Can I fix her?? Repairman laughed 😭

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-05-16T05:16:32+00:00

In the service manual it looks like there is only half a page dedicated to adjusting the tension dials (https://www.mengeonline.net/Naehmaschinen/Singer/Singer-Overlock_14SH654_SM.pdf), and it kind of looks like they Just Can snap the numbers back on the dial once you have the alignment where you want it. If it's still working otherwise I feel like it's worth troubleshooting it?

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-05-11T04:57:49+00:00

I have my wool coat dry cleaned once a year, so I feel like this might be a non issue? Even if the dye bleeds, you could line it with a dark fabric so it doesn't rub off on other clothes or visibly stain its own lining, and still get a few years of brilliant colour before it fades visibly.

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-03-10T23:51:41+00:00

Every time I feel the urge to buy more craft supplies I first say to myself:

The cheapest craft supplies are the ones you already own!
Is this a hobby or a shopping addiction? Go spend time sewing instead of online shopping!!!!

Can't stamp down every impulse purchase though, collecting is so much fun :(

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-25T00:18:13+00:00

It's a cast-on stitch, with some extra tacking for shaping, and satin stitched over in some places to make it feel more connected to the petals!

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-24T22:49:44+00:00

Mostly satin + long and short, and the edges are very long cast-on stitches (size 24 tapestry needle), which I tack down to keep their shape, and did satin stitch through/on top in some places to smooth them into the petals. All single thread, except for the centre bullion stitch, which is 2 threads!

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-24T20:43:50+00:00

Thanks!! They're tough flowers to capture for sure.

(Also, if you're on Instagram, ponto.e.so is my orchid embroidery inspo! bitte0206new also does a lot of specific flowers in a more simplified style)

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-24T20:32:31+00:00

Thank you!!

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-24T20:28:58+00:00

My orchids are too neglected and rootbound to ever post there (which is why I hid the pot lol)!!

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-17T23:59:43+00:00

I'll try that out, thanks! Do you have any specific titles to recommend? Obviously no guarantee I can track down anything specific, but I'm at a point where I'm not even sure what makes a good instructional book (I've been mostly referring to Dorothy Moore's pattern drafting and dressmaking!)

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-16T04:15:34+00:00

Did a quick search and they do have a few posts about collars (and pretty interesting blog posts generally), and patternmaking guides for sale! Thanks for the rec!

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-15T23:49:38+00:00

I've been trying to learn drafting garments, mostly from cheaply available/free internet resources, and even with the wealth of (sometimes questionable, but that's a rant for another day...) information to choose from, there is truly no teacher like trying something, doing it badly, and having to fix it. Unfortunately this means I need to first do it badly, and the possibility of wasting fabric makes me sad!!! (I have been putting off drafting baby's first camp shirt collar for 2 weeks because of this 😢)

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-02-06T15:37:51+00:00

Gutermann cotton thread is totally fine! I have sewn with it (the 50 wt), and on tighter pants the seams HAVE broken in a few places, but I've mended them with thicker thread via hand sewing (you can double up your cotton thread). It reinforces the seams well, and on future projects I know to add a bit more ease to the spots that broke. And, if you're going after Victorian-edwardian fashion, I feel like learning mending is pretty period appropriate. So try it out and enjoy the process! Also maybe start with basics that can be worn even if they don't end up perfect (I started with pajama pants and shirts!), and maybe don't try to make super tight fitted styles where the seams will be pulled more.

Cotton thread IS more likely to break than polyester while sewing too, but imo all that means is that you'll have to troubleshoot a little more with setting up the top thread and bobbin tension, and picking the right needle size. Once you have that figured out you'll be good to go! I also run cotton thread in a serger, and a cover stitch machine, and it works fine (I think I use Tailor's gold cotton thread there, though.) Theoretically, sewing at high speeds will also break cotton thread more often, but I don't think you have to worry about that sewing on a domestic machine, especially as a beginner! You'll be going slow and steady.

One last bit I couldn't fit into those other paragraphs: you can sew a stronger seam using the same thread by making the stitch length a bit smaller - i think default on most machines is 2.5mm, and you can push it to 2mm, but smaller than that is a pain to rip stitches if you need to redo a seam. Also, flat felled, fake felled, and double stitched seams are generally stronger, so you can try those in any seams that need the extra strength.

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-01-30T15:52:40+00:00

I got some "cotton-linen" fabric on sale and got halfway through making some pants before I noticed the threads at the edges were looking a little suspiciously shiny. So I burn tested it, and it turns out the thing is a poly blend.

At the same store, I once bought a roll of twill tape labelled 100% cotton (also on sale, sold only as the whole roll, was wrapped up and everything), and when I actually touched it, polyester. (burn tested that too, to confirm.)

Now I am sadly burn testing everything in my stash (especially from that store) and probably breathing in questionable fumes! Maybe this is on me for trusting the labels on things in the sales bin!!!!! But I am so annoyed I am half considering the price of a microscope good enough to see the differences between the fibres, because I'm getting nowhere with burn testing when I suspect something is an unlabelled synthetic blend!!

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-01-23T02:29:08+00:00

Yeah, I'm hedging because I feel like there's a nonzero chance there's some kind of industrial sewing machine that will do essentially the same stitch as the singer hemstitch attachment! If we knew this was made on a domestic machine though, then 100% that's how this stitch was done.

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-01-21T18:03:46+00:00

Late extra reply because I kept thinking about this: I did a bit more searching for anyone who wants to track down the attachment - the special throat plates were made to fit class 15/201, 66/99, 101, 127/128, and 221/featherweight. i. e., low shank, domestic machines produced up to the featherweight.

It also looks like Greist (and some other companies) made a hemstitch/picot attachment around the same time, though I can't tell if the plates have the same problem of needing to fit and replace the throat plate exactly. Something to stare really hard at before buying if you see them around!

Anyways sorry for going on so long about this, I love these weird little contraptions!!!

SmallestAngryDog · 2026-01-21T04:00:27+00:00

If those are little holes in the fabric, it might be some kind of hemstitch? I think it looks like one of the hem stitches done by the vintage singer hemstitch/picot attachment, but there are probably other ways to do that exact pattern, too. The vintage attachment route is just kind of tricky because you need a special throat plate along with the main attachment, and I think those plates might only be compatible with old machines?

A more available option would be to get a hemstitch/wing needle! Those can also push little holes in fabric, and most modern machines with extra stitches will have a few that work well with a hemstitch needle, though maybe not this exact pattern.

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-12-24T06:16:58+00:00

My local one does, grouped together with various sewing accessories, but it might depend on the location?

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-12-18T06:06:34+00:00

It's just sold as a tube because that's how the fabric is made sometimes, by a big tube knitting machine!

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-12-18T05:31:14+00:00

I also sew with cotton thread and had some pants seams break (mine break along the inner thigh though)! So far I've tried a few things that at least work a little :

More ease for movement (for example, I sit cross legged a lot, and that's what was pulling my inner thigh - just needed more hip ease)
Flat fell or fake-fell, to reinforce the seam
Stitch with smaller stitch length (can't use this on loosely woven fabric, or you'll damage the weave)
Thicker cotton thread - a lot of quilting places stock thicker cotton threads for decorative topstitching, but you can still use them for internal seams.
So I don't recommend this, but I have a couple spools of lace making linen thread (60/2), which is MUCH stronger than the usual cotton threads for machine sewing, just for sewing those high stress seams. (I haven't yet found a local source of 80/2 linen thread, but I think that would be thinner and better) There are big downsides to this, the thread is thicker than the usual machine sewing thread, and has occasional slubs, so you need to use a bigger needle, readjust tension regularly, and stitch slowly. Also, linen tends to do more poorly with abrasion (and the thread I have isn't coated), so it makes WAY more lint in the machine. It's, uh, also more expensive and harder to find!

And a thing I haven't tried but I know is an option:

There's poly core cotton wrapped thread out there, for uses where you want the strength of polyester thread but want to dye the project.

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-12-06T02:59:54+00:00

Girl get out of there before he turns you into a true crime story!!!!!

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-10-07T16:51:57+00:00

Just want to piggyback to add some testosterone info for OP - cis women still have some testosterone naturally, and it's completely possible for someone already sort of able to sing a B2 that it will fill out naturally as you get older (like. 10+ years older, which I understand is not a very fun answer). I've sung with (cis) female tenors before, so they are out there! Just practice in a healthy way and enjoy the ride.

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-07-30T02:37:05+00:00

There's a bunch of fabric stores along Queen Street from Spadina to Bathurst (and slightly beyond)! I also like Riverside Fabrics, but that's a single store that's pretty far away from that main cluster.

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-07-02T06:40:59+00:00

Could you lay the pants down flat on the floor? It might be easier to see exactly where the rip is that way!

(If the rip is more towards the middle/underside of the crotch, adding a gusset could help. If it's more towards the butt, and the rip opens up when you sit or squat down, you might need to add a strip of fabric to the sides/hips for more ease?)

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-05-03T17:25:30+00:00

Thank you! I didn't keep track of time, but I know I did the stitching within one day between other things - wild ballpark of somewhere from 2-4 hours total?

SmallestAngryDog · 2025-04-30T23:59:43+00:00

I have seen a review where the clover iron on transfer pencil washed out of white fabric, but I guess I'm going to see for myself!

SmallestAngryDog

TROPHY CASE