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From: Carolanna7
Date: 06-12-2005, 10:32 AM (1 of 9)
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Hello again, Thank goodness you are here to help. I am making valances (yes, still the same ones from my last question, I sit and look at my fabric a lot, but am afraid to get started). I have gotten a bit of help from a wonderful woman at Joann's fabric store. I have five of these suckers to make and now I am finally, with her help, almost finished with the first, after all this time of agonizing procrastination! I don't want to bother this woman anymore till I am done so here is my question. I'm at the point now where I am sewing beaded trim at the bottom of my somewhat scalloped valance. I am new to sewing and also to my new machine. But I am using my zipperfoot like I was told. I am trying to sew very close to the beads which are on my left, but still stay on the trim part. Even though I am using the zipperfoot in the left position, the beads are getting hung up in the foot. I have to sew about half an inch, then pull the beads under the presser foot and go on another half inch or so. Shouldn't this be easier with the zipperfoot? Am I doing it wrong? Thanks in advance Carol |
User: Carolanna7
Member since: 04-12-2004 Total posts: 11 
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From: paroper
Date: 06-12-2005, 12:19 PM (2 of 9)
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From the what you have said, I take it that the beads are on a tape of some type, not just a spool of beads. Is it possible that you are sewing too close to the beads? If that is the problem, just back away a tiny bit. A tiny bit of trim showing won't hurt and you'll loose some of that "extra" in the turning of the fabric. I don't know what type of machine you have, but many have a foot (sometimes optional) that is made just for this..you can run your beads through a trench and then sew on the tape or zig zag over the beads. If you happen to have several feet for your machine, you might look for something like this. The foot is hollowed out all the way across. Some have a hole in the top where the beads feed through if they are made for beading (only) and some have a trench in the bottom of the foot from front to back to feed your tape/beads in that way.
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: Carolanna7
Date: 06-12-2005, 12:29 PM (3 of 9)
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Thanks Pam. I'll move over a little with my stitching then. Yes, there is tape that the beads are attached to. I thought I was supposed to get super close to the edge, but I'll sure try moving over some. Thanks so much for your tip. And by the way, I looked in my accessories for a foot like you discribed and I don't see one. So I'll keep on with my zipper foot. Thanks again. Carol 
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User: Carolanna7
Member since: 04-12-2004 Total posts: 11
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From: paroper
Date: 06-12-2005, 12:35 PM (4 of 9)
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There are so few people that follow directions to the letter that we tend to over emphasize a point sometimes...when we get someone who actually does follow directions, the directions are a little too much. I'm sure that she didn't think about you following directions so well. Since you do, you'll find sewing to be just your nitch...following directions is half the battle.
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: beachgirl
Date: 06-12-2005, 07:22 PM (5 of 9)
| There are also 2 kinds of zipper foots, as most of us know. As a rule anymore the short wider ones come with a new machine. I most always ues the longer slim one for close work. Maybe that is the problem also. The wider ones won't get as close as the other one for such things. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615 
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From: Carolanna7
Date: 06-13-2005, 10:43 AM (6 of 9)
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Hi Beachgirl, I"M going to call the place where I bought my machine and ask if there is a longer more narrow foot to use. I can see myself needing that in the future. Thank you for letting me know about it. Carol |
User: Carolanna7
Member since: 04-12-2004 Total posts: 11
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From: beachgirl
Date: 06-13-2005, 01:22 PM (7 of 9)
| Glad I could help. This type of zipper foot used to be the only one & always came with the machine. Now you have to buy them extra. What brand of machine do you have ? I'm sure your dealer will have one but if not Clotilda sells them in a low or high shank, what ever your machine is. I like it not only for zippers but for lots of differeny close stitching. Let us know if you got one & if it did the trick for you. |
User: beachgirl
Member since: 08-31-2004 Total posts: 615
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From: DorothyL
Date: 06-13-2005, 02:58 PM (8 of 9)
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If you can move your needle over you may not need that zipper foot. Just move the needle closer to the edge of the wider foot. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: blackie
Date: 06-14-2005, 12:54 AM (9 of 9)
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I just put in an invisible zipper and I noticed that if I didn't remove the pin anchoring the tape to the fabric about four inches ahead of my needle, the stitching line tended to try to drift. So maybe - if you're pinning - make sure to remove the pins ahead of time. My only tip, take it or leave it. I have always been told to hand-baste zippers in place but in this case (w/ an invisible zipper that is sewn directly to raw edge of garment, RS together) pins sufficed and it went smoothly. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
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