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New sewing machine

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RE8ELD0G

RE8ELD0G

Settler
Oct 3, 2012
882
12
Kettering
Ive just had the go ahead from SWMBO to buy a sewing machine.
Got a great new brother one turning up next week.
Bettet get on YouTube and start learing how to use it.......
Gonna be making my own down kit and hammock bits from now on..........

This may take a while........

Anyone got any tips tricks or patterns???

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk
 
RE8ELD0G said:
Anyone got any tips tricks or patterns???
Click to expand...

Practice on samples of the materials you're going to use for a project before starting in earnest - it's important to get the needle, thread, and tensions worked out, otherwise you'll be spending your time snapping needles and thread, and unpicking piles of thread loops from the piece. Get spare needles - they will break - and buy good quality (I was recommended to get Schmetz, and they've been good).

Get your working setup organised so that you have a good feel for the throttle pedal at slower speeds - don't want to be at a critical bit and suddenly get a burst of rapid stitching just where you don't want it.

Get some spare bobbins (the little spool that goes inside). They're cheap and loading two or three with the same thread saves having to disturb things too much if the current bobbin runs out in the middle of sewing. Extras are obviously handy if you use more than one type or colour of thread. (Can get little storage boxes that hold lots of them).

Also get: tailor's chalk (in different colours can be handy), tape measure with metric and imperial, good scissors (large dressmaker's ones for cutting out, small ones for snipping thread), seam ripper (for undoing mistakes rather than ripping seams per-se). Something to store all the bits in - take your pick of the many storage boxes with little compartments. A good work light that can be positioned to throw the light where you need it (the machine's built in lamp won't be up to much and gives a very localised light at the needle). A small bucket for chucking all the bits of tiny offcuts and snippings, and the bits of trimmed thread that build up after every run of stitching.
 
I made a bobbin rack out of 10 4" nails pushed through an old icecream tub lid, with a second lid glued to the bottom to secure the nails.
As I have 3 different machines with 3 different bobbin sizes this set up allows me to see which are which and see the different colour threads that I have left on the various bobbins.
Try and find an equal feed food AKA "a walking foot) or even a quilting foot - it makes life so much easier with materials that are slippery against each other or the plate.
Get a huge supply of needles - and change them before they get too blunt.
Ferrero Roche boxes are ideal storage boxes - and come with free chocolates!
Get a "quick unpick" seam ripper for all those mistakes we all make.
Practice, practice, practice!
Buy lots of cheap fabric to practice on :)
 
Woah........info overload.......

John what are these feet you speak of as i will want to be making waterproof gear etc and i know that its slippery stuff.

Please everyone keep the info coming.

Also does anyone know of any good YouTube vids to watch....?
 
Google "walking foot sewing machine" lots of pics and info there :)
They really help ...
RE8ELD0G said:
Woah........info overload.......

John what are these feet you speak of as i will want to be making waterproof gear etc and i know that its slippery stuff.

Please everyone keep the info coming.

Also does anyone know of any good YouTube vids to watch....?
Click to expand...
 
ooohhh they look fancy.
Will keep them in mind when i start my projects.

Im looking forward to getting it and practicing some smaller items.

I really need a ridge line organiser bag for my hammock
 
I just picked up my new machine today.
a9atyjyr.jpg
 
RE8ELD0G said:
Ive just had the go ahead from SWMBO to buy a sewing machine.
Got a great new brother one turning up next week.
Bettet get on YouTube and start learing how to use it.......
Gonna be making my own down kit and hammock bits from now on..........

This may take a while........

Anyone got any tips tricks or patterns???

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Don't open the down in the lounge.
 
the hardest thing I find is speed control, mine seems to have stop, or warp speed with nothing in-between :)
 
ozzy1977 said:
the hardest thing I find is speed control, mine seems to have stop, or warp speed with nothing in-between :)
Click to expand...

I had that problem with one of my machines - I had the machine serviced and it turned out that the foot pedal had a fault that was cheap and easy to repair :)
 
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