A Winter Top

I loved this fabric when I bought it and it's been in my stash for ages. It's a jersey knit, with plenty of stretch. I liked the feel of it so I bought it...It was really enjoyable sewing this fabric, I was really careful pressing it as I didn't want the fabric to stretch any further.

The one and only problem I had, and it was my own fault. I overlocked the hem, then used a twin needle to top stitch the hem (too lazy to change the thread on my Janome cover-pro). This was a big mistake...Firstly I should not have tried to twin needle stitch over an overlocked edge...The whole hem had major tunnelling. Actually I didn't know why I did this because usually I just sew without overlocking the edge if I'm using a twin needle.

Lesson learnt...I re-did the hem with the cover-stitch machine and it turned out perfect.

Unpicking started off well, I use cheap snips to do this...Though in
the end I cut the hem off and started again.

The cover stitching was perfect, no missed stitches. I used my 'Humper
Jumper' to go over the seams.

Vogue 8634 Size: M. Easy sew a little big fitting wise, but I would definitely sew
this top again.

Long top made to be worn with tights...not over this A frame skirt. I had
a reluctant model who didn't want to change into tights for the pic.

It looks lovely and warm for winter but I think I could have made it
slightly more fitted...

Side view...

The fitting of this top is a bit big  because my model had 2 layers
of clothing underneath when I did the fitting so now it looks slightly loose!

McCalls 7130 Skirt

A Sewing Disaster

I've just tried out McCall's 7130 skirt pattern,  Size  L. All went very well until I pinned it together, then it started to stretch bigger, and bigger. I think it had ended up more like a XL. Otherwise it's a great pattern and I'd use it again definitely.

What a surprise for me  I made most of the skirt on my Elna 745 overlocker with no problems at all..In fact it was a dream to sew with.

Finished skirt hanging on the line looks more like a coffee sack and not really
true to colour...it's much brighter.

Unfortunately though I had a bad Janome cover-pro day. I fixed up the stitch tension the other day so everything was set up ready to go, and I was sewing happily away until the stitches broke...Then the Janome Cover-pro didn't make any stitches and then it did. In fact this is the worst cover hem I have ever done...

So much for my three thread cover-pro. By the way I have never ever had success with using 3-thread stitch on the Janome the thread always breaks. What a mess my hem became, it was it was just plain ugly and chewed up... Don't you hate that?

What a mess! No I'm not unpicking it, much too hard to do...I'll have
to cut it off!

The finished skirt is wearable, but the photo doesn't do it justice as it's not so sack like when wearing it. The hem is not good though and I've left the hem for now.  I'm going to decide whether to chop it off and start again using the 2-thread stitch.

The finished hem...and a plain stretch stitch hem using the Juki on another
skirt. The other skirt look much better. I knew I should have just used a 
plain stretch stitch and not bothered with the Janome Cover-pro.

In the midst of it all the fat cat sat and the brown dog watched...

Behaving themselves for once...they love to be where I am, just watching.

After all this trouble I'm now playing around with the Janome. I  have now changed the Janome Cover-pro back to a narrow two thread. The stitches below look perfect. So I will see how It all goes on the next knit garment I sew.

Perfect! Do you find that when you set your machine up to sew in a couple of
 days/ Then when you use it, it seems like Gremlins have been at it and all the
tensions are changed. The numbers no longer work...

Jaile Circle Skirt 2456

Jaile sewing pattern 2456 was pretty easy to use, plus sew.  I should have used one size smaller to give the tiered skirt a much tighter fit. Unfortunately I sewed the rolled hem first (lesson to be learnt here). This made it impossible for me to take it in without losing the length of the skirt. You can't unpick my rolled hem without cutting the fabric, hence it's best to cut off. Because the person is tall whom I'm sewing this skirt for it would have been too big a sacrifice too lose some of the length. Also I never made the pants that go underneath so the length mattered...

I did lengthen the waist band slightly, and then doubled it as I did on the red skirt...Next time when sewing this skirt I certainly won't sew the rolled hem first. Also I think I won't double the waist band to attach to the two tiered skirt. This made the seam bulky because of the thickness of the Lycra.

Details:

Pattern: Jaile 2456, Download from Jaile
Fabric: 4 way sparkly wet look stretch Lycra
Cost: Around $30.00 per metre for fabric only
Size: AA (14)
Style: Pull on tiered circle skirt

Shoes and Sewing Machines

I was going to buy some winter shoes, it's getting colder now...But in a moment of madness my shoe purchase ended up becoming a sewing machine purchase. The joys of getting older, I change my mind on a whim. Do I really need another sewing machine? No I don't...

In fact for my $100.00 or so sewing machine purchase could have bought me some exciting new pieces of fabric...No more stash busting, I'm really over my stash I need new fabric to keep me motivated. Buying fabric instead of shoes would have been okay. You can wear fabric but you can't wear a sewing machine...

'Just one look that's all it took' (just like the song) and any common sense I had was gone. I ended up buying a a vintage Bernina Record 730. The first sewing machine I ever owned which I traded in on a Bernettee for my daughter. My excuse for buying the Bernina 730 was that my daughter is not allowed to sew on my sewing machines. So I had to buy her an old one for her to use because she no longer has the Bernette.

Well the idea of giving it to her has now gone 'right out the window'. This Bernina Record 730 runs better than my Bernina 801 so she can't have it for now...She can have it when I'm over my Bernina 730 obsession...

Once that foot pedal goes it will be pretty much a lost cause as a working sewing machine. The sewing machine will only become an object to admire...so I might as well make the most of my time with this old Bernina.

Because the sewing machine can be changed to a slower speed, I tried to teach my my grandson to sew a seam. I must admit he was a little bit scared, but it's a good skill for him to learn. He might have to hem his own pants one day just like my dad did...

Nostalgia and total impulse buying is what swayed me to buy this sewing machine. Things from my younger days I want them all back....When my son saw it he said, "Haven't I seen this machine somewhere before?"

Yes when he was about three!

Here he is 'Bernie the Bernina' some scratches
 in the front, otherwise perfect...

Plug number: 011-1672

Three way plug one hole is blocked. Was
it made like this? I don't know...

The  original old green foot pedal

Number on foot pedal:  Typ: FT6-2A6
110-250V

Bernina Record 730 fancy stitches

I made a felt circle for the cotton reel
to sit on

Threaded up ready to make table mats  

When I Woke up...

I could hear the sewing machine buzzing away this morning....It wasn't me sewing so who was it? That cat he had his paws on the sewing machine foot, with half of his big body on top of it. The Bernina was sewing away tangling up all the thread...

Looks innocent but...

He's guilty as charged....

Bernina 801: How to remove tangled thread around the bobbin

If thread tangles and bunches up when
sewing you need to open up bobbin
case cover...

Most times you only have to remove
the bobbin case to untangle the thread...

Pic of bobbin cover and hook

The thread has tangled behind the hook.
I'm going to have to unclip the hook

My Bernina needs a clean lots
of lint and fluff...gosh it's dirty

It was rather messy when I took the cover
off...I don't always remove the sewing foot to do
this. But it is best you do it makes it much easier...

This pic shows you where the levers are

Remove all the thread and clean
Now it's ready to lock back together
again..

Put the bobbin back... 

Finally snap the  free-arm cover back on
to the machine

Bernina 801: Removing the Needle Holder Screw

To remove the needle holder screw you need to unscrew it with a screwdriver. It's a very easy way to change your sewing machine needle. The Bernina 801 Sewing Machine came with a little black screw driver with a wee prong in the middle especially for this purpose.

Don't worry if you have lost yours or have not got one, you can still get your sewing machine needle out. Just use a small screwdriver that fits into the top of the screw, a ordinary flat sided screwdriver will do the trick. I am unsure if you can replace or even buy the black screwdriver. It really is a real gem if you have one keep it!

Note:
If you've lost your screw (needle clamp screw) for the Bernina 801 needle holder it might be possible to replace it with one similar....A sewing repair shop may have something or hardware store. Because it is just the thread on the screw that is holding the needle in place when you tighten it. You just need something that fits..

Ready to remove the sewing machine
needle...

The original  black metal screwdriver  you
use to remove the needle holder screw

Very easy to unscrew, I really like this
 type of needle holder...I can  see it!

Nearly there....

Having the prong on the screw driver
 makes it easier to remove and still
hold onto the screw

This is what the needle clamp screw
looks like....

The front view of the needle
holder screw

Now you are ready to pull the needle out
and replace it. Next you then place the
screw back into the needle holder and
re-screw tightly

Bernina 801: Removing the Frame Cover

How do you open the top (the frame cover) of your Bernina 801 sewing machine....Even I forget and I guess I haven't done this for awhile because my button was really stuck! My poor machine is getting tired and old. I must look under there more often (perhaps it need a little oil).

The release knob...

Press the release knob...

The frame cover can now be removed..
Now you can look inside

Granny was a Dressmaker

I've been having a tidy up and I found my Granny's sewing machine photo. This was her new Singer machine and the last one she used. It was then passed down to my Aunt. I don't know where it is now (wished I had it). It's a Singer Fashion Mate 237 it's supposed to have a really good satin stitch.

Close-up....(source Google)

We are such lucky sewers these days with all our fancy sewing machines. In my Gran's day you only had a plain basic mechanical sewing machine...Oh how I would have loved to see how Granny sewed everything and what finishes she used to tidy up her seams. Here is a pic showing some of the dresses she made for her girls, she dressed them all alike...

The sewing machine at my Aunties house in the
  late 90's. I think the Singer Fashion Mate 237
 is from the 1960's

Extra Feet for the Juki F600

Here are my extra sewing feet for the Juki F600 I chose these ones:
Invisible Zipper Foot-Part No. 40080955
Button Attaching Presser Foot-Part No.40080969
Applique Presser Foot- Part No. 40080951
Pearl Attaching Presser-Part No.40080956 (not sure why I got this one I think it was a case of if I didn't buy it I might need it...crazy huh!

They were all bought online in Japan from a Japanese web-site mishin-net-store. Not that I can understand how to navigate this site as it's all in Japanese....Now I'll have to find myself a wee container to keep my Juki feet in or I'll lose them...

Packaging & instructions

Extra Juki F 600 sewing feet, they don't come
with the sewing machine...

Top view of feet L to R... Invisible Zip,
 blue tipped- Button Attaching Foot,
Applique Foot, Pearl Attaching Foot

and some snips from Japan....