Are You Sure You Know Where You Are Stitching?
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- by Marian Lewis
©2005 Marian Lewis – All Rights Reserved
1st Step To Sewing Success
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Are you sure you know where you are stitching when you sew?
Are you really sewing 5/8" seams or is it slightly more or less?
If you are following the markings on your sewing machine throat plate, I hate to tell you, but they aren't 5/8", etc.
The toes of your regular presser foot are not a good guide for 1/4" seams either. Check them out and you will see that they are generally more than 1/4".
There is one exception to this that I know of and that is the "little foot" that was made especially for quilters to do 1/4" wide straight stitching only.
Machines don't usually come with this foot. It is a special order narrow toed foot.
The markings on sewing machines are in centimeters. Why is your machine marked in centimeters? Because they are not manufactured in the United States. They are made overseas and they use the metric system.
Our sewing patterns and instructions are in inches.
To have sewing success, we must stitch accurately.
We need help to identify where the stitches should be.
We cannot "eyeball" it and we shouldn't use the centimeter markings if you are stitching in inches.
I know that a lot of you believe you are stitching correctly. But, I would like you to double check to make sure.
Here is a simple way to do that.
Drop your needle down and measure out to the markings on your sewing machine with an accurate tape measure. Close is not the answer. Exact is.
I highly recommend that you mark your machines so that you have a clear guide to stitch accurately.
I place a tape stitching guide on my machine. You can use any kind of tape you like for this.
Some tapes already have ruled markings on them. Or, you can mark your own. I cut a piece of tape about 2-1/2" long. The width of the tape I use is about 3/4" wide.
I place the top end of the tape straight out from the needle with the long edge of the tape 1/2" away from the needle. The tape extends down about 2" in front of the presser foot and it is still 1/2" from the needle.
Yes, I have to lift up the end of the tape to get into my bobbin, but that's OK. I would rather stitch accurately and save myself a lot of headaches later when things won't line up.
Then, I mark the tape at 5/8" for my seams. I make a mark at 1" also since I use that often.
Sometimes, I use a different color pen for each marking to distinguish one from the other.
The tape guide should be 2" in front of the presser foot so that you can start guiding your fabric along your stitching mark long before a stitch is made by the needle.
By the time the fabric gets to the needle, it is too late. You need to be guiding the fabric accurately long before it reaches the needle.
Watch the fabric along the tape. Don't watch the needle!
With a tape stitching guide, you will see a great improvement in the accuracy of your stitching.
Other Helpful Tips
Usually, I use the "little foot" for 1/4" seams.
When I need to sew 3/8" seams, I place tape or mark 3/8" directly on my machine to stitch necklines and curved areas.
Of course, I have previously trimmed the pattern to have only a 3/8"' seam at a neckline.
You will have much more control on curves if you use short stitches and a 3/8" seam allowance at your neckline edges.
Remember to prepare your patterns by trimming off 1/4" and leaving 3/8" before you cut out your garment. Make a note to yourself until you get into the habit of stitching necklines at 3/8" instead of 5/8".
I use the edge of the tape placed at 1/2" from the needle for staystitching.
If I'm making a 3" or 4" hem in something, I will mark the bed of my machine to help me keep it straight.
Don't be afraid to use tape stitching guides on your machine to help you stitch accurately.
It just makes sense!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor, author and creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks who want great fitting skirts and pants. In her ebook, she teaches step-by-step common sense techniques how to find out WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Discover Fitting Secrets To Achieve Sewing Success
Click Here =>
"Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
**Attn: Ezine editors / Site owners **
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine, blog, autoresponder, or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.
Feel free to substitute your affiliate link in place of our link in the resource box.
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"1st Step To Sewing Success" Affiliate Program
See more about sewing
Keywords: sewing, sewing tips, sewing techniques, sewing projects, how to sew, sew
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- by Marian Lewis
©2005 Marian Lewis – All Rights Reserved
1st Step To Sewing Success
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Are you sure you know where you are stitching when you sew?
Are you really sewing 5/8" seams or is it slightly more or less?
If you are following the markings on your sewing machine throat plate, I hate to tell you, but they aren't 5/8", etc.
The toes of your regular presser foot are not a good guide for 1/4" seams either. Check them out and you will see that they are generally more than 1/4".
There is one exception to this that I know of and that is the "little foot" that was made especially for quilters to do 1/4" wide straight stitching only.
Machines don't usually come with this foot. It is a special order narrow toed foot.
The markings on sewing machines are in centimeters. Why is your machine marked in centimeters? Because they are not manufactured in the United States. They are made overseas and they use the metric system.
Our sewing patterns and instructions are in inches.
To have sewing success, we must stitch accurately.
We need help to identify where the stitches should be.
We cannot "eyeball" it and we shouldn't use the centimeter markings if you are stitching in inches.
I know that a lot of you believe you are stitching correctly. But, I would like you to double check to make sure.
Here is a simple way to do that.
Drop your needle down and measure out to the markings on your sewing machine with an accurate tape measure. Close is not the answer. Exact is.
I highly recommend that you mark your machines so that you have a clear guide to stitch accurately.
I place a tape stitching guide on my machine. You can use any kind of tape you like for this.
Some tapes already have ruled markings on them. Or, you can mark your own. I cut a piece of tape about 2-1/2" long. The width of the tape I use is about 3/4" wide.
I place the top end of the tape straight out from the needle with the long edge of the tape 1/2" away from the needle. The tape extends down about 2" in front of the presser foot and it is still 1/2" from the needle.
Yes, I have to lift up the end of the tape to get into my bobbin, but that's OK. I would rather stitch accurately and save myself a lot of headaches later when things won't line up.
Then, I mark the tape at 5/8" for my seams. I make a mark at 1" also since I use that often.
Sometimes, I use a different color pen for each marking to distinguish one from the other.
The tape guide should be 2" in front of the presser foot so that you can start guiding your fabric along your stitching mark long before a stitch is made by the needle.
By the time the fabric gets to the needle, it is too late. You need to be guiding the fabric accurately long before it reaches the needle.
Watch the fabric along the tape. Don't watch the needle!
With a tape stitching guide, you will see a great improvement in the accuracy of your stitching.
Other Helpful Tips
Usually, I use the "little foot" for 1/4" seams.
When I need to sew 3/8" seams, I place tape or mark 3/8" directly on my machine to stitch necklines and curved areas.
Of course, I have previously trimmed the pattern to have only a 3/8"' seam at a neckline.
You will have much more control on curves if you use short stitches and a 3/8" seam allowance at your neckline edges.
Remember to prepare your patterns by trimming off 1/4" and leaving 3/8" before you cut out your garment. Make a note to yourself until you get into the habit of stitching necklines at 3/8" instead of 5/8".
I use the edge of the tape placed at 1/2" from the needle for staystitching.
If I'm making a 3" or 4" hem in something, I will mark the bed of my machine to help me keep it straight.
Don't be afraid to use tape stitching guides on your machine to help you stitch accurately.
It just makes sense!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor, author and creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks who want great fitting skirts and pants. In her ebook, she teaches step-by-step common sense techniques how to find out WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Discover Fitting Secrets To Achieve Sewing Success
Click Here =>
"Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
**Attn: Ezine editors / Site owners **
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine, blog, autoresponder, or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.
Feel free to substitute your affiliate link in place of our link in the resource box.
Affiliate details are available here:
"1st Step To Sewing Success" Affiliate Program
See more about sewing
Keywords: sewing, sewing tips, sewing techniques, sewing projects, how to sew, sew
Feed Shark
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Link
posted by Marian at 12:15 PM
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