If you want to understand how a sewing machine works, this video is really good.
The Secret Life of the Sewing Machine
Category: Equipment
National Trust sewing machines
I haven’t done one of these for a while. Today’s link takes you to a collection of old sewing machines.
Hours of fun to be had…
Sewing box
I found an old sewing box in a second hand shop a while ago. It was a bit battered, and in need of some tlc. The fabric covered top seemed the obvious place to put pins, but it was very hard, and not easy to push pins in. So I took it apart to see what happened.
The fabric turned out to be wrapped round a piece of polystyrene, stuck to some corrigated card, which had been glued and pinned to a bit of plywood, then stuck to the top of the box.
So I could have used the top for pin cushions, but it wouldn’t have been long before the polystyrene disintergrated, so it was no bad think to get it sorted. Anyway, I was past the point of no return.
Having got everything apart, I went off to buy some chalk paint. Actually, that is an oversimplification. There were several occasions when I was in the right sort of shop, buying something sensible, trying to remember what else I needed. But eventually, I got some sage paint.
I wondered about drawing a paper pattern for the new cushions, but I decided that was too hard and fiddly. I used the cardboard, and turned the edges of a piece of calico round the edges to make the base. Then I wrapped another piece round the polysyrene and oversewed the two shapes together round three sides. Then I slipped the polystyrene out, stuffed it with lentils, and oversewed up the last side. That made the cushions the right shape, but a little too small, and the sides curled up a bit, leasving a gap. Probably too much stuffing, but it is better to get it firm.
I don’t know why it is that whenever I need a small piece of fabric I can never find one that is the right thickness, or the right colour, or the pattern is the right scale. Eventually, I found some left over from some old bedroom curtains. Laura Ashley ones from the 90s. I stretched this over the cushions, and stuck the edges down on the original plywood shape, using hot glue.
And here is the result:
A needlework accessories to make
As you may have noticed, I like the bits and bobs associated with sewing. Especially if they make things easier to find, or nicer to use.
This looks like a nice design for a needle holder that is just a bit different. It folds up nice and small for carrying it around, but opens up so you can see all your needles at once, so you can select the right one.
You can find the instructions here.
Or perhaps, like me, you keep little tins, in case they come in useful for something?
You could turn one of them into a sewing kit with a patchwork lid, using the instructions here.
I like this idea, but the need to glue the patchwork on puts me off.
And I’m not sure how the extra thickness on the lid would influence the way the lid shuts. Particularly the way the lid stays shut.
And while we are on the subject of storing your scissors? I like these two designs:
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Identifying sewing machine feet
Do you ever look at your collection of sewing machine feet and wonder which one you need for the current job?
Fabric Marking Tools
I’m sure we’ve all heard horror stories about various methods of marking fabric.
The ones where the mark should have come off and didn’t, and the ones where the mark came off too soon. My worst experience was when I was little. I was working on a picture of Westminster Abbey, in brown stem stitch on cream cotton. Mum was doing one of Worcester cathederal at the time, where by brother was a chorister. He still has that picture. Mine never got finished, because the printed lines wore off the fabric. I tried to improvise, but it didn’t work.
I try to avoid marking the fabric, except for things like this picture, when you know it won’t show, and the easiest thing is to mark the seam line in pencil and cut the shapes out afterwards.
I’m a big fan of drawing on paper, sewing with the machine through the paper and fabric, and then tearing the paper off.
But sometimes, you can’t get away without using a textile marker, so this post is useful for explaining the differences between some fabric marking tools.
A scissor holder
A while ago, I saw a display on a stall selling kits to make scissor pouches and “keepers” for embroidery scissors. You know, the sort that is permanently fixed to the handle of the scissors, so it is always handy.
It is a really difficult to display small items in a crowded space. You need some way of lifting them up from the surface of the table so people see them as they approach the stall, making them more likely to stop and look. This stall holder had a collection of old bobbins of different heights, grouped together, with the scissors pushed into the top, and the beautifully embroidered case hanging down, high enough to catch the eye of the passer by. Brilliant, and so simple.
I love old textile kit, but I have never bought and old reels and bobbins. They are lovely, but what do you do with them? I’m reminded of my friend, who used to say as we walked to work past gift shops in York “Huh. Dust catchers!”
But now I know better. So I started keeping a look out. The first one I found was on the short side, so long scissors go right through the hole and might scratch the table. Felt seems the obvious solution. Too thin? Yes, the scissors could easily get pushed through that. So I planned to stick a piece of firm vilene, canvas or something similarly tough on first.
While I was rummaging, I found an offcut of a cork tile. Much better. I drew on a circle a bit smaller than reel, stuck it on with PVA glue, weighted down while it dried.
Job done.
So now, I am gradually working through the house. Every room needs a pin cushion, a bits bowl, and a pencil pot. And now a scissor holder. So far, just the living room and the studio are equipped…
My new sewing room friend
About a year ago, I made a doll who sits by the sewing machine and holds bits and bobs. I’ve been really pleased. She is a good worker.
But there is a problem. Gradually, all the pins are moving into the sewing room. I sit somewhere else to get myself organised, then I go into the sewing room, and put the pins in the doll’s pincushion when I take them out of the fabric.
So I needed to recruit another one so they can job share. The plan is that when the doll in the living room runs out of pins, I can swap her with the sewing room doll, who will have accumulated loads of pins.
I’ve had an old book for a long time abut the different ways children can make figures out of scraps. One idea in that book is to get a large bead, or a small ball, and glue it onto the top of a milk bottle. You then draw a face on the bead and make clothes out of paper. And you make hair by sticking knitting wool on the bead. This is all very well, but it reminds me of the time Blue Peter encouraged us to make a Dougal from an old washing up liquid bottle. Draw a face round the nozzle (nose), and stick knitting wool over the top and down the sides of the body. Except ours didn’t stick down the sides of the bottle. That was the end of Blue Peter makes for us. Anyway…
I’ve developed that idea, by using a wine bottle as a base, and adding a head and arms made of fabric. I’ve used some jelly roll strips that I’ve had in my stash for a while. I’m really pleased with the result.
I decided to write down what I did as I worked, so I’ve put the pattern on my Etsy shop.
Foraging bag
When I am out and about and I see a useful leaf, it is handy to just pop it into my bag, or a pocket. Then, of course, it gets damaged as it gets muddled with other things, or I forget all about it.
So I thought it would be a good idea to have a foraging bag to keep in the car. I don’t want to use a plastic bag, and from time to time I will find something that is a bit messy.
Then I remembered this bag. It had several holes in it, so it can’t be used for its original purpose. I have been keeping it to use the fabric for something else. Those ladybirds are rather nice. They definitely need using for something.
So I decided to have some fun patching up the bag. The plastic lining that originally gave it some strength has mostly come off, so it needed strengthening in a few strategic places, so the first job was to patch the holes and darn the weaker places.
Then I added a few extra patches and some embroidery, just for the fun of it. I was going to limit myself to recycled fabrics, but I couldn’t resist this cheap, sturdy lace in Dunelm. I’m not sure what it was intended for (they called it cutting lace), but it was far stiffer than any lace I’ve seen before. I’ve used it to make an outside pocket for an umbrella, and embroidered more of it to add to the effect.
The result is a foraging bag, with pockets inside for my snips and keys. I expect some more darning will be needed at some point, but I am not expecting to be carrying much weight, do it should last for a while!
Review of Patterntrace Swedish Tracing Paper
I like the look of this stuff. Tracing paper on a roll, which stays flat when unrolled (which has to be a plus if it is true), and is strong enough to sew together to check the pattern works.
My bet is that it isn’t strong enough to allow you to unpick the stitching, so you would have to trace it again to use on your fabric.
But if you want to test the pattern, this would be a lot easier and cheaper than using any form of fabric for that first stage.
I will be giving it a try at some point. When I have a moment…