Handy Hints

Below are a number of helpful hints we are sure will make things easier for you on your sewing and patchwork journey.

Non Slip Pedal

Place your sewing machine pedal on a non-slip bathmat or rug with a non-slip backing. This way the pedal will never move away when you’re sewing.

Bobbin Fill

Just a helping hint for some of you that may be having bobbin tension issues on your embroidery machines, I have noticed there are some bobbin threads I have seen in customers machines that are CHEAP IMPORTS recommended by other dealers which seem to be causing massive differences in tension as they are produced with very uneven twists which causes unbalanced and inconsistent tension results, bobbin cases out of factory are set by the manufacturers with there own bobbin fill Janome/Brother/Bernina have there own and Pfaff/Husqvarna are setup with Rheingold however if you would like to use other brands on your machine its best to purchase a second bobbin case in which can be set to the desired thread, in this case it will not affect your regular sewing bobbin case. Any issues please call Sewco or alternatively you can email me at servicecentre@sewcosewingandpatchwork.com

Many thanks

Gareth

EMBROIDERY FILE STORAGE

NEEDLES

TRACING YOUR DRESSMAKING PATTERN

Interfacing
Click here to see the Stabiliser Workbook from Floriani.

Hot Glue Gun

When using a hot glue gun- place a piece of foil under the gun to catch any glue that might drip out of the gun.

Glitter

When working with glitter- work over a paper towel or a piece of paper. After sprinkling the glitter over the glued area, fold the paper towel in half and pour the extra back into your container. The glitter lasts much longer this way!!

Sewing Definitions provided by Craft Elf

Baste:
To baste is to make temporary stitching using long loose stitches that will be removed once your garment (or other stitched item) is complete.

Bias:
The diagonal direction of fabric. Fabric stretches on the bias.

Gather:
Gathering is a process used to fit a larger piece of fabric into a smaller piece as in the waist of a skirt. To gather you make two or three loose rows of stitching then pull or gather the fabric along these stitch lines. When done on a sewing machine, set your stitch length to the longest stitch and loosen the top thread so it will gather easily without breaking the thread.

Right Side:
The front side of your fabric. The side that is intended to be seen when your project is finished.

Running Stitch:
A row of short even stitches made by passing the needle in and out of the fabric.

Seam Allowance:
Is the distance between the cut edge of the fabric and the line of stitching.

Selvage:
The edge of fabric which is finished by the manufacturer to prevent raveling. This is cut off before sewing with this fabric.

Tension
The balance between the needle and bobbin threads (how tightly they pull on each other). An even balance or tension makes for a perfect stitch.

Top Stitching
A line of stitching done on the right side of the fabric used to reinforce a seam or add a decorative finished look to your project.

Wrong side:
The back side of your fabric. Not the side that you would normally see.