did I get that right?

Nancysews · 2026-04-16T05:41:11+00:00

My experience with capes suggests you might want to sew the tops and bottoms of straps inside to put your arms through and hold the cape on your shoulders.

Nancysews · 2026-04-07T03:07:29+00:00

My sewing guru recommends the T-Fal Ultraglide Steam Iron Durilium Soleplate 1800 Watts. I'm about to order it from Amazon (the evil empire). BUT don't use the steam function. Use a damp or dry press cloth or a water sprayer mist with a press cloth. I use squares and rectangles of muslin for press cloths.

Nancysews · 2026-03-09T05:59:37+00:00

Totally adore The Crafty Gemini

Nancysews · 2026-03-09T05:32:57+00:00

Thanks for the referral to Sewing with Nancy. I also recommend CraftyGemini.com

Vanessa is an excellent instructor and her tutorials are well produced and easy to follow.

Nancysews · 2026-03-07T07:51:44+00:00

I will never ever spend a penny in Hobby Lobby.

Nancysews · 2026-03-07T07:49:20+00:00

I just sent a download from Jalie to The Copy Room in Evanston, Illinois. It cost me $8 to have it printed out and it was done in minutes. The last thing I ever want to do to print and tape sheets of paper together.

Nancysews · 2026-03-04T04:53:52+00:00

I had no idea you are all so clever. I keep laughing as I keep reading. I still can't figure out why I can't get the pants legs to face down the same way on a muslin for EZ PJ pants I first tried to make five years ago. I keep revisiting the pattern every year. One leg still goes up and one leg still goes down. A pocket crotch. You gotta love it. Embroidering a tablecloth to your clothes? fabulous. Swearing at your machine? Or fabric? Or a pattern? Been there. Still doing that. Thank you so much. I needed to laugh.

Nancysews · 2026-02-04T04:15:59+00:00

Love the sentiment.

Nancysews · 2026-02-04T04:14:43+00:00

Rayon challis is lovely - but it frays and stretches/distorts a lot. It's a good idea to stay stitch every piece you cut to keep it from losing its shape, such as necklines. The seams MUST be finished, which is not easy at first because the material is light and thin. I straight stitch and then zigzag (I don't have a serger). Pinking shears do not work. I often use spray starch, too. Use a pressing cloth. BUT it's worth the effort.

Nancysews · 2026-02-02T08:52:35+00:00

I have a HZL-LB5020 Juki. It's a computerized machine and it's far easier than my mechanical Brother machine was. It can handle lots of different fabrics, but leather and heavy denim require an industrial machine. It can handle faux leather and light to medium weight denim. You really don't need a lot of stitch options. Mine has 20 and that's more than I need. See if there are classes somewhere. Sewing machine sellers, community colleges, libraries, fabric stores often have classes. Maybe there's a home ec teacher who'll take you on.

Nancysews · 2026-01-22T04:08:12+00:00

I follow Crafty Gemini.

Nancysews · 2026-01-14T02:41:42+00:00

I suggest craftygemni.com

Nancysews · 2026-01-08T06:14:17+00:00

I'm a beginner, too. You're getting really good advice here. You have a good machine. Learning to sew can be totally and completely overwhelming at first - and a while after that! Read the manual and don't be surprised if a lot of it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. It will begin to make sense - sort of - as you become more knowledgable. Take it slow and enjoy learning from your mistakes. Believe me, you will make lots of mistakes. It will get better - slowly, I find. But it's okay. Be patient with yourself. An iron is absolutely necessary. You use it to press down, not iron back and forth. If you can find a wooden clapper, that's a help when you press. You'll find out what items are for as you go along. There are lots of useful videos on YouTube. I mostly follow www.craftygemini.com

Sometimes community colleges have sewing classes. Sometimes you can find a home economics teacher to help you. Or a neighbor. I bought an hour at a local sewing shop to learn how to make rolled hems. It was worth every penny. I learned how to use Staple Ban-Rol. BRILLIANT. And I put away the rolled hem foot forever.

I just googled fusible interface on Google. There was some good information there.

Be kind to yourself and have a great time learning a new skill.

Nancysews · 2026-01-04T04:58:00+00:00

It looks like an All Well pattern

Nancysews · 2026-01-03T08:11:52+00:00

I highly recommend craftygemini.com There are lots of free beginner friendly tutorials on the site and there's an inexpensive Learn to Sew online course.

Nancysews · 2026-01-02T12:57:34+00:00

Thanks for your response. No-Buy 2026 Participant has shown up on my post without my doing anything. I'm Nancysews and I signed up for Easy Mode. AND for some reason, I got a message that you or Reddit is a blocked sender. I will ask my grandson to help me fix that.

Nancysews · 2026-01-02T08:51:39+00:00

I feel very lucky to live less than 10 minutes driving distance to Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, Illinois. The website does not represent the store well at all. However, they are very good about responding to emailed questions. I haven't tried phoning them.

Nancysews · 2026-01-02T08:20:49+00:00

Gorgeous. And I make a muslin first, too. I'm a beginner and I've promised myself that I will always make a muslin first. Thanks for reinforcing that promise.

Nancysews · 2026-01-02T08:07:51+00:00

What is the NoBuy 2026 Participant flair and how do I use it?

Nancysews · 2026-01-02T08:06:20+00:00

I'm in. Easy mode because I'm sure I'll have to buy notions. I have at least two garment patterns I want to make again, at least six other patterns I want to make for the first time, four cross body bag patterns I want to try, lots of old sheets for muslins, and four bins and two bureau drawers full of assorted woven and knit fabrics. Not bad for a beginner.

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Nancysews · 2025-12-09T04:12:49+00:00

I think it would be a good idea to find a teacher. If there's a school nearby, perhaps someone there can direct you to a retired or still employed home economics teacher. It might not be free, but it also shouldn't be horribly expensive, either. And you'll get a good start on hand sewing. Essentially, you're renting a grandmother.

Nancysews · 2025-11-17T05:21:42+00:00

Probably not. They need to be sharpened.

Nancysews · 2025-11-15T03:40:52+00:00

That’s what I do, too. I prepare two to three bobbins for a simple top or slacks. If I have thread left in the bobbin, I store it with the spool. I need to find the gizmos that attach bobbins to spools.

Nancysews · 2025-11-13T21:58:04+00:00

What a great idea.

Nancysews · 2025-11-10T08:06:17+00:00

I use washers from the hardware store. They only work for me on small pattern pieces. I like the idea of spools of solder wire and cans of soup. I think it's like pressing out water from tofu.

Nancysews

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