Help domesticate me

[Mullenax]

Long time hand-stitcher, first time sewing machine owner.

I've got loads of DIY attitude, but I'm so scared of wrecking my machine I haven't turned it on yet. I built a sweet table for it, got some sewing books, browsed the Craftser message board, but I don't feel ready to put the pedal down. Instructables isn't as helpful as I thought it would be. Any starting advice?

Melissa The Accountant? KatPW? Any other crafty ladies and gents?

[PapaBear]

If my mother's memory wasn't going down the tubes, I'd send you to her house the next time you visit your WV relatives. She was a master of all things sewing.

[~Katja~]

don't fear the machine.
get some scrap fabric and test out the patterns.
Even if it goes wrong you can redo it.
Start with simple square projects like pillow cases and such.

It is not a scary machine!

[jennysmurf]

I'm about to make that sewing machine leap myself, so I'm very interested to hear what the "crafty people" say. I've got a 50% coupon to JoAnn's Fabrics that I can't use until January 23rd or something, and I'm going to use that for a new machine. I haven't used one since middle school home ec class, so it should be interesting. Good luck!!

[Mullenax]

If my mother's memory wasn't going down the tubes, I'd send you to her house the next time you visit your WV relatives. She was a master of all things sewing.

I really wish I had appreciated my grandparents more when they were around. Sewing and all other traditional lady skills skipped a generation hard in my family!

[Thebazile78]

Seriously. It's not hard.

I made curtains for our old apartment using bedsheets, a seam ripper and bias tape.

Two things I recommend are an iron and straight-pins if you don't already have them.

Your machine can probably take a lot of abuse and you will HAVE TO play with it to get a feel for it. I've had mine for almost 4 years and still haven't gotten a feel for it because I rarely used it in the apartment (lack of space will do that to you.)

Enjoy it!

[~Katja~]

really don't fear it.
the worst you can break is a needle.
Try different fabrics to get a feel for the thickness/ needle and thread type.
walmart of all places has scrap fabric for $1 a yard. perfect to start practice with.

I quickly moved on to chair slipcovers and I did it free hand. Just pinned the fabric on the chair and then cut it to allow for seams...

just don't fear it!

[Mullenax]

I've had mine for almost 4 years and still haven't gotten a feel for it because I rarely used it in the apartment (lack of space will do that to you.)

Enjoy it!

That's the whole thing. Now that we have a house instead of an apartment, I want to Martha Stewart it up. All kinds of weird instincts are kicking in (entertaining? laundry? cooking? stuff that matches?) that the board is really pretty helpful with. Thank you and Katja for the encouragement! I guess it is just fabric, after all, and it's not a test.

[~Katja~]

That's the whole thing. Now that we have a house instead of an apartment, I want to Martha Stewart it up. All kinds of weird instincts are kicking in (entertaining? laundry? cooking? stuff that matches?) that the board is really pretty helpful with. Thank you and Katja for the encouragement! I guess it is just fabric, after all, and it's not a test.

hehe, I have some laundry for ya ;) after years of living on my own and having a kid it seems to never end and catch up with you

[Mullenax]

Sure, why not, throw a couple more loads on! I'm so glad to be done with dorm and communal washers I'll take extra on (for now).

[boosterp]

Mullenax,

Just play with it at first, you will really get to find it fun and not scary. I love to sew and now I can cross stitch and everything. Just look at it as another tool, like a food processor that you experiment with.

I am not gay.:huh:

[jennysmurf]

Mullenax,

Just play with it at first, you will really get to find it fun and not scary. I love to sew and now I can cross stitch and everything. Just look at it as another tool, like a food processor that you experiment with.

I am not gay.:huh:

Actions speak louder than words, buddy.:wink:

[boosterp]

Actions speak louder than words, buddy.:wink:

:glurps:

[Snoogans]

I havent seen a sewing machine in a good 15 years

[PapaBear]

I havent seen a sewing machine in a good 15 years
That sounds like something a former sweat shop kid would say.

[jennysmurf]

:glurps:

I keed I keed!:happy:

[Snoogans]

That sounds like something a former sweat shop kid would say.

My grandma had one when I was little. She would keep it set up on the Dining room table, so I would see it sitting there and occasionally go step on the pedal and pretend I was driving. It ruled until I was rudely informed (and by that I mean my uncle Mike WHOOPED MY FUCKIN ASS) that doing that wasnt very good for the machine. Or some shit

[ecobag2]

Take the bottom of a t shirt you're wearing and feed it in.

Then step on the pedal and scream "it's eating meeeee!!!" and scream and whatnot.

That's the funniest shit on earth if someone's in the next room.

Then slip out of your tshirt and get some pics of that up.

[boosterp]

I keed I keed!:happy:

Sure :glurps:

[Mullenax]

Take the bottom of a t shirt you're wearing and feed it in.

Then step on the pedal and scream "it's eating meeeee!!!" and scream and whatnot.

That's the funniest shit on earth if someone's in the next room.

Then slip out of your tshirt and get some pics of that up.<p>
:laugh:
I think I might post progress this afternoon.

[ecobag2]

I am not gay.:huh:

Me Either! :clap:

[Mullenax]

I fired it up, bobbin and all, and stitched up a decent seam.
Thank you all!
When I get really good, I plan to sew an R+F Divided States of America flag.