Today's tip is: use your machine.
Yeah, sounds like a no-brainer, doesn't it? But what I mean is, use it to its fullest capacity. Think beyond straight and zig-zag stitches!
I would love to get a serger. I know I'd make good use of it. But at this point in my financial life, there's just no way I can swing one. Enter the overcast stitches offered on my humble little Kenmore machine. I played a bit and found one that works perfectly for me. I just trim away half of a seam allowance and overcast away. It may not look as polished as a serger finish, but it looks good!
Another stitch you probably have is one that sews a straight stitch 3 times before moving to the next stitch. I'm pretty sure that's a 'saddle' stitch. This is the perfect stitch to use to reinforce areas of clothes that are likely to be stressed, such as the crotch (I hate that word) of a pair of pants. I simply sew a straight stitch, then about halfway down the seam I switch to the triple stitch. On my machine, all I have to do is move the 'stitch length' bar over to 'stretch stitch.' Much easier to do it this way than to do it all with a single stitch and then sew over it again!
I hope you enjoy my tip today!
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3 comments:
Okay, okay, I wasn't out enjoying the day, but I was cutting out multiple patterns! Didn't you have a tip about that previously... cutting several of one pattern at once? So you see, I missed yesterday's tip because I was taking advantage of another! BTW, I copy each tip to a file on my desktop. Then I can refer back quickly without waiting for my dumb internet to dial up! LOL!
I got my first sewing machine for Christmas and I have yet to break it out. I haven't sewed since 4th grad 4-H, but I'd really love to get back in to it again! I'll have to come back and check your tips out! I really want to make my daughters matching nightgowns by Christmas!
Good tip! Sadly, my machine only has straight stitch and zig zag stitches!!! Could be worse, could be just a straight stitch! LOL
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