Burda Style For people who sew
Hello.
I’m a beginner in sewing and PLS I really need help understanding some basic things.
As a beginner, I find it very difficult to control the foot pedal of the machine and also, is it normal to lose interest in a project when it is not taking shape? I am sooo confused. Please I need sewing advise ASAP!
Thanks!
6 Posts
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Oct 14, 2009, 11.05 PMby latjjardbai
can’t help about your foot pedal, i guess practice will fix this…about loosing interest: no, that happens to everyone, the trick is to stay in doing the project :)
Take simple projects, take easy patterns … Choose them after looking out for tutorials, if theres no tutarial you understand, you should do it later….check out threadbanger.com for videos….buy a basic knowledge book abbout sewing…..or better: take a class at your local sewing store or whereever :)
keep on trying -it’s not rocket science
1 Reply
Oct 16, 2009, 09.43 AMby ojglo1
I’ll keep practicing then and hopefully soon enough, I’ll get the hang of it. I’ll go to the site you recommended. Thank you!!!!!!!! :)
Oct 15, 2009, 11.21 AMby KateXXXXXX
The thing with the foot pedal is easy, but takes practice to perfect…
Just take some waste fabric and practice going REALLY SLOWLY! See if there is a smooth transition between fast and slow speeds, or if the machine has a ‘take-off’ point. Learn where that is, and how to control your foot pressure. I find that it helps to sew in bare feet! Especially on older machines with just a button on a square tortoise for a foot control.
Also have a look at the machine and the foot control and see if you have a speed regulator. If so, set it to a slower speed for now. You’ll soon get good enough to speed up.
As for losing interest… Choose a couple of quick projects that you can do in a day or a morning. Play with the machine and decorate pockets on bags… Explore what the machine can do and think beyond the basic pattern.
2 Replies
Oct 16, 2009, 09.41 AMby ojglo1
Ok, I did not know the foot pedal-thingy happens to other people, I thought it was just me. Thanks for the advice. Cheers!
Oct 16, 2009, 09.42 AMby ojglo1
Thank you!
Oct 15, 2009, 03.28 PMby katensew
Hello there — When I was teaching I used to provide paper to practice on — it does eventually blunt the needle. I drew straight and wavy lines — oh and corners – so lots of manoeuvres could be tried. If I had a pupil unable to use the foot control – then I placed it under an elbow at the front of the machine – so that 2 hands could still be used to control the fabric. It is rather practice that makes perfect — even skilled persons may be a bit fazed when they first get a new machine. You may have a speed regulator fitted to help.
Oct 15, 2009, 03.28 PMby katensew
Hello there — When I was teaching I used to provide paper to practice on — it does eventually blunt the needle. I drew straight and wavy lines — oh and corners – so lots of manoeuvres could be tried. If I had a pupil unable to use the foot control – then I placed it under an elbow at the front of the machine – so that 2 hands could still be used to control the fabric. It is rather practice that makes perfect — even skilled persons may be a bit fazed when they first get a new machine. You may have a speed regulator fitted to help.
1 Reply
Oct 16, 2009, 09.40 AMby ojglo1
thank you so much for this!!!!
Oct 16, 2009, 10.53 AMby AnaJan
When I starred sewing, I had the same problem. So, I used to sew barefoot :). It somehow helped me get a control over the foot pedal. I wear sabots at home, and I found them very impractical. The tick wood distracted me, I could not sense whether I have pressed the foot or not. Only after few months of sewing I started sewing with my sabots on. It’s all a matter of practice.
2 Replies
Oct 16, 2009, 11.55 AMby latjjardbai
I still sew barefoot :)
Oct 16, 2009, 12.55 PMby AnaJan
:-) You know, I find it really amazing how similar our experiences are! Though, I guess it’s normal we have similar experiences since we practice the same kind of craft.
At the time I started sewing, I had no sewing company, no teacher, no one. Hence, I had no one to pass to my observations. Now that I am a member of this community, I started recurring of all the little things I went through while learning to sew.
Oct 16, 2009, 09.14 PMby KateXXXXXX
I learned to use my mothers ancient and cobbled together Singer when I was seven. It just could NOT get the hang of the foot control in shoes… Hence I started my sewing career 45 years ago in bare feet and I’ve never seen any reason to change! :D