What Preps are you doing this week? Part 7.

[jansman]

Yes she's an indoor cat too. Never been outside in her life. But she doesn't show any interest in it anyway, thank goodness. Too busy hiding around the house winding us up..

Jan says that cat is too cute!

[diamond lil]

That cat knows she is

[Decaff]

Yes she's an indoor cat too. Never been outside in her life. But she doesn't show any interest in it anyway, thank goodness. Too busy hiding around the house winding us up..

How beautiful!! Those eyes, makes you go all mushy inside! Mine is a typical Felix, black and White just like the adverts! He tries to get out sometimes, we live on 2nd floor so have to be careful with windows, we have a contraption to fit over so we can open them in the summer.

[Le Mouse]

I'm getting to know my sewing machine again. I've never done much with it, to my shame, only made a couple of bags and a few little things. I'm currently making myself handkerchiefs (I kill too many trees with my snotty nose!) as they are a simple pattern. Once I get more comfortable with it, I'll branch out into clothing repair and alteration which was the whole reason I bought the thing all those years ago!

Lil, I love your cat!

[PreppingPingu]

I'm getting to know my sewing machine again. I've never done much with it, to my shame, only made a couple of bags and a few little things. I'm currently making myself handkerchiefs (I kill too many trees with my snotty nose!) as they are a simple pattern. Once I get more comfortable with it, I'll branch out into clothing repair and alteration which was the whole reason I bought the thing all those years ago!

Pretty much the same idea here. I was hoping to try and follow a utube video to make a face mask. My issue with sewing machines is that I don't really know how to care for them and problem solve when stuff goes wrong so I tend to get needles jammed and all sorts. I then get exasperated and end up spending hours doing by hand what could have taken me a short time if I knew how to get the most out of my machine! I will be trying to re teach myself how to use it. Starting with just some practice stitching first. Something I should have been more prepared with but hey better late than never.
Also I was going to look up some videos on hand darning as my gran use to do near invisible darning on trousers and jackets when I was a kid so I know it's possible and as I've just gone through the knees in my 2nd pair of jeggings this lock down, this could be a good skill to have.

[GillyBee]

There are some good YouTube videos on how to care for your sewing machine. Google your model. I was able to recondition a 1939 Singer that way. It is now my favourite machine.

There are some basic rules if it is acting up.

1) Change the needle and rethread the whole machine. Very often the fault is a blunt or dodgy needle or the thread is not quite threaded right.
3) Clean out all the fluff and gunk from underneath and around the bobbin and oil it.
4) Adjust the tension to get rid of loopy stitches.

There are also plenty websites on basic sewing skills. I will try and look some out.

[diamond lil]

I remember adjusting the tension on my ancient Singer. Shut eyes, twiddle the spring dial contraption thingy, open eyes, then pray.

[PreppingPingu]

Thanks GillyBee

[ForgeCorvus]

There are some good YouTube videos on how to care for your sewing machine. Google your model. I was able to recondition a 1939 Singer that way. It is now my favourite machine.

There are some basic rules if it is acting up.

1) Change the needle and rethread the whole machine. Very often the fault is a blunt or dodgy needle or the thread is not quite threaded right.
3) Clean out all the fluff and gunk from underneath and around the bobbin and oil it.
4) Adjust the tension to get rid of loopy stitches.

There are also plenty websites on basic sewing skills. I will try and look some out.

My Mum was a machinist for an upholstery workshop, her advice is first check you've put the needle in the right way round.

Tension is easy(ish).
If its pulling loops out the top, reduce the tension thingee on top.
If its pulling loops out the bottom slacken the screw on the thingee that holds the bobbin.
If everything is already slack, tighten both thingees. Then adjust by rules one and two.

My favorate SM is a hand-cranked Standard, although I've just picked up a h-c Singer ( from the local dump "recycling centre" Pre-lockdown)that I haven't had a chance to play with yet.

[cbp125]

I always blame the needles! If in doubt replace them first.
I also use A4 paper to practise stitching, difference colour threads also help if you are fixing problems.
And my sewing maching is a 1875 Frister and Rossman hand cranked. Stunning build quality that has never been matched.
If you can get hold of a vintage machine, they just work, always! I have never had a seam break in decades of dressmaking