SEWING 'TIDBITS'!
FOCUS ON FEET
Like any hobby or occupation, sewing is great fun. In order to get the most from your machine it's best to use the right tools. Your machine comes with some different feet and there are many other specialty feet available to give you that professional look. Every machine has a different selection of starter and optional feet. Let's look at the functions of different feet.
All Purpose Foot — Supports the fabric well for construction of garment. The bottom of the foot holds the fabric close to the plate giving the sewer good control.
Embroidery Foot — Has a grooved area that allows decorative stitches to go under the foot without being compressed. May have clear plastic top or open-toe for greater visibility. (Although convenient for visibility, it's not satisfactory for regular sewing.)
Zipper Foot — Has a cut-away section of the foot so that the foot does not rest on the zipper when sewing. For best zipper results it is good to have a zipper foot that allows straight-line sewing on either side of the foot so that you can sew both sides of the zipper from the same direction.
Blind Hem Foot — Has a guide for the fold of the fabric so that the zigzag of the blind hem stitch just catches the front of the garment. May have a screw to allow for adjustment of guide width. This foot can be used for topstitching and stitch-in-the-ditch.
Overcast Foot — Has a guide that runs along the edge of the garment to insure that overcasting is along outside edge of fabric. Works with a preset zigzag width.
Straight Stitch Foot — Has a single hole which allows sewer to sew on light weight or filmy fabric. Won't allow the fabric to be pulled up and down by the needle. Prevents fabric from 'going' into needle plate hole.
Pintuck Foot — Used with a narrow twin needle. Makes parallel rows of soft pintucks without pressing folds for tuck. Ideal for heirloom sewing.
1/4" Foot — Ideal for piecing quilts.
Darning Foot — Used with the feed dogs down to allow for the sewer to manipulate the fabric for mending or more usually for free-motion embroidery or stipple quilting.
Walking or Evenfeed Foot — Gives a set of feed dogs on top of fabric which makes fabric feed evenly. Used for quilting layers of fabric, for matching plaids and on difficult fabrics.
Cording Foot — Grooves guide cording for ease in couching over threads with zigzag or decorative stitches.
Roller Foot — Provides steady feeding by keeping leather, suede, or synthetic materials tightly against the feed dogs. Fabulous for materials that are difficult to feed such as leather, vinyl and suede.
Ruffler Foot — Sews evenly tucked ruffles.
Piping Foot, Beading Foot, Sequin Foot — Allows bulky embellishments to be fed easily.
We are always ready to help you choose the right foot for your job. Come in and ask us. We also love to see your projects.
CABINETS - Sylvia Design Cabinets has just introduced a new cabinet -spacesavers dream machine cabinet and cutting table in one with recessed hinges
- - working surface of 59"X39"
- - left side and back opens up and out and is supported by wooden frames
CUTTING TABLE - Tired back? Think about the 35" high X72X40" when fully open
- - closes to a slim 16 1/2 X 40" all on locking wheels and with a drawer for cutting tools
- - most versatile - tucks into a corner when not in use and great for buffet dinners with a large crowd ( now there's a novel reason for a new purchase for the sewing room)
WELCOME - We are pleased to welcome Joyce Lore who has joined our sewing organization!
CLASSES - Our class and club coordinator Pat Dykes has taken on more duties and now also teaches the lessons on machines and sergers purchased. Pat has prepared a good lineup of Fall Classes as well as Club Schedule for your convenience. Register early and mark your calendars.
SERVICE - Al Bemister and Dean Crocker can offer a convenient one day service to help you if you're in a bind or rush. IN BY 9 OUT BY 5 is a service we can usually offer on request. Please call ahead to ask!
MACHINE MAGAZINES - PFAFF produces a terrific magazine complete with detailed projects and loaded with inspirational samples and ideas. Back issues are available by order. Current issues can be reserved or picked up at our front sales counter. JANOME recently produced a digest initially available only in the U.S. but due to overwhelming response now also for Canada. We have subscription applications. The 2nd issue is reported to have double the content of the 1st and is idea packed for more machine models.
BOOKS - Our extensive book department includes diverse topics including quilting, sashiko, heirloom, home decor, trapunto, free motion embroidery, upholstery, polar fleece and more. Authors include Sandra Betzina, Philip Pepper, Nancy Zeiman, Shirley Adams, Palmer Pletsch, Patti Palmer/Gail Brown/Sue Green, Nancy Cornwell and Glenda Sparling. All books are sale priced.
THREADS - THREADS - THREADS - THREADS - THREADS-THREADS
Hi everyone, it's Phyllis here. Has anyone ever wondered how many types of thread you can buy at Sawyers? I'll bet no one guessed 21 yes that's right, 21 but SHHH, please don't tell Dean, he'd have a fit. As it is when a rep shows me a new colour chart he almost goes into convulsions! So, what are all these threads? Here goes---
THREADS FOR SEWING MACHINES
Mettler silk finish 100% cotton 50wt. Good general purpose thread, but not for knits, as it has no stretch. Use this thread if you are sewing silk, because then your thread will be weaker than the fabric, and it will break, not your garment. This is a great thread to use for quilting. There are 188 colours and two spool sizes.
Mettler cotton embroidery - This is also 100% cotton but a finer 60wt. Good for machine embroidery when you don't want a high sheen, also good for quilting and heirloom sewing, 108 colours.
Cotty machine embroidery - 100% cotton, this thread is size 12 wt., so much thicker than most of our machine embroidery threads. It's really nice if your design is rather spaced out, or you want a matte finish. 1000mtr spools, 50 shades.
Aurifil machine embroidery - 100% rayon 40wt. This is a gorgeous thread for all your machine embroidery, applique etc. It is very economical with 1000 mts. on a spool and comes in 304 beautiful colors.
Madeira Metallic - When You want to dress up your embroidery, a metallic thread will do the job. There are 36 colours, with 200mts. on the spools, including several golds and silvers.
Sulky Sliver - This thread will really give you GLITZ. It's like sewing with Christmas Tinsel. It comes in 24 vibrant shades, with 225mts. on a spool.
Madeira Jewel - This is another metallic thread with the same high shine effect as the Sliver, but this has a holograph effect. It will really give your work a SPARKLE!
BOBBIN THREADS
Nylon - 100% nylon thread is a nice fine thread with lots of stretch. It comes in small spools of 1200yds. in black and white, 15000mts/8ozs. spools in white only. We have found that the PFAFF machines don't perform well with this thread, whereas the Janome's really love it.
Polyester - 100% polyester also has stretch and is very fine. Available in black or white, there are 10000mts. on a spool. Perfect for Pfaff and Janome and Elna machines.
Aurofil Cotton - We now have a less expensive 100% cotton bobbin thread for those of you who like a natural fiber. 10000 yds on each spool
SERGER THREADS
Cansew 100% polyester - this is the best serger thread you can buy! 2000mts. on a spool and over 60 colours to choose from. We almost always have this thread at 20% off which makes it a really good deal.
Wooly Nylon - Another 100% nylon thread, but lots of very fine fibres with enormous stretch. Mostly used for rolled hems on napkins etc., and also good for Lycra and Spandex garments.
Pearl Crown Rayon - This is a thick thread used as a decorative in your serger's loopers. We have 22 colours, 5 of which are variegated.
Ribbon Floss - This is another decorative thread which would be used in the loopers. There are 15 regular shades and 8 metallic.
OTHER SPECIALTY THREADS
Coats Nylon - This is a very strong 100% nylon thread which we recommend for repairs to boat covers, sails etc., It can be used on your machines, but tighten up your top tensions to help pull up the bobbin thread.
Coats Koban - Again, a very strong thread, but this one is strictly for hand sewing.
Monofilament - Otherwise known as invisible thread. Use this one for quilting and for applique using Ultrasuede, available in clear and smoke.
Jeans Stitch - Just as it sounds, this thread is for highlighting the seams of your denim projects. It is a thick, strong thread, and should be used with at least a size 16 Denim needle.
YLI Silk - Yes, we do now have silk thread in stock! At the moment we only have 4 basic colours, but who knows, if we don't let Dean read this, he may not notice if we sneak a few more in.
Well, the above is quite a list! I think when I say that Sawyers has the best selection of threads on the Island, you will probably agree with me. I am very grateful to be working at a store where we can have such a wide and varied selection. Why would you want to go anywhere else?
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