chinese shoe patcher to sew leather? Or to make my DIY version of the Savotta Kahakka backpack?Because I scanned the thread and all I saw were fags, troons and furries. Not one bit of manly sewing.
>>2963313>manly sewing.Lmao, I guess maybe you're better off somewhere else.
>>2963313why don't you post pictures of one of your repairs/creations, like the backpack? sounds pretty interesting
>>2963286As bad as this sounds, for that kinda crap... Temu is ideal for that stuff. I bought 2 for $3, and a big bottle of mineral oil from the pharmacy. $10 total and i have enough oil to fill both bottles 4x over. Meanwhile just getting 1 bottle from the local sewing shop(with the generic sewing machine oil included) was $14.
>>2963286Buy this from wawak.com The spout pulls out into a long tube, shit's cash.Forget the kerosene, those days are long gone. It's for the old days of using Sperm oil or Castor oil in the machine and gumming it up.>>2963313>manly sewingSorry sewing's too female coded for you. Once you get over your crisis of masculinity you can maybe join us in our fun.
>>2963354lol no buy THIS from wawak.
Drove 2 hours to pick up my fourth Singer 201 ($50 dollarydoos for a 201-3 with spare bobbins, clean motor AND the pedal) and was quietly admitting that maybe it was a bit of a silly purchase when my partner who knows nothing about sewing beyond my cooked rambling said>What?! No way, it's another solid straight stitcher. It's always going to be useful!I can't wait to marry this man. I hope our babies look just like him.
>>2963313>Because I scanned the thread and all I saw were fags, troons and furriesThat's all of 4chan, fren
>>2963365I'm jelly. I am actively trying not to buy another straight stitcher but I would have to make an exception for an affordable 201. Or a 101.
>>2963421Heh we are all not so different.If I ever come across a singer 99k in a thrift store it's coming home no doubt. Same with Elna Grasshoppers. I don't even care so much about the condition as I have managed to get every machine running that I ever laid my hands on.
>>2963456You'll have your 99k soon enough, they made millions, there's one at the "out of the closet" near me (but those guys can be pricey) and an endless supply on shopgoodwill. Not so much for the Elna, that's gonna be a fun hunt.The 66 and 99 never really appealed to me, but I would not hesitate to recommend one to a beginner. The 99 in particular is *tiny* and despite the weight is as good as you're gonna get for a compact straight stitch.
>>2963494Yeah I like the 99k because it's a little more compact but not quite featherweight-like. It's solid straight stitch with reverse (tho not all models) a good, small practical machine. I'm just waiting to run into one.As for the grasshopper, I see them surprisingly often but only snag them if the price is below €50.I have a few of them already... but I can't walk past them when I see them. Though the grasshopper is a favourite of mine, not actually in a practical sense but more of a collectible and toy-around-with way.
>>2963503That's a collection all rightIf you're in the Eurozone I suppose the 99k is a bit more rare despite being made in Scotland. Seems like 90% of Kilbowie's output went on a boat to the US.
>>2963563I see 'em all the time in Australia, just haven't picked one up yet because I can't see myself actually using one when I have the 201s. This one in particular has been singing to me with the cosmetic quality, though.. Could always use a new motor.
>>2963589I don't think it's the original motor but the machine is p-p-pretty! But it's not going to compare to a 201. The only thing wrong with a 201 is the lamp placed just to burn your hand, but the invention of LED lamps finally fixed that issue.I really wanted a 201 or (even better) a 101 but then I re-motored my White Family Rotary with a motor that wasn't trying to electrocute me prison style, and I've been really satisfied sewing with it, kinda dampened my need for another machine, for the moment.
>>2963589>>2963563Yeah I'm Euro, the 99k is around but not so common.In thrift stores I do see boatloads of the 27k. If there's a Singer, 99% of the time it's a vibrating shuttle machine and I just refuse to get one of those. No interest.I'd love a 201, but a slightly more compact machine is just a better option in my current situation.
>>2959624sorry had to take a long break from the thread BUT i finished my dress! hopefully are chines overlords will not kill me and send me to the factory instead.
>>2963721here is pic of me putting it together!
>>2963721OMG clean that mirror dude!
>>2963721Do clean the mirror and congrats on finishing the project, I wish I had a better project-finishing ability.>>2963704I want a long shuttle because I understand they can handle tex400 / Govt 5 cord. I want to do a very visible topstitch on a canvas backpack, I'm hand-sewing the first one but if I decide to make a few I'd rather skip the tedium. Yes I know I'd have to convert the needle system to something else.
>>2963601Nah, but whatever these particular Singer motors are, they (and their pedals) run like butter compared to every other consumer-grade sewing machine motor I've used! I've got 3 now, just need to clean and replace the carbon in the newest one.
>>2963830I was thinking it wasn't original because of the color. It is singer thoLooking forward to when the servo motor revolution makes it to replacement motors.
Ironing today, wish me luck
>>2964195My day job has really been interfering with my sewing
>>2964216My jobhunt has also been killing my motivation.Can't even bring myself to buy cheap sewing machines anymore.
Anyone bought bulk needles from AliExpress? Any reputable vendors? I keep breaking my stretch needles
>>2964238Search for "HAX1"Flying tiger brand needles are as good as anything I've tried, and they go up to size #22, about $5/100 with choice.If you are in the US or Canada, Wawak has Organ needles (best in the world) size 8 through 21 for $10/100 with flat $6 shipping. They also have excellent prices on thread and general sewing supplies.Between what I've bought from Ali and Wawak I have a lifetime supply.
>>2964238>>2964320Never mind, I just read that you're using stretch needles and I can't help you for that. I expect you're stuck paying through the nose unless you want to try just normal ball points from Wawak.
>>2964238I got Organ in packs of 5-ish and they worked okay. I kept breaking by them too. I occasionally got skipped stitches for the smaller sizes, but that was more due to my domestic sewing machine having too big of a gap to the hook on the smaller size needles.>>2964320I did try a cheap 100 pack once but I got absolute trash, with some holes completely filled in and overall bad.
>>2964464If you're breaking needles, are you pulling on the fabric? I can't think of any other reason you would be, unless you're trying zigzag with a straight stitch foot. Needle brakes are something that's literally should never happen, you should be changing your needles when the tip wears flat, not breaking them. Also check to make sure your needle plate is still flat, a lot of domestic machines have very thin plates that bend easy and then Lord knows what's going to happen. The good news is if it's thin enough to bend it's going to be thin enough to pound back flat.>Domestic machineHook Clarence not adjustable, huh.
I've only sewn like, some basic pillow case projects when I was in school like 20 years ago but after some encouragement from my Husband I kinda wanna go back and learn; How do? want to learn to handsew some first if that's reasonable before I make more permenant space to get/store a machine.Is there any specific books/videos/whatever or anything people recommend?
>>2964508NTA, but I break my needles when I'm sewing through multiple layers of minky for my plushies. My beginner machine just struggles sometimes, even at the lowest speed
Have a question:To preface, I have very little sewing experience -- most recent thing was reaffixing a shirt button and that looked like shit, while the last time I touched a sewing machine was when I still lived with the parents years ago.I have a jacket that I've had for a couple decades. While the polyester cloth is still in good shape with no holes or apparent bare spots, the jacket has developed three problems over the past year: its front zipper has a tooth that's become misaligned, a pocket zipper has fallen apart (as in the teeth have come away from the fabric), and the stitching on the bottom hem, which is shared by the same pocket, has started to become undone resulting in a hole in the pocket.I'd kind of like to be able to continue wearing the jacket since it's otherwise in pretty good shape, but would like to get the zippers and hem/pocket repaired. At the same time it's not like it's a super-expensive jacket from Jos. A Bank, so I'm not sure taking it to a tailor is a cost-effective idea. What would be the best way to handle the repairs?
>>2964520literally anything on youtube. "How to sew _____"
>>2964520Like golden said, but a good place to start for hand sewing is with the English stitch. It's a wonderful stitch that can only be done by hand can't be done by machine and let's you put stuff together really fast.
>>2964540I think I've also mentioned enjoying the shorts done by this woman in China: https://m.youtube.com/shorts/miks0MdSlvA
>>2964522You would think it would just stall if it doesn't have the juice. The only machine I know of that behaves that way is the singer heavy duty, it's got a stretchy belt inside that lets the hook and needle get out of time and collide when the material is too thick.
Made my own Raggedy Ann doll awhile back. I back-stitched the whole body by hand in just an afternoon. Fun quick project if you like this sort of stuff.
>>2964597Nice!
>>2964508It was stretchy and yeah pulling caused it but mostly cos I struggled to get it to feed right, or getting caught on the feed dogs.>Hook Clarence not adjustable, huh.It's adjustable but you need hex wrench. I found for the size 9/65, it was beyond the limit what the machine could adjust to. Adjusting also fucked with using my other needles.>>2964597Looks cute!
Finally got off my butt and made myself a new pillowcase, since the one I had was falling apart. The other existing pillowcase is still fine, but I'm thinking I'll make a new, cooler one anyway
Also made myself a pincushion because everyone needs a pincushion. I got a little too thin on my seams, though, and one part of it already started coming apart, so I had to patch it with handsewing. Well, I can always make another if I have to.By the way, I realised when I was cutting out bits for my pincushion that I had accidentally bought a remainder of knit fabric instead of all quilting cotton. Can I work with this with just straight stitches? I heard knits need special stitches to make sure they hold together all right.
>>2964831This feels like it came out of the 90s.Also, I put some buttons on mine cause I kept having issues and shit. It was annoying. They make those cases too long sometimes. I think I should just trim it back a bit. >>2964833I got this little guy for needles.
>making window curtains for the kitchen >Cut fabric square >Iron>Fabric is no longer square I sewed the curtain anyway and hung it, looked fine that evening but this morning with the light coming through it's really obvious that the top fold isn't square. So I get to pull it back down and rework it. My day job is really interfering with my sewing time.
>>2964903iron -> cut
Iron twice, cut once.
>>2964907As I have learned >>2964911Lol
>>2964833Stretchier materials need a zigzag mainly for the flexibility afforded by them being able to unzig and be pulled into a longer straight line. Zigzag attachments are available for machines like yours and attach similar to the buttonhole attachments; they connect to the shank and mechanically move the material back and forth from the top rather than than the needle moving back and forth. They are harder to find than they used to be but they work. The buttonhole attachments are a lot more common and I would pick one up if you find one cheap; just avoid Singer's slant shank versions like the 300,400,500 and 600 series as those won't work.
