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From: Selene
Date: 03-05-2004, 05:58 AM (1 of 8)
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Thankyou for the welcome messages! I am beginning to get to terms with my new sewing machine, here I am with the instruction booklet trying to understando everything it says! Just a few questions (there will be more coming soon, I'm sure!  !!) Okay, what does "overcasting" mean? I have a tricot stitch, which is like the zig-zag one only it's kind of broken up in smaller stitches, apparently this is for overcasting elastic applications (I worked out overcasting means doing the edges of the fabric so they won't fray, right?) It says "guide the work so the right hand stitches fall off the edge of the fabric" Does this mean that there will be some stitches that don't actually stitch into the fabric? this is a new concept for me. Then I have various stretch stitch patterns, for which I use any of the stitch selectors, A-H that my machine has but change the stitch length to S.S. I've tried these out but the machine seems to make funny back and forward movements and I can't really work out what these are supposed to be for from the patterns they form?? The buttonhole thing is understood, the first one I've tried out on a scrap seems to work great! I attach buttons by hand, and also I usually do the hemming by hand and I see there is a stitch selector for blind stitch hemming. Do any of you use this or do you still do your blind stitch hemming by hand? Thankyou all for your patience! Selene Selene
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User: Selene
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 71 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 03-05-2004, 07:58 AM (2 of 8)
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Selene -- It sounds like you understand pretty well. Remember, you don't have to use everything right away and can play around with new stitches as you go along. Overcasting does just that. The stitch goes over the edge to finish it. That back and forth motion on stretch stitches gives the stitches the elasticity to stretch with the fabric. Give the blind hem a try. Be sure to practice a lot before you try it on a project so you have it down. It is really fast and lasts longer than a hand stitched hem. It won't work as well if there is a lot of ease to work into the hem like in a flaired or A-line skirt. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-05-2004, 09:14 AM (3 of 8)
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I've gotten to where I user blind stitch hems in almost everything...if you practice you can make a great hem and you won't believe the time you've saved. I baste my hemline in place before I do the blind stitch...I use the longest stitch my machine will do..with a Bernina I can double the length of the basting stitch and that is what I use...it allows me to take it out easier later. If I have extra fullness and it is not all that much, I run a basting line and gather it up before I baste up the hem. The basting in the hemline will hold it in place until I do the blind stitching and the blind stitch hem will keep it place when the hem is done...plus I don't take out the gathering stitches. Have fun! This is can be a GREAT time saver, especially if you are doing several dresses at the same time! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Selene
Date: 03-05-2004, 09:33 AM (4 of 8)
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Thankyou for the replies. I am giving it all a try, on scraps of fabric...VERY SLOWLY! I want to have a rough idea of everything my machine can do and what each stitch is for, although I can see that this is going to take quite some time! (and I don't have much of that at the moment...but little by little, and with your help to clear up my doubts all the better!) I have to work out how to manage the fabric placing etc to make the blind stitch hemming to work! Trial and error with everything I suppose! Also I'm just practicing straight stitching and zig zag on plain paper with no thread to try and get it straight which is hard enough! Selene Selene
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User: Selene
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 71
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From: paroper
Date: 03-05-2004, 10:50 AM (5 of 8)
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The paper is an excellent idea. When I was in school, my teacher taught us to sew straight and curved lines, corners, etc that way. She started out with lined paper and no fabric. After we had done a page of that, she added checked fabric so we could turn it over and see how straight our lines were on fabric. Then she did angles on paper, some sharp, some "stretched out" and then she added fabric. Then, we did curves in the same manner. The final step was to do a spiral all the way to the center of the paper. When we had mastered going around the curves so well that we could make it all the way to the inside, we started sewing. When we would complete a seam on a skirt or dress, she would hold the seam at eye level and look down it to see how straight it was and then she'd have us look down the seam. It was a neat way to check our progress from step one. I can remember how proud I was as my seams got straighter! (I can also remember her saying look at that curve down there....rrrrriiiiippppp it out!) The feet are a really neat convience...but it is like sewing, it is all in baby steps....and if you are dedicated, you can master them quickly. A lot of people sew for years and never learn how to use the feet. I guarantee you, though that if you learn to use the feet and use them correctly, they will save you a lot of frusteration and time. You'll absolutely love sewing! It is a wonderful way to be creative and to relax! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Selene
Date: 03-05-2004, 11:44 AM (6 of 8)
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Wow! Looks like there is a long way to go!! but I'm eager to walk through it!! So should I draw lines on paper and follow those lines directly? What I'm doing now is following some of the lines marked on my machine at different distances and not actually looking where the needle is going; it confuses me! But of course if I'm trying to do curved lines then I have to look at where the needle is going! I find doing curves EXTREMELY hard!! Also, what do you mean by the feet....on the machine? (remember I'm spanish and some of the terminology in english is not common to me!  )Selene Selene
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User: Selene
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 71
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From: paroper
Date: 03-05-2004, 12:23 PM (7 of 8)
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The feet are the part of the machine that ride on the material; like your zipper foot, or blind stitch foot. The lines on the paper are a great way to learn to control the machine and sew a straight line. You can draw some circles with things you have in your kitchen...like draw around a glass or a cup on paper and then try to sew them. The circles are really really hard to do and the smaller the circle, the harder it is. When you learn to sew a straight line or curve, then sewing using the guide lines on the machine are easier because you know that you can control your fabric. When you start making corners, you sew down a straight line until you get to where it turns, leave your needle in the fabric, lift you foot, and then turn your fabric. When it lines up with the new line, lower your foot and sew. You can even practice making all kinds of corners or boxes on your paper! It really is fun. pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: Selene
Date: 03-05-2004, 02:21 PM (8 of 8)
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OK! thankyou, there was a little language problem, but now all ok! Thanks also for othe advice!! I'll be exercising!! It's great being here and I'm very excited about getting to sew! Selene Selene
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User: Selene
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 71
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