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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: Talspen
Date: 09-15-2004, 12:00 AM (1 of 7)
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Ok, I am fairly new to sewing in that I have recently picked it back up since my grammer/high school days in the late 70's early - 80's and then early 90's using the basic sewing projects like simple curtains, gift bags etc... But now my new dilemma....here in NJ where I live there is a run on Jumbo book Soxs...which are fairly expensive  $5.98 -$6.98 a piece which is made from stretchy 2 or 4 way fabric. I have downloaded a free pattern from about.com to make a stretchy fabric book sox. I Have 3 kids in 3 different schools all requiring a least 6-8 book sox each - pretty costly...and stores actually ran out !!.. So you see why I think it would be better to make them myself. I want to know if I can sew this type of material on my sewing machine. I recently purchased a new Kenmore Ultra Sewing Machine 17 stitch/one step button hole...the instructions from pattern say to use a stretch stitch and zig zag. I want to know if stretch stitch is a lengthy longer straight stitch...or should I just use zig zag on this. I don't have a serger...but eventually I would like to purchase one and learn how to use one...someone told me they great for working with lycra and stretch materials. But for now I need to know is it possbile to sew with lycra (or stretch fabric) on a regular sewing machine and what's the secret in how to use stitching and edging. Any help in this matter is deeply appreciated. If anyone knows a simple pattern to make a fabric stretch book cover...than this one [URL=http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa081104a.htm] please let me know. Thanks, Talspen - New Member |
User: Talspen
Member since: 09-14-2004 Total posts: 3 |
From: Aimee S
Date: 09-15-2004, 01:36 AM (2 of 7)
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yes you can sew it on a regular machine. You can use your zig zag and set it to .5 width and 2.5 lenght. and stitch away. they will fit fine.
The more you disaprove, the more fun I am having!
http://photos.yahoo.com/aimeehs29 |
User: Aimee S
Member since: 02-23-2003 Total posts: 488 
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From: Mischka
Date: 09-15-2004, 09:18 AM (3 of 7)
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For an easier textbook cover, you can wrap them with brown grocery bags - very cheap, and they wear pretty well. Just cut down a corner edge and around the bottom so you're left with a big piece of brown paper. Turn it over so the store name is facing you. Open the book and center it on the paper. Trim so you have about six inches around all sides of the book, and snip in at either side of the binding. Wrap one cover almost like a present, folding to the inside, and secure with tape. Close the book and repeat for the other cover. Trim the paper to the edge of the binding, and Voila! basic book cover. I used to decorate mine with stickers or markers (make sure they don't bleed thru, though!). My little sister - high school senior now! - has my mom wrapping her books (LOL) in large shopping bags from "cool" stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, etc so that the store names show on the outside. She says this is terribly trendy  Oh, and pieces of wallpaper also work very well for this - it's even more durable, decorative as well! Good luck with the sox or wrapping or whatever you go with! 
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User: Mischka
Member since: 09-01-2004 Total posts: 63 |
From: Talspen
Date: 09-15-2004, 04:04 PM (4 of 7)
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Thank you...for your replies very informative. will try to attempt this and figure out tension. Thanks. The Bag covers are a great suggestion and I am familiar with this process oh so well....but unfortunately our township schools system...no longer accepts the old fashion and new book paper/plastic/foil wraps anymore  . It is a mandatory requirement that all books be covered with the fabric book soxs. Claim sox are more durable and prevent damage to their school books...saving taxpayers from having to buy more replacements of damaged books.Sheesh..so get us in the pocket by making store's richers...with those prices almost  $80 per kid for book soxs with sales tax. So if you have more than 2 kids  gets pricey.Take care and thanks again. |
User: Talspen
Member since: 09-14-2004 Total posts: 3 |
From: Talspen
Date: 09-19-2004, 09:49 PM (5 of 7)
| Yippee! Made my book sox found stretch fabric at Walmart for $1 yard and made 4 JUMBO Book sox(s) out of a yard. Not bad compared to $7 a sox at store for printed and $6 for solid. Kids sewn both...Solids and Prints that they helped picked out patterns they like. They were putting on their books as fast as I was completing them...wow. That was fun...next project would like to learn how to sew pants for my toddler turning 3 |
User: Talspen
Member since: 09-14-2004 Total posts: 3 |
From: Melanie T
Date: 09-23-2004, 09:08 AM (6 of 7)
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I find Kwik Sew's "Sewing for Toddlers" has great simple patterns and good instructions for making pants, etc. for a three year old. I have one past that stage and one currently there and I am wearing out my pattern tracing of the size 3T clothing. The book has sizes 1T to 4T and the patterns are very simple with lots of room for embellishment. A couple of weeks ago I cut out 5 pairs of pants (stacked the fabric, cut them at once) for my 3yr old and sewed them in 2 days between chasing three little boys, diaper changes, weeding my garden etc. It is a great project for learning new skills on simple projects. When you are done you feel a great sense of accomplishment, especially as you put them on the child often. Have fun! Melanie
4 little sewing machine mechanics (6, 4, 2, Born June 14) Ontario Canada |
User: Melanie T
Member since: 09-21-2004 Total posts: 155 |
From: Shellymoon
Date: 09-23-2004, 10:00 PM (7 of 7)
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The book sox are the latst thing down here too. I'm going to suggest that we sell them as a PTA fundraiser next year. It's a great way to use up all the lycra/knit scraps in your sewing stash too.
Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
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