Burda Style For people who sew
It occurred to me during some discussions, particularly concerning serger/overlockers, that I haven’t been keeping my stitch log up to date…
This is a book of samples I used to keep. What I like to do is staple a sample of the fabric used with a note of the stitch type, the needles and threads used, tensions set, and fabric and process all noted. Thus when I come to do something similar again, I have a reference that will help me to decide what I need to do.
For example, from my recent excursions into The Land Of Lycra, I need to rescue a couple of bits of set-up seam and staple them to my sheet, noting which machine I sewed them on (Bernina 1150MDA or Brother 1034D), the number and type of threads, the tension set on each dial, the needle size and type, and the fabric type.
When I come to do another similar project, I have a ready reference for the process, and can start with those threads and settings rather than experimenting from scratch each time. This can save a lot of time and it only takes a minute or two to fill in the sheets, as I have a pile ready printed from a template I keep on the computer!
I also do it with processes like applique work and some of the odder things I do for historic costumes, especially when I need to work out a machined alternative to hand stitching, and when I’m working on raw edge finish stuff, which can be interesting or scary, depending on the fabric…
Does anyone else keep such a log? I started mine years ago, when I went on a ‘how to drive ytour overlocker’ course, but I haven’t kept it going as well as I should.
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Nov 2, 2009, 04.52 AMby Judeb
We were advised to keep a log like this when I was at college (nearly 30 years ago) and I did while I was there and following that when I was sewing regularly for others, now I struggle to sew as often as I would like and several moves across a couple of countries and continents means all my old information has been lost. It was a useful reference and if I ever started to sew professionally again I think I would keep a log again, saves a lot of trial and error each time.
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Nov 2, 2009, 10.10 AMby KateXXXXXX
As most of my sewing these days is for customers, I really ought to get the log up and running again. Especially as I’ve changed sergers a couple of times since I started it, and the settings for the new ones can be quite different from the old ones as well as from each other!