FAQs

Question 1: I want to buy a new sewing machine. What are the features I should look for to get the best value for my money.

Answer: What brand to buy --- since no two sewers on Stitcher's Niche seem to have the same brand, our best advice is to "test drive" as many as you can at various dealers and find the one that works the best for you. Similarly compare the features on models in the brand you choose. While you reallly can't go wrong with any name brand, there are individual differences that appeal to one buyer over another and those differences are usually in feel and how it fits "*you*!

Now, for what to look for:

1) Find the different sewing machine sources. Some brands only sell through a few stores and carefully "ration" their license so that a certain geographic area is covered without overlap; Sears and other chain stores probably have a couple of brands for sale, as do local sewing supply stores; etc. Don't shy away from store brands: many store brands are actually name brands with the store label put on, at least among many of the major household appliances, and it seems to me that Sears is one place that regularly markets under the Kenmore brand machines made by name brands; but do avoid the "portable" or "hand held" models. Everyone we have talked to or read articles by has said they simply don't do the job...

2) See if they will let you test run a machine or two in the shop and get a feel for how the machine responds to you (and you to it!).

3) Comparison shop among the ones you liked the best, looking for features that you want: ask for brochures and price lists when you go in! Not all models and brands carry the same mix of special functions, although the basic functions are probably all pretty much the same. If you are a beginner, you probably don't want one of the high-end embroidery machines with all the computerized bells and whistles, and you probably aren't interested in a quilting model (unless you decide later to take up quilting! LOL). But do you want plain Jane button holes, or variety; do you want a variety of "speciality" stitches; etc. Do you want a needle threader built in, or are your eyes good enough to "do it yourself"?

Along with this, determine what accessories are available and how easy are they to acquire should you want some in the future (Many attachments you see advertised as "universal" to all machines may require adaptors to fit some brands and may not work with other brands at all; ditto sewing tables!).

4) Determine what warranties and service are available for your machine. It's all well and good to buy a really neat machine, but if you have to ship it off to Thailand (or someplace equally exotic, like El Paso, TX when you live in Portland, ME) to get it serviced, well, then...

5) Buy the most you can afford As you sew more and more, you may find you *need* more and more.

6) Look around for sales (% off coupons, annual holiday season sales, etc.) and special extras (like free sewing lessons, etc.) and used models at places like yard sales and reconditioned or trade-in older models at sewing machine shops...

You might also want to look at the threads on the Stitcher's Niche where such discussions have occurred:

You might also try using the search function on the message board for more recent discussions about sewing machines, sergers and embroidery machines that members have purchased.

Question 2. I'd like to learn to sew ... There are no sewing lessons in my town and I have no idea how to use my new machine. How do you suggest I start?

Answer, excerpted from

http://www.sewnews.com/resources/qa/qa1205a/

First buy a yard of 100% cotton quilting fabric and a spool of thread. This fabric is easy to sew, retains its shape and is good for testing and experimenting with your machine.

Also purchase a good sewing reference. Look through a few books; ones with pictures are the most helpful. Here are three possibilities:

*Reader's Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing: Step-by-Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Accessories; The Reader's Digest Assoc. Inc., 2002.

*Singer: The Complete Photo Guide to Sewing; Creative Publishing Intl., 1999.

*Vogue Sewing; Butterick Publishing Co., 2000.

Spend some time reading and looking through the book to familiarize yourself with sewing terms and techniques.

Next, get out your machine and its manual. Read through the manual to discover the different machine features and what they do.

Using the manual, figure out how to wind a bobbin and thread the machine. Practice sewing on the fabric. Try to keep the stitching an even distance from the fabric edge using the guides on the machine (this is known as the seam allowance). Watch the fabric as it feeds next to the guide; don't watch the needle.

Cut a fabric piece with a gentle curve and sew along the edge with an even seam allowance. Try pivoting around a corner (stitch to the corner, leave the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot, turn the fabric, lower the presser foot, and continue sewing).

With right sides facing, sew two fabric pieces together, again using a consistent seam allowance. Most patterns have a 5/8" seam allowance, so follow that guide on the machine.

Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam. This locks the thread so the seam doesn't come undone at the ends. To backstitch, sew two or three stitches and then sew one or two stitches in reverse over the previous stitching. Sew the rest of the seam and backstitch at the other end.

Things to keep in mind: Hold the threads at the back of the needle when you start sewing. To remove work from the machine, always stop sewing with the needle in its highest position, then raise the presser foot (when the presser foot is lowered, the thread won't pull easily through the machine). Leave about 4" thread tails on the machine so they don't sink down into the machine when you begin the next seam.

All machine sewing is based on this simple process. Play with the machine until you feel comfortable using it.

Learn to take your measurements by referring to a sewing book. Then go to a fabric store and look through the pattern catalogs. Look for a pattern labeled "Easy." Choose the pattern size according to your measurements; don't worry about the size; these don't correlate with ready-to-wear sizes in the stores. For a top, go by your bust measurement. For pants or a skirt, go by your hip measurement.

Look on the pattern envelope for the suggested fabrics, then look under your size for the yardage requirements. Also purchase any notions mentioned on the pattern (notions are buttons, elastic, zippers, etc.). Ask the clerk to help you with any of these steps; if she doesn't know the answer, ask if someone else does; it's rare that the clerks can't answer your questions.

Preshrink the fabric before cutting out a project (refer to the sewing book).

Read through the pattern guidesheet. The guidesheet gives you information, including the seam allowance width and which pattern pieces to use. It also tells you how to position the pattern pieces on the fabric. It then leads you step by step through the garment construction. If you have any questions, look in your sewing book for more clarification. Don't be afraid to ask friends for assistance; sewers love to help adn that's what The Stitcher's Niche is here for!

Learning to sew is like learning anything else. You start simple and then build on your skills. As you gain experience and knowledge you'll improve and learn more advanced techniques. You have to concentrate more at first, but the process keeps getting easier.

This should get you started. Don't be afraid to try things. Most of all, enjoy the process. If something starts to frustrate you, stop and come back to it later.

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Here's a list of possibilities to pursue if you are having difficulty finding sewing classes.

1. Check to see if your local Park District has any adult education classes. They might have a sewing class or would be open to begin having them.

2. Check if there is an extension office in your county. Extension offices periodically offer classes on home economics themes. If they don't currently offer a sewing class, they may schedule one if there is enough interest.

3. Check out a local or nearby junior or community college. They often offer non-credit adult education classes too. See what they have and if they don't have what you want, let them know what kind of class you are interested in. Their mission should be to provide educational resources to the community.

4. Check out the local high school for adult education classes. Sewing classes might be available.

5. Check local fabric stores and fabric departments in stores like Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby for classes. The bigger, newer Joann's Fabric stores offer "University" classes during the day and in the evening on sewing, knitting and scrapbooking. If the store doesn't offer classes, employees may know where to direct you.

6. Visit the county fair when it is next held. The people who judge the domestic arts categories or have entries in the domestic arts categories would probably know of sewing resources in your area.

7. Check at your church. There may be a sewing or quilting group that meets there regularly. Members of small sewing-interest groups and guilds are a great help to beginners.

8. One really great resource for any sewer, new or experienced, is the American Sewing Guild. Find out if there is a local chapter in your area and join for great sewing fellowship, information, and sewing help. Members are avid sewers of all skill levels and eager to help new sewers join their ranks.

For more information, visit http://www.asg.org. The camaraderie and support you will find in this organization is priceless and there are many other benefits, including member discounts and special offers from many companies. Check it out, whether you are a beginner or not.

(this is excerpted a reader tip from the Clotilde newsletter, "For the Love of Sewing with Barbara Weiland", Novemebr 4, 2005)