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From: twinstoo
Date: 03-09-2004, 11:06 AM (1 of 4)
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Hi, I am a beginner in sewing and I am wondering what everyone uses for a sewing guide. I need to sew a 3/8" seam but I do not have a guide on my sewing machine to tell me how much 3/8" is. I also have to sew a straight line. Does anyone have any ideas on what I can use for this? Thanks.. Janine |
User: twinstoo
Member since: 08-21-2002 Total posts: 1 |
From: sewingrandma
Date: 03-09-2004, 12:32 PM (2 of 4)
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I've been known to use a piece of masking tape. I use masking since it doesn't leave a residue on the machine. I've also used permanent marker on my machine-- my old machine. Measure carefully for the seam allowance you want and place the tape/draw your line. Worked for me. I know there are several different notions. I bought a magnetic one that I used on my old machine since it wasn't computerized. Personally I liked my drawn lines better.
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-09-2004, 12:45 PM (3 of 4)
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If you have a screw in the back of your machine foot, look for a little bar shaped "sort of" like a crooked "7" with your machine accessories. A lot of machines have these and they fit in a hole on the back of the foot. To use these, you adjust the bar to the amount of distance you need from the needle and tighten the screw. To adjust properly, as you tighten the screw, put your foot down, touching the machine so that the guide will control the fabric when the foot is down and sewing. Some machines have a little flat slide mechanism that screws into the machine and you adjust to the place you want to sew. If your machine has screw holes to the right of the presser foot, you sometimes can even buy these if you don't find them in your machine accessories. Most all machines, though have lines on the feed dog plate that are guides for sewing, however, some do not have amounts less than 5/8 inch, others may have lines for 3/8 and 5/8. Most presser feet are 1/4 inch (a few are 3/8) so those marks usually don't appear on the feed dog plate. You can measure the width of your feet by measuring from the center of the presser foot, or the needle to the edge of the presser foot. There are also some peal and stick bars with two sided tape that can be put on the machine. These can be removed but over time, the tape has to be replaced. Because my machine doesn't have lines past one inch, I have a little peal and stick ruler that I put at the end of my guide lines so that I can go out as much as six inches. (When I install it, I have to cut it so that the plate will slide.) 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: bsisemore
Date: 03-12-2004, 02:22 PM (4 of 4)
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you can also just draw you a line with a wood pencil, which can be erased later if needed. I do this one all the time for a longer machine hem, or for gather a deeper ruffle, |
User: bsisemore
Member since: 03-09-2004 Total posts: 26 
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