Specialty Presser Foot Successes?
Periodically, I read about the different presser feet available for standard sewing machines. Using my new-found machine manuals, I have started trying some of the specialty feet and am very pleased to report that the overcast and overedge presser feet have drastically improved the way I can sew knits on my regular machines.
This weekend’s project was a sweatshirt re-design by ds; it involves cutting apart and re-combining men’s sweatshirts into a color-blocked reassembly–along with some silkscreen printing that he does. My challenge was to seam the new parts together neatly and smoothly, sometimes difficult on my older machines.
After several experiments with interfacing, stabilizer, and various knit stitches, I consulted the machine manual for my newer machine and found the recommendation for using an overcast or overedge foot on knits. Wow! Suddenly, I could make 1/4″ seams without having the seam allowances curl or ruffle, even on my 1981 workhorse.
The overcast and overedge feet have thin metal bars and a tiny brush. The thin bars hold the seam allowance flat and tension the zigzag so that it doesn’t curl the knit. The overedge foot also has a metal guide at the front so that the stitching line is exactly 1/4″ from the edge. Both will allow wide or narrow zigzag, stretch, or overcast stitch patterns.
It is such a relief to have a reliable, effective solution to sewing on knits with older machines; it is also cheap, as the presser feet work on older machines, too. I wanted to share this tip with others and ask if anyone has discovered valuable uses for the other specialty presser feet we might have in the sewing box?
Replies
Your post is very valauble. An owner just has to try the all a machine can do.
When sewing machines were bought in my early years of doing, circa early 1940's, many varities of feet were included in the sale price. The caveat was taking the time to learn to use them.
My second machine, bought January 1958 to make my maternity clothes, a Kenmore console. The head is pictured below from the URL -http://www.ismacs.net/sears/sears.html
View ImageIt has quite a few special presser feet. The zipper foot is the single toe and it's a tremendous in getting a zipper nicely done or for piping.
MO, buying a specific presser foot evolved because manufacturer's realized it was to their advantage to offer the feet at added cost.
It'll be interesting to read as to how members approach the use of special feet.
nepa
Because of its price I thought long and hard about buying a two volume set on Bernina feet but after constantly referring to them at my dealers I broke down and bought them. It tells you what they are and exactly what uses they have and how to use them. It also tells you what feet can also be used in place of that foot which can save money because Bernina feet are very expensive. I love just reading these books. Full of ideas.
>> ... love just reading these books. Full of ideas. <<
Most certainly what spurs us all.
nepa
I bought a copy of a book by Sandra Betzina called Fabric Savvy. She has a new one out that I'd love to have.Describes the fabrics, how to sew them. Layout, marking, cutting, interfacing, thread, needle, stitch length, presser feet, seam finish, pressing, top stitching, closures and hems for each fabric. Mine came from a yard sale! Everything you need to know to sew all the fabrics.
Thanks, this is a good subject! I look forward to seeing what other's write!
I like the edge/joining foot. The fabric is lined up with the guide and the needle can be adjusted with the width. It works great for joining lace to lace or lace to fabric, a "perfect" 1/4" seam for piecing quilts, and for those tiny doll clothes. It sat unused for years until I saw it used on a segment of "Sewing With Martha" on PBS when I went through my Heirloom sewing phase.
Your son's sweatshirts sound really nice! Any chance of posting some photos? I'd love to see them! Kudos to him for his design ideas to combine with the screen printing! And to you for inspiring him! Mary
Oh, boy, a "joining foot." I have never heard of that one but can think of lots of times that I could have used one! I will have to check that out.
If it's o.k. with him, I may post a photo of last weekend's project; keep in mind that we're talking about a 6'6" 20-year-old snowboarder college kid who sometimes dresses like a character out of Dr. Seuss. While I can see a lot of possibilities for the techniques I learned, his sweatshirts are really wild.
What a great topic. Thank you for the description of how you use your overcast and overedge feet. I don't think I've seen either of those. I'm going to look for them. My old zig-zag machine is one of the early ones and I think the widest stitch-width is only about 5 mm wide - I'm guessing here - so wouldn't cover a 1/4" seam allowance. Is that what you mean about the perfect 1/4 inch seams - that your zig-zag covers that much width?
The overcast/overedge foot allows for a variety of zigzag widths; I think the widest of mine is 1/4", but I've never measured it.
Is there anywhere to get directions on how to use the specialty feet? Last year I bought a set of 10 feet for my machine and I've yet to use any of them!
I don't own a serger and I'd love to be able to use an overlock foot. Is there a difference between overcast and overedge feet?
This post was a reply to stitches on the machine, but stitches and feet go together:
Do a search for 9225.72 (Sorry, but for some reason I couldn't get it to Save to my machine so I could link it)
You could also do a Google or Yahoo search (although that can be quite time consuming--sigh)
Edited to add: it is under Feedback on Threads with the subject of Suggestion for next issue. The message will not come up with the regular Search; you would need to do an Advanced Search.
Edited 3/10/2009 3:41 pm by JeanM
Yes, do try to find instructions for the presser feet purchases, you will find your sewing so much easier, and much more elegant for those special effects. Go into the sites that sell feet for your machine; there is bound to be at least an instruction book you can access (buy or print off).
I did a google search and the best information was on a UK site and the videos don't play in the US!
The feet that I bought were non-brand specific so there is no information on my machine's site or in the manual.
I will look at the site that you provided - thanks!
You will be able to learn a lot just by sewing with each of the feet and playing around with them.
You might try this book. http://www.nancysnotions.com/category/books/sewing+with+nancy.doThat's a link to a book called Fancy Footworks Workbook, by Nancy Zieman. I have it and like it. My pressure feet are generic, also. A caveat, not all feet look EXACTLY like the ones depicted in the workbook, but they were close enough for me to figure it all out.
Thanks! I never realized what different feet were capable of doing.
This is from someone who sewed everything for years using a zipper foot because that was the only one that I had!
I started sewing on my mother's electric White (?) that she bought before 1929. It only went forward -- no back, no zigzag. But it had a hemmer foot that I used a LOT making gathered skirts. I even made my wedding dress on it. Then I bought a Kenmore in 1979. It had a lot of feet, and cams for embroidery stitches, but I've given that one to my granddaughter. Now I have a Singer that only came with 3-4 feet, nothing fancy at all and just a few extra stitches. I bought a hemmer foot but have not had much luck remembering how to use it. I thought it was great that the Kenmore came with a lot of feet, but pretty cheap of Singer to not. They are expensive to buy separately.
Viking puts out a "foot book" that can be purchased at their dealers. Of course, it is for Viking feet but could probably help with any feet. I think Nancy's Notions has a video about feet. Hope this helps.
Sue
Speaking of specialty feet, I'm attempting to use a narrow hemming foot with a knit, and having problems. Does anyone have any advice on using a narrow hemming foot? It would be greatly appreciated!
>> ... attempting to use a narrow hemming foot with a knit, and having problems. ...<<
Consider geting some scraps, & using a strip of wash-a-way stabilizer baste it along the hem edge. this might give the edge enough body to fold into the hemmer.
nepa
Narrow hemming feet are great for wovens, but since knits don't ravel, you really don't need that double-turned hem-- a simple single fold stitched close to the edge will secure knits with a narrow hem.
Try spray starching the edge first. I'm not sure that knit can be used in the narrow hemmer unless you want a lettuce edge and your foot can be used with the zigzag stitch.Chris
Sometimes I think the information is backwards. A foot is shown and all its applications. That is not the way we sew. We don't say I want to use my fringe foot, for example, so what can I make in order to utilize it? We sew, then say, what foot can I use to best accomplish this? This is the goal.
Often there are several uses for a particular foot. Sometimes one of many feet will work for the job being done.
Once you learn which feet for what, you need to remember it and to remember to use it. It can get complicated. I've tried making a list, but the list got quite long and somewhat confusing because of all the "cross uses".
Specialty feet do make the jobs easier, so good luck in finding the information. When I get a few minutes, I'll do a web search and find out what I can.
The foot I really like for my Pfaff 1475 is called the overlock foot. It can be used to topstitch 1/8" from an edge. A more important use is that I can use an overlock stitch and finish an edge, an edge which won't curl or ravel. It works much better than using a close zigzag stitch. As I don't have a serger I use this foot to clean-finish my seam allowance edges when necessary.
A sewists in every sense of the word. You're making the most of all you have at hand!
nepa
Hahaha. Only if I get off the internet and go do some sewing!!
Do you know what the difference between a rolling foot and a walking foot is (besides the price)? They seem to do the same thing if you're not quilting.
I believe both will help with the alignment of layers of fabric while stitching, but the roller foot was designed to help fabrics such as velvet (as well as plastic) move more smoothly while stitching. That is all I know.
Does anybody have and use a fell-seam foot? I'd never heard of one until I read David Coffin's book on shirt-making. Apparently it's similar to a narrow-hem foot, but folds the top layer of a seam allowance over the narrower bottom seam allowance to make a flat-fell seam. If I remember correctly, it comes in different widths.
I have a felling foot (possibly 2 sizes-I'm at work, can't check). It works really well. I used the instructions from David Coffin's shirt boot and Taunton's Sew Basic book.
I have quite a few feet--there's a store on e-bay that had Pfaff Hobby feet and I loaded up. It's quite hard to find Hobby feet. I have felling, knit (haven't used it yet), rolled hem (hate it; too small), teflon, roller, walking (LOVE it), ruffler, inv zipper, satin stitch foot, clear open toed applique (use this ALL the time). My machine came with adjustable blindhem, buttonhole, automatic buttonhole, zipper, narrow zipper regular, overcast. I have a narrow adjustable zipper foot, edgejoining as well. I've used most of them--I particularily like the ruffler. The rolled hemmer is great on batiste or voile, but pretty well maddening on anything heavier. It's 2.5 mm. I seem to end up fighting with something and my dealer will whip out or tell me what foot will make my life a whole lot easier! My machine is very basic (Hobby 1142), so the different feet really help expand it's capablities. I bought the adj. narrow hemming foot because I was driving myself crazy (ripped it out over 4 times) trying to sew Ambience lining in a Highland Dancing vest along the front boning.
Jane
Here is a link to a website that has a really good picture of a felling foot. There are probably others, this was just the first one I came upon and is not a commercial for this site.....http://www.sewfastseweasy.com/sewing+machine+feet.php
Thank you for that link. They do have a few presser feet, don't they? I just wonder if that felling foot is as difficult to manage as the narrow-hem foot is. Although, I remember that the narrow-hem is manageable with practice - it's been a long time since I used it, though, and my fingers are a little uncooperative these days. I tend to do better going the slow way, pressing my flat-fell seams in before stitching.
I can relate, Josefly. My fingers do not always want to do as ordered by my brain either. Truthfully, I've never made a flat felled seam any way other than the old fashioned way. I may have to try one of these feet. I'm thinking that once you got the technique perfected, it'd certainly make the process easier and, most assuredly, quicker. My DH is an outdoorsman, and particularly, right this moment at least, an avid flyfisher who loves all the paraphernalia marketed to them. I tease him about it, but I swear I think I'm worse than his is about gadgets.
"once you get the technique perfected..." Yes, that's it. David Coffin praises the foot, and says it speeds up the process of making flat-fell seams. The one he says he uses seems to make a narrower seam than I would expect - either 1/8" or 4mm, depending on the maker. I usually think of about 1/4" flat-fell seams on shirts, but maybe that's because I haven't seen custom-made shirts. Anyway, I think I would like to try my hand at some shirts for my husband, especially given the article in the latest Threads (#142). Gadgets, yes, heavens, I have my share. Don't want another one until I decide I'll really use it a lot. Last year I would've loved to have a wider flat-fell foot - 1/4 inch at least, for the lounge pants I made at Christmas gifts. I flat-felled both inseams and outseams on the pants and it was a tedious, borrrrrrrring task.
I really -- as we say in the southern states of the USA -- have a hankering to make some men's shirts. My DH, DS, and DGS ask me all the time to make shirts for them, but I never have. I've altered a ton of them and repaired more than I can to remember. I finally bought some fabric to make them shirts. Now to just get to doing it. Also, I found the most gorgeous charmeus fabric at a Wal-Mart store I happened into on a recent trip. I bought all they had, at $1.50/yard so that I can make lounge pants for 4 friends and me. Then my DIL saw it and wants a blouse if there is enough fabric left. I think I will put flat seams in those pants. Had not thought about that. Thanks.
Hey JQ: You just "hanker" away, and enjoy the process. I made some shirts for several grandsons, as well as my son, and now DH would like one. The latter though, is such a prolific shopper, that he really doesn't need any more shirts.
I'm starting to think "sewing for spring", i.e. dresses and vacation duds for me. We're going to go down to Montana again this summer for another family reunion and then to the water skiing competitions after that. Maybe if I sew with some light weight fabric, this bloody snow will finally go away!!! I've got cabin fever in spades!!! BTW, what color is the charmeus fabric? I love that stuff as it feels so good on. You take care, OK?
Sewslow, the charmeus is very pale blue. DH says it's silver, but trust me, it's blue. Does that give you the general idea? I could not believe my eyes when I saw that bolt on the "cheap-table" at Wal-Mart. It's going to feel so good on.......
It sounds just beautiful, JQ. There are some really beautiful blouse patterns out that would be perfect for it. One in particular that I can think of is by Hot Patterns. Have you (or anyone else) tried any of them? I love their designs, and have several that I'll be making for spring and summer.
Ooooh. I'm so envious of your charmeuse find. That will make wonderful lounge pants. On the flat-fell seams, however, I found it quite easy to do one seam or the other in the legs - outseam or inseam, but to do both was a little tricky. With the charmeuse, if it were me, I'd do flat-fell on the outseam but French seams on the inseam. My husband, too, has as many shirts as he will need for ages - he's retired and hardly ever puts on more than a knitted shirt of some kind. But I made him a "tropical" shirt last fall for a themed contra dance, and he enjoyed it so much and got so many compliments, that I think another shirt or two might be worn. Especially since I discovered the beautiful cotton batiks at a nearby quilt shop. And I'm intrigued by fitting a shirt to him. When I made the other shirt, I just fumbled through it - shirt patterns aren't very helpful with fitting - but that article in Threads has given me some clues, and the David Coffin book, of course.When we married right out of college, my husband had some favorite shirts he refused to discard even though they were frayed at the collar and cuffs. I removed the collars and cuffs, turned them upside down, and re-inserted them, and he got a couple more years use out of them. I won't do that now, though - I find that stuff so tedious, I'd rather start from scratch. Wasteful mentality in this day of recycling and re-purposing, I suppose.
Thanks girls-I have almost every foot for my machine but need to find this for a UFO!! I was doing it one way but came to areas that didn't work with what I was doing.
I bought Berninas Leather Rolling Foot thinking I would like to do something in leather but of course its still on the back burner. This foot absolutely intrigues me. I'm not a quilter but if I were I think this foot would be an absolute essential. It rolls on a wheel and does curves and corners with the freedom of freehand stitching on leather and multiple layers of cloth. I should let my 8 year old have a go at this. It's a really fun foot yet practical. The wheel is to the left of the needle leaving the stitching area open. Are any of you using this foot?
Seems to me I had a roller foot for one of my machines, but haven't used it in many years. I believe I used it to sew plastic on the inside of a cosmetics case and it did do the job. My Pfaff will sew the plastic with just the all-purpose foot (because of the built-in even feed.)
Interesting timing. Last night I was shortening some slinky fabric pants. The fabric tended to lettuce. On looking through my rather full drawer of feet I saw my roller foot, which I bought about 35 years ago for a long ago machine. I put it on and it was the right choice for that fabric. I could have used my walking foot, but sometime it is just to bulky to install. I have a pair of velour pants to shorten next and think I will use the rolling foot for that project as well. I am still trying to work my mind around how a rolling foot (such as mine?) would be easy on curves. Back to my basket of fabric to test things, I guess.
My rolling foot is not a regular foot. It is a wheel and you can move it in any direction and around curves with the drop feed down as for free motion work. I had never seen one before. It's Bernina. It's basically for leather and quilting through thicknesses but you could use it for any artistic purpose. You might sometimes want to use a hoop for a small design. The view to the side is open..
>> ...my roller foot, which I bought about 35 years ago for a long ago machine. ...<<
Heartening to read of your wisdom in still having the foot.
nepa
Here ya go:
http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/sewing_machine_info/video/sewing-machine-feet.php
I have been to this site before, but at this time, the videos do not seem to be working for me :(
Wow, those videos are what I've been looking for. I didn't realize that there are SO MANY different feet. When I used to make the 3-tiered "squaw skirts", I used the rolled hem foot and the shirring foot and I could make a skirt in a very short time, with perfectly spaced tiny pleats/gathers.
Ah, you got them to play---good. I went back and sure enough, they play for me now also. The videos are short but at least we can get the idea, plus the instructions listed help.
Hi Jean, Just reading about these videos. I have downloaded the suggested "apple " update to my "vista" but would very much appreciate some technical advice on how to viiew the videos.I have saved thesinger page to a document - what next.?
I've tried and tried to view the videos on the uk site but just cant get it to work - fairly new to all this!!
Thanks in advance Winifred (UK)
Is this the site you mean (my post #22)?:
http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/sewing_machine_info/video/sewing-machine-feet.php
Sorry but I don't understand the steps you are taking. I just checked the site and it is working for me. Just click on which video you want to view and it should start up automatically.
Possibly what you attempting will be more clear to another poster.
Someone correct me if I am wrong here. A walking foot helps both layers of fabric feed evenly under the presser foot. I THINK a roller foot is the one used for the easier feeding of vinyl.
Sewista, you are exactly right. The roller foot does just what the name implies and rolls right over vinyl, leather and similar materials and the walking foot feeds from the top as well as the bottom to keep layers of fabrics from slipping. It's good for plaids, BTW. Look at the link in message 9610.32 above and you can see various pressure feet as well as a short explanation of their uses.
I found the instructions in the downloadable manual for the machine the feet came with (a 1980s Montgomery Ward). The overcast and overedge feet are very similar, but the overedge one has a tiny brush on the right side, supposedly to "keep lint from the edge from getting caught on the needle."
I tried both and didn't see much of a difference; both worked well in stitching along the edge of knit, creating a seam line and a flat seam finish in one step with a 30-year-old machine set on what was probably one of the first "stretch" stitches available.
I have the book Making the Most of Your Sewing Machine & Serger Accessories by JoAnn Pugh-Gannon http://www.amazon.com/Making-Sewing-Machine-Serger-Accessories/dp/0806984538 I think that it must cover every specialty foot currently available for modern machines. Not only does it cover how they work but also give projects to try them out on with suggested machine settings.Chris
That looks perfect! Thanks for providing the link.
Susan
You're welcome.Chris
I bought a book at Sears for my new Kenmore called "Sew it Up" that shows different pressure feet and offers short projects on each of them. Pretty helpful. I love my 1/4" seam foot and the gathering foot is great.
pjjing
I found and bought an old 1950's top of the line Singer at a yard sale several years ago. It was very interesting reading the instruction manual and how detailed it was using the different presser feet and for what. Much better than the manual for my current sewing machine.
Several years ago I bought a 'stitch in the ditch' presser foot that was supposed to help me quilt in the ditch. Well it wouldn't work for what the dealer sold it to me for (I use my walking foot for stitch in the ditch now) and so it ended up in the box doing nothing. Then Threads had a mini-series on presser feet and that was one of the presser feet featured. It was being used for sewing the seams on curtains and draperies. I was in the midst of making a bunch of curtains out of upholstery fabric and it worked great! You lined up the edge of the foot with the folded edge of the fabric and moved your needle over to the left where you wanted the seam and away you go. I had professional looking curtains--actually better than the professional curtains we had bought for another room!
I would LOVE a detailed series on presser feet AND utility stitches. Anyone with a newer machine probably has a bunch of them that we never can quite remember when to use what, but I am trying. My latest favorite stitch is the triple zigzag.
Gail
These two books by Mary Lou Nall have a wealth of info and can be purchased through the Clotilde catalog.
View Image
Learn How To Use Your Feet. Can be adapted to all brands of machines.Book I (28 pages) shows how to use your machine feet. Book II (28 pages) continues with how-tos of optional feet.
Thanks for starting this discussion - really interesting! Those reading it might enjoy also checking out the link below from the Singer sewing machine website. It's the page of specialty presser foot instructions, but what makes it truly neat is that it offers video of the feet in action (in a variety of downloadable formats). The feet shown may be Singer feet, but the instructions are pretty much universal for most manufacturers, and even for many vintage feet:
http://www.singerco.com/support/presser_help.html
Have at it - this one's FUN!
:) Mary
Oh, Hot Damn! That page went DIRECTLY into my Bookmarks! And if you want to print it, there's pdf's for every one, too!
Eternal gratitude, my friend! I have bunches of feet for my treadle Singer, and have been repeatedly frustrated - often to the point of giving up - time to try 'em again, with quality instructions!Bright Blessings! Kharmin
Hiya back, fellow treadler!
Yeah, I thought that page would be a fun one for all. I'm so happy you like it!
I have a New Home treadle, a Willcox & Gibbs chainstitcher treadle, four handcranks and fifteen other "machines with tails (power cords)", so I'm always looking for universally versatile accessory instructions and ideas.
:) Mary
I just 'inherited' a box of feet from a friend's mother. I'd been considering purchasing some generic feet that they guaranteed would fit my machine. I was thrilled to learn that these feet will fit my old Kenmore! There is a ruffler, a joining foot, a zipper foot that is completely different from the one that came with my machine, and a couple others, including 4 that make/sew bias...I can't wait to play with them, but have to finish the couture wedding gown for a client first (I put up a post about this one...I'm still excited about it!)
Deb
>> ... 'inherited' a box of feet ... <<
WOW! The sewing spirits are indeed in "your astrological house." Getting these will have you smiling as you work with them. Especially the zipper foot. My guess is it's a single toe. Using it makes a huge difference for zipper application as well as piping.
For the curious, a single toe is shown at the following. Scroll to ... screw on ... -
http://sewingmachine221sale.bizland.com/store/page62.html
The one that came with your machine is possibly as that shown immediately above the single toe screw-on.
As for the others, all are very useful. The ruffler would be very pricey to purchase today.
nepa
OOOHHHHH! Thanks for the site!!! I didn't know there was an adaptor for my machine that would allow me to use the snap on feet!! How great is that! Now I can get a walking foot and a couple of others that I've been dreaming of! The box also had 4 hemmer feet in it. There is another box that has a buttonholer in it. Not sure yet if it will work on my machine, but it will make many more different types of buttonholes than mine does.
Deb
You're very welcome for the presser foot URL.
I've had it bookmarked a good while. Found it when trying to explain why a sewists on another board was having trouble with piping. Good to know it's of value again.
Please let us know how the buttonholer works. If it does.
nepa
I'm crossing my fingers toes and eyes in hopes that I will run into a great yard sale find of all those odds and ends feet that I don't have for my machine but have read about. I use my walking foot lots of the time, it is probably the presser foot that I use most next to the 'regular' one.
Although it isn't a presser foot, I've been having great success using the triple zig zag stitch for several different things. I have a blue jean jumper that I got at a thrift store about 6 years ago for $4. It buttons down the front and the last few bottom buttons kept popping off and I would have to resew them on and then back the fabric because it was getting frayed. the other day Hubby (who uses snaps in his work) volunteered to put snaps on the jumper for me but I would have to close up the button wholes. Ran over the button holes a couple times with the triple zigzag on different widths and lengths and the buttonholes closed right up. He was able to put the snaps in with ease. Another saved favorite garment!
My machine has the triple zigzag stitch. I use it for darning rips/tears in DS and DH's work jeans/bib overalls. I save the legs from their worn out 'bibs' and jeans to use as patching fabric. I iron 'wonderunder' to the right side of the patching fabric and press it to the wrong side of the tear/hole. I use the triple zigzag, with the feed dogs down, to cover the patched area. It works very well, and if you can match the thread color, is almost invisible.
Deb
As my jumper needed washed before hubby went after it with the snaps, it got dumped in the washer after he put them on. When I took it out of the dryer, I was very impressed to see that the snaps were still in place and that the zigzag stitch had held the fabric together very well. Fortunately I have a spool of blue thread which is a fairly close match to the denim. Matching thread colors when mending can be difficult if you didn't make the original article. Before we were married his mom did his mending and would have every color in the rainbow on his clothes--I guess she just didn't care which color she used and he didn't care either, but I do!
I mended my hubby's shirts a couple of years ago with the darning stitch on my machine with the buttonholer attached as that is how it said in the book to do it. The darning worked, but was rather awkward. Next time around I'll be using that triple stitch with some stabilizer underneath. All the shirts that need mended now need to be turned into rags, so no point mending them again.
Gail
I saw your name and I'm getting in! What machine are you using? I sometimes see or have extra feet. Let me know.
Once in a rare while I find an RTW that is just like finding a great yardsale. I had a credit for $ 25. for Chase and went to Amazon and found a dress at 70% off. On page 71 in the new Threads magazine there is a black and blue knit dress. The color, the material. and block print is just like my new dress altho mine of course is not formal. I paid $37. for it from $119.00. I don't think that will ever happen again. I seldom buy a dress but for fun I check the 70% off clothes. (Actually I never buy a dress.) It's my Amazon yard sale dress! A pattern cost half that sometimes. I might add that my block print does not feature the back of the dress like the Threads dress! It's more sedate. (HMMM). The dress is Calvin Cline-I think sometimes they have just a few left and throw them on Amazon. And I couldn't resist a bargain. I couldn't afford it at $49.95 (or $37. either). The last dress I remember buying was a long time ago-a beautiful red dress and had accidentally been put on the wrong rack-it was $5.00. In Denver if they make a mistake you get the benefit.
I have a Janome 6500 and an old Kenmore that I picked up last summer for $2 that turned into $60+ after having it cleaned at the dealers, but one must have a spare machine when the other is out for cleaning. Plus the Kenmore has a free arm. I've wanted to try bobbin sewing (with the thick thread in the bobbin) but didn't want to make a disaster of my Janome and the Kenmore has an adjustable bobbin case. One of the things I would really like to find is the gadget that makes you be able to sew in circles. I realize I could do it with a thumb tack, if one could find a thumb tact, but what can I say, I like gadgets! Also I want to find cording feet of different sizes, etc.
My bargain of the week was a stack of sewing books from my library's book sale this week, including Mary Mulari's Denim and Chambray book that I'd been wanting to see. also a Nancy Zieman embellishment book. I love filling my brain with ideas.
Gail
Go to the Janome Website and you will find all the presser feet (and probably the circular attachment) you could ever want.
You need to get an extra bobbin case for your Janome-adjust the tension and mark it with a dot of paint or fingernail polish so you don't get mixed up. I'll try to find a link where people have all kinds of things available for all kinds of machines-it will take me awhile as I have hundreds of things in favorites. It should be there because 3 or 4 years ago I listed Bernina cases full of feet,etc. for the old Berninas 830-811, etc. and I'm still getting inquiries from it so I know I still have it in there somewhere. It's one of the few places I know where individuals can list items for sale. Rightfully so', 'most groups do not allow this. Theres a place for everything but these groups are not the place.
Janome has drop in bobbins and I've never heard of being able to get a separate bobbin case for them or seen how to do bobbin sewing with them other than by-passing the bobbin casing to start with. I just don't want to mess up the tension on my good sewing machine, so someday I will play around with the Kenmore's bobbin case which is the kind I always see in articles about doing that type of decorative sewing.
I know the Janome site has lots of presser feet and I have a Janome dealer just a few miles away. I think my previous note was referring to wanting to find some of them dirt cheap at yard sales as they are definitely not dirt cheap to buy new! I love finding lots of books and sewing supplies and fabric stashes at yard sales.
Gail
I was just looking at the Kenmore site-several videos and one on setting up the different bobbins for the work you want to do. Showed drop in and the older machines.
I just responded to your message, but it seems it is floating out in the stratosphere. I recently purchased an extra bobbin case for my Janome drop in bobbin. I was under the impression from the owner/service person that the case was generic. Not sure as this individual leaves a bit to be desired in communication skills. Worth checking out. I have not used it yet but did try it out for fit - OK. It cost about $25 in Canada.
I'm running this in between topics but my computer was out for almost a year and I have been "catching up". Most of the machine companies have basically the same feet (just made for their machines). Bernina has completely revamped their site and I found a listing of all their feet and their uses that I can bring up on the computer when I am sewing I have a lot of feet but its confusing to take the time to sort out what you want when you're busy. I love this I can just keep it on the screen and glance at my box whenever I start a new process. I have a hard time believing I did not get an edgefoot so I'm going to rectify that. My best friend had it years ago and I didn't but always wanted one-so why didn't I get it when I was adding feet to this machine? I lack the binder because you can almost buy a house for the price. I later got one with my serger. I watched a video on the new Bernina 830 (40 inches wide) but the top of the line had gone up to 6000 so this must be at 8000.00 or more. Fun to look at but not many people could afford that. No one I know anyway. In my position they'd jail me if I bought one. (and we'd starve). In this economy I hope Bernina doesn't go under trying to sell it. I still don't have my glasses so spent time rearranging my sewing drawers-fun but not productive. Getting new glasses will be like getting a Christmas present. At least by sorting I know what I have.
I think most of those top of the line machines, all the major brands came out with a new one within the past year, run in the $6-8000 range. My thoughts are to follow the ones I think are best and in 5-7 years their used prices might make them affordable as they get traded in for the newest top of the line machine! Better yet, my recurring yardsale dream is finding a top of the line machine with all feet and accessories being sold at a yard sale for $50!!!LOL. I have weird dreams, most probably due to the meds I'm on, I mean WHO DREAMS of yard sales and what they will find?
In the meantime, I try to learn and try new things when I'm up to it.
Gail
Lots of people have their fun Saturday Saling!
You never know what you will find, and at what price. Keep on Dreaming! Some people really do not know the value of what they have, or just want to unload what they do not value. Cathy
When I have had to sell my machines (only once was it a choice) I have been glad of my "bad habit" of always buying feet and accessories for the machines (I do this with any new interest-I got into dogbreeding-talk about expense) but it really pays when you sell them-no problem at all and you get a good price and I think a lot of it is due to condition and all those accessories. The only thing I ever kept was an eyelet set which was a gift from my sons! Now I have replaced the machine that it goes to.
All the things I have are for the old Berninas but when I'm at yard sales I'll check for Kenmore. I think the drop in bobbins would be nice. I have trouble seeing mine. I tried to find that link in Favorites but no luck the first time around. I've got so much in there. I'm bad about yard sales-I buy things I absolutely don't need-then I give it away. I ran across a King size white sheet the other day. I don't have king size-I guess I thought it would be nice for linings or a muslin pattern! In the little town I live next to the yard sales are the social life. We also have an auction once a month. At first it was awful but they have stayed with it and its getting much better. A lot of bargains when the weather is miserable. I forced myself to leave one day. The weather was terrible and they were selling the most beautiful dolls. I'm not a doll collector-I just have some family dolls. I RAN HOME AND SAVED MYSELF.
Oh! I so-o-o-o hear you! "Must save this lovely (whatever) from the landfill!" Congratulations on finding the fortitude to leave that auction! ;-0Kharmin
It sounds as if you are receiving alot of wonderful blessings lately. I am so happy for you! Have fun with your new feet and I hope you get to buy that gown after the bride wears it!
Hi Teal: I'm kind of late to the party, but wanted to add my 2-cents worth anyway, just in case it might help someone. I have had almost every major brand of sewing machines over my 60-years of sewing, and currently have a Pfaff 2170.
When I started sewing, I had only the feet that came with my machine and then, over the years I added feet ...first to my initial machine and then to each machine I had after that. The longer I sewed, the more feet I would buy for "the new machine". What I learned over the years, was that each different foot helped with the particular task for which it was designed (and many times ...useful for a lot of other tasks).
Currently, I have almost every specialty foot that Pfaff offers, and have used all of them ...some more than others, but find that each one "perfects" the task for which it was made. I do not have an even-feed foot, because that is built into my machine, but I use the "built-in" constantly, and it was one of the main features that was the deciding factor for trading in my Bernina for a Pfaff (I really dislike the walking foot that needs to be attached to a machine).
When I was in my dealers a few months ago, I lamented that "I sure wished there was a really good Foot Book around, and ...lucky me ...they had just gotten a newly published book into their store. It has pictures of about 40-50 different feet and gives very detailed instructions on how to use each of them. The name of the book is: "The Pfaff Foot Book" and is published by Country Stitches. And while it may be published for Pfaff, it is very, very generic in that anyone with any brand of sewing machine could easily use it, and would truly find it helpful. I have found it helpful, even for those feet I had used for years. I love it!
As for my serger: I have only a few feet for it, as I use it mostly for finishing seams, and seam edges and, frankly, I'm not really that adept at using it for specialty stuff. I've got a few great books on using specialty threads for sergers, and hope to get creative and learn some new things later this year.
Anyway, sorry this is so long. I do hope someone might find this information helpful, though. And thanks to everyone else who has contributed such helpful information.
Edited 3/17/2009 7:46 pm by sewslow67
Edited 3/24/2009 11:53 am by sewslow67
Once you start playing with those specialty threads on your serger I bet you will be addicted! It is really great fun to see all these incredible machines can do! Enjoy!
If you put something like Glamour thread in the loopers of a 2 or 3 thread coverstitch and stitch rows across a piece of fabric with the wrong side up facing you...you will see some magic...when you flip the right side up and see it...guaranteed! Just remember to loosen the tensions by about 2 settings on the thicker threads. You can also do this with the chain stitch...make your own decorated fabric for cuffs, collars, whole garments...
I started with Christmas stockings because they are small and had a blast playing. A three thread overlock can be used for crazy quilting too if you seam with wrong sides togeather and use some fun threads in this too. (as long as the fabric isn't one that does excessive fraying the overlock finishes it nicely.)
Enjoy the process! Mary
Hi Mary: Thanks for your encouraging message. It's my Pfaff serger that also has the cover stitch, but I seem to be awkward in threading it. That is why I bought the BL Imagine because it is air threading. However, I was told that it is difficult, if not impossible, to use some of the heavier decorative threads in it and that is one of the real advantages to the Pfaff serger.
Do you have any photos either projects or examples of what you are talking about? If you do, I would love to actually see what you are talking about. I do have a special "thread book" that shows all kinds of specialty threads, so I'll look up to see what Glamour thread is.
Thanks again, Mary. I appreciate you taking time to share such creative ideas.
I don't even have a camera right now, but will try to put something together with some samples in the future to post here. I've already asked for a photo of my toy iron so I can post that here too.
Haven't been accomplishing much the past several weeks in the studio, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the disorganization right now and one of my projects accidentally went out of town in a relatives car. Normally I am happily working on several at once, but this time I overdid it. The result is that I am taking a break from creating and reading a novel.
Glamour Thread is made by Madeira and is No. 8, very sparkly and "glamorous". Fun for the loopers of the serger or for bobbinwork, but I wouldn't try anything larger than a 12wt. in a topstitching needle. Mary
Thanks, Mary. Is the Glamour Thread so thick (and/or stretchy) that you need to hand wind it on the bobbin or do you use your regular bobbin winder on your machine? I liked bobbin work so much that I bought a special bobbin case for it so I wouldn't ruin my regular one.
As for reading a novel: I think those of us who are intense sew'ahs (loved that term that someone here used), need a respite once in awhile to just read, read, read.
Right now, I'm reading Roberta Carr's "Couture: The Art of Fine Sewing" and just loving it. I've always enjoyed challenging my skills, and knew that I still have much to learn ...but wow ...I now feel like a Girl Scout beginner in my first class! chuckle!! I love this book!
I have a specialty bobbin case too, I hold it in a baggie so I don't risk losing that tiny screw too.
For the Glamour and Perle Crown Rayon I just use the foot pedal instead of the autowind so it fills the bobbin a little slower than normal. They aren't that stretchy just thick.
Your book sounds interesting, I'm glad you are enjoying it.
No more driving with the top down here, we got over 12 inches of snow today, the Governor declared a disaster and opened some shelters for people who can't get to their destinations. The roads are awful, but the dogs think it's party time and keep wanting to go in and out so they are wearing me out, ha ha. Little white Zoey disappears in the snow, good thing the big lab watches out for her. We worry that a hawk will think she is a bunny!
All white and windy down here in Southeastern Colorado-the wind is our problem but this winter we've had only a skiff of snow and it was gone by 10:00! My son flew out of Denver yesterday morning for some important sports event and won't be back til tomorrow night so think he's missed this-at least I hope so. The sewers should have a peaceful day staying home! I hope you and all my family are safe in your 12". Happy sewing!.
Brrrr! Still chilly up here but the sky looks clear and bright so we should be warming up soon.
My crochet stitches are starting to look right so am ready to try some patterns and see what developes. Using a larger metal hook has really helped.
Hopefully will get busy on DGS crazy quilt this week.
Hope you are staying warm and cozy! Mary
Yes; thank you Mary. I'm enjoying the book immensely. I am in the process of making a list of all my sewing books (since they are the most valuable to me) in case there is a loss of some kind, and I thought it might be fun if anyone who is interested would want to add to my list as to favorite sewing books and why. I don't know if I'll ever get that done, but it's a fun thought anyway.
I saw the news about the snowstorm in Denver - and that they had to close the airport. Do be careful and stay off the roads if you can.
Yes ...you do have to watch Zoey very carefully. Our neighbors dog was carried away by a hawk (they always let her out without being with her). It had a tragic ending. We all warned them, but they just wouldn't listen. I felt absolutely sick about it. My little ones are never out without me and I keep them right next to me. In fact, I only take one out at a time to assure their safety.
Stay safe, Mary; this is a good time to just stay inside and nurture yourself in your sewing studio. ;-)
Edited 3/28/2009 10:45 pm by sewslow67
Thanks for writing the info about the hawk! I will show it to my family members who think I am being paranoid/neurotic/just plain crazy/silly!!! Maybe they will take me seriously about not letting Zoey out back unsupervised! Hope so!
My two favorite sewing technique books are Secrets to Successful Sewing and Serger Secrets. I have donated most of my sewing library as I am trying to downsize. The magazines I'm holding onto are Threads, Quilting Arts, Creative Machine Embroidery, and Sew Beautiful, and a few from Viking and Bernina. I'm trying to use the library more now and not buy more but it is so hard to keep the self control! Mary
You are most welcome, Mary. I just heard about two other incidents too; and these little dogs were a bit heavier. One was a little over ten pounds! My two little ones are six pounds and three pounds, so do be very careful and warn your friends and family. It would be heart breaking to have this happen to our little loved ones.
We also have coyotes in our neck of the woods, and someone saw a bear recently, so we need to be very careful at night as well.
Before we put up the privacy fence, we had a red fox that slept under our big evergreen tree.
Mary my son lives on Colorado Avenue in Denver and his neighbor has foxes who live under his back patio. He has a small dog and my son has two fairly large dogs. They are fenced ( open)opposite the foxes and everyone is calm. They just watch my DIL when she comes home from work. This is an unusual situation tho and you can't be too careful. South of my place they lose small pets to coyotes. When we had the Saint Bernard National in Colorado there was a big to do about the new hotel they planned to use being in open country. Any rancher knows that prairie dogs carry disease and cows and other animals break their legs in prairie dog holes but we could not convince the people from the East that this was a bad location to bring their expensive dogs to. They just considered them sweet little creatures. I have foxes at my barn and I love them but I don't have small pets. It's wonderful to see the babies out playing at dusk. I'd feel very differently if I had a small dog or pet cat near them.
Prarie Dogs are such pests! They carry black plague and fleas and who knows what all! Then there is the issue as you said of lame larger animals when they step in the holes. Not so cute! I agree with you 100%! They are rodents and impossible to get rid of or even to decrease or control the population as is allowed with other animals, including their predators. There is no natural balance, even the Dept. of Wildlife doesn't have an answer for this one.
A building manager I know had a Humane Group (maybe prarie dog rescue?) try to remove them from a commercial high rise property. What a joke that was! They use cameras and hoses and put water into the holes...the prarie dogs moved across the street for a few days and of course came back and continue to proliferate.
These wild animals can be very interesting to watch, however coyotes come near one at a time, and act playful with the little dogs. Then, when the little ones start to trust them, the coyote entices them further and further away from the little ones home and protection, only to get them into the pack where they will be killed and eaten for their supper.
My BIL is a game biologist, and he is the one who shared this information with me some years ago. He said that this is typical for a coyote but foxes can be just as un-trustworthy.
For sure, tell your family that this is no laughing matter.
Thank You! I read your post to family! That's very interesting information about how sly they are, I had no idea. Mary
You are most welcome, Mary. I hope it helped them to truly understand the risk of my staying close to our precious little companions.
I've just started reading this thread about the wild animals, how interesting. A very dear friend lives in Centennial and she has problems with fox's (is the word 'fox' plural also?) across the street too. She won't let her little dog out without keeping a close watch on him. Here in NC we just have lots of deer, rabbits and wild turkey. The last time anyone saw a bear in the neighborhood was 2 yrs ago. When I hike in the Great Smoky Mountains there are occasionally bears along the trail as well as wild boar. It's a rare and special event when you get to see one of them and I've seen several. The rangers want you to report sightings of the boar so they can go out and hunt them as they really tear up the forest.The deer are eating up my new azaleas!
I would be surprised if you don't have coyotes as well as foxes in NC. I've seen them both just over the state line into eastern Tennessee. And coyotes have been seen here in Georgia as well.
Edited 4/6/2009 4:43 pm ET by Josefly
Wild Boar; oh, my goodness. As you probably know already, they can be very dangerous. When I was living in Europe, a couple of friends and I were walking in the woods in The Netherlands, and we saw many of them. I had no idea at that time how dangerous they were and, since I had just gotten a new camera, I was anxious to use it.
Before they could warn me, I moved slowly toward a huge male and squatted down to take a photo of him. I couldn't get the picture right, so moved closer ...within about 4-5 feet; squatted down again and took several pictures. When he started to paw the ground, I leapt up and jumped at him and, thankfully, he turned tail and ran.
My friends were appalled at my fearless ignorance, and when leaving the forested area later that another hiker was taken out on a stretcher after having most of his calf muscle removed when one of the male boars bit him, which was tragic.
It was lucky that I got some great photographs ...and nothing else!
wow, how did your picture come out? do you still have it to post here? The wild boar in the Smoky Mt National park know they are hunted and so are very shy of people. I've also come across lots of copper head and rattle snakes.
They came out quite nicely, albeit not exactly centered very well as I recall. They were all in slide format, and still down south of the boarder in an apartment I keep there. I've planned on having a couple of the slides made up into prints - large ones that I could put up in my office - for years, but never got to it. I'll put them on my list to pick up when I'm down there in May, since you'd like to see them.
I don't know if I can just slip the slides into a special slot on my computer or if I have to have them put on a DVD first (probably the latter) in order to upload them onto the Gatherings Website. Any ideas there?
Also, I got some of a small group of them too, mostly females and with some babies in the group. I can remember being so excited that I doubt that any warning from my friends would have stopped me from taking those pictures. As you might suspect, I'm pretty much of a risk taker; have been all my life.
You will get a kick out of my wild life, sewslow! I am lucky?? enough to witness the wonderful migration of Canadian Geese fall and spring every year. Right on my property. 100's of thousands of them. We live right in the middle of a migration path. It is a 5 mile wide band, and some locals have never seen it. Some of our neighbors tease DH every year about his unusual Herd. They literally blanket the fields.
It is a love/hate relationship with that many birds... We rather regard them like flies.
They mow the hay fields to putting greens. They wander into the barns and eat the cattle feed, and it is a health hazard that could shut us down (NO POULTRY ALLOWED IN DAIRY BARNS!!!!) They nest in the damp earth and leave "potholes" that are a hazard for cattle feet and legs, and are hard on machinery. They eat everything in sight, even freshly planted fields... They are so bold, you can walk amongst them, and they will just fly up, and settle back right behind you. The dogs do not even bother to chase them, they just gave up in frustration as puppies. They just waddle out of the way of the tractors. They are so noisy, all night and day, and the mess they leave behind... the good part is it is great fertilizer, and it is free, sort of, despite the damage...
These are the northern birds, on their way to the Great White North. They are not the birds that are used to humans, but they still eat the plants from right up around my house. And float in my pool.
It is an awesome, noisy, wondrous sight, twice a year. I really should take pictures, but like everything else you get used to, you take it for granted. Cathy
Long ago when I lived in Denver my Library Director lived north and East of Denver and they could have nothing in their yards-grass, flowers, trees-It was home
to all the grasshoppers in Colorado-every year. Her yard was terrible-and a nice house. In Ohio there are pockets where there is no water. Wildlife and water its Buyer Beware. My land is irrigated and that keeps the rattlesnakes away.
I have heard that grasshoppers can devastate vegetation, but have never seen it. I have seen army caterpillars, and they can deforest a bush in a very short time! I can only imagine how hoppers could move even faster! I am always amazed at the beauty of even the ugly side of nature. Cathy
When I was a small child in Iowa, I can remember the huge grasshoppers everywhere, and my family who lived on farms complaining about them eating the crops. Most farmers would hire crop dusters to fly over their fields and spray for them. And yes ...those buggers could really mow down a field of hay faster than you could imagine. I didn't like them much either, and was happy when we moved to the Pacific Northwest.
Around here cropdusters are almost a thing of the past. They used to be everywhere. When my partner had his machinery sale I couldn't beleve what his ancient manure spreader brought. At one time you could have bought a tractor for that. Just think tho of the price for the new Bernina. They sent me a video but I'm happy with mine. (Have to be anyway!) What will they think of next. 40" long.
Hee, hee-- I love the way a discussion about presser feet has become a discussion of wildlife and cropdusters! Here, near the capitol of California, we awaken to crop dusters every morning, and have coyotes, huge raccoons, possums, wild turkeys, and even a few mountain lions in addition to geese, cranes, and all the birds using the Western Flyway--all kinds of interesting things that distract me from learning more about my sewing machine and specialty presser feet!
Your message made me smile; thanks for sharing about the wild life in your area of the country. You must be near Sacramento, correct? I had no idea that there was a lot of wild life in that area. What fun. (And what a beautiful place to live).
When I lived in SW Portland, there were two raccoons (you reminded me of them) that would come into the backyard and "bathe" in a large pool I had there for the birds. One night, I turned a spot light on them, and they really showed off ...as if they were performing. It was really cute. But ...I never let my little poodle out at night without being on a leash ...and right next to me!! Those coons can be very vicious.
On another subject: You mentioned being distracted from learning about your sewing machine: I've had my "new" one ;-) for possibly 8-10 years at least, and I still don't know how to use all the features without looking at the manual. In a way, that is good, because there is always a wonderful surprise right around the corner!
Edited 4/8/2009 1:44 pm by sewslow67
I'm still on a learning curve for my machine after I won't say how long. I'm enjoying all the videos,etc. on the new Bernina 830 but frankly even if I could afford it who needs another terrific learning curve. Mine does all I'll ever need and then some. I have the embroidery-my problem is what to put it on. There"s a couple of neat things on my machine that they haven't mentioned on the new one. Maybe it just didn't seem important enough to mention. Anyway I have to have time to talk about the wildlife!!! I do see that Bernina discovered the Pfaff trademark or maybe their patten ran out. Anyway it took them a long time to get it. I have the Cut and Sew attachment for my machine but could have saved the money since I went ahead and bought a serger. Or left the serger at the store!
Ya know, this is one of the reasons I really do like this message board. 'Moderators' don't get pissed off when we get way WAY off topic. This is like having a very pleasant cup of coffee with good friends sitting around the kitchen and just visiting, going from one topic to the next. Rarely does anyone here get upset about anything. Most everyone is so upbeat, kind and cheerful, helpful. What a great place to visit.Right now, I'm cooking up a storm, I have 7 people coming for a Passover Seder tonight, but at the moment, you are all sitting at my kitchen table with me!
Edited 4/8/2009 1:51 pm ET by jjgg
Very well said! I am so thankful for this site and all you special people that bring joy into my life, as well as all the great instructions and tips! Mary
Oh, Cathy; do take pictures and share them with us. That would be a sight to see. And yes ...you would have plenty of free fertilizer.
If you have any golf course around there, the golfers would no doubt have to watch where they walked ...
And yes, I got a hoot out of reading about your wild life. What a funny story! Thanks for sharing it.
Next month there's a new book coming out called The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook. Looks interesting & will contain info on using presser feet. Amazon has a write-up here: http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Machine-Attachment-Handbook/dp/0896899233/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=booksqid=1239248087&sr=1-1Also, there's a great resource on the PatternReview website that will take to to a treasure trove of information on sewing machine feet:http://sewing.patternreview.com/SewingDiscussions/topic/27779Edited 4/8/2009 11:51 pm ET by GingerThreads
Edited 4/9/2009 11:01 am ET by GingerThreads
These are both really terrific links, Ginger Threads; thanks so very much for sharing them with us. I'm saving them to file for future reference. One just can't have enough reference materials. Thanks again, and also for putting them in a usable, logical order. Good job!
Thanks for the link to the attachment book. I put it on my wish list for when money isn't so tight. I was thinking on the weekend, that I want to make a list of the feet I really want and don't have at this time, so I can start scouting them out and know when I'm getting a bargain. I do so wish thought that my machine had just a few more decorative stitches as my favorite ones are missing from what is otherwise a fabulous machine (Janome 6500).
Gail
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