- Joined
- May 6, 2020
I've been patching up my gear with braided fishing line. It's nice and tough. Any reason I shouldn't use it, other than the cost?
Sewing, Mending, and Tailoring Thread - Necessary skills for putting your anime girl patches on your mallninja gear.
- Thread starter Bugaboo
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- Joined
- Oct 1, 2023
I've been trying to track down a hat from 20 years ago, it's not happening and buying a used one isn't working out either. I inherited a sewing machine from my grandmother and I'm now tossing around the idea of just making myself one. Any resources for learning this that anyone suggests?
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
For a result you will be happy with, and one that is closer to the original, I suggest commissioning one from a hatmaker. Most millinery (hatmaking) is done by hand, a sewing machine will be of very limited use. Just do a search for custom hats online and it should provide you with a whole range of skill levels and price points.
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2024
Glad this thread got bumped. Despite my avatar I've never darned a thing in my life, but I've got some garments I want to actually work to maintain rather than just buying new polyester garbage.
Haven't done much sewing, but knit and crochet a good bit. It's sort of shocking to think about how many "hard" skills just for garment and object maintenance are being lost because of how cheaply new goods are manufactured. Across the board I want to reverse that trend (at least for myself). Use it up, wear it out and all that.
ETA: someone in this thread was talking about dropped stitches in knitting being a huge pain -- unless you're doing something like stranded knitting/cables/intarsia (and even then in most cases) you can salvage it.
Haven't done much sewing, but knit and crochet a good bit. It's sort of shocking to think about how many "hard" skills just for garment and object maintenance are being lost because of how cheaply new goods are manufactured. Across the board I want to reverse that trend (at least for myself). Use it up, wear it out and all that.
ETA: someone in this thread was talking about dropped stitches in knitting being a huge pain -- unless you're doing something like stranded knitting/cables/intarsia (and even then in most cases) you can salvage it.
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- Joined
- Nov 2, 2019
Depends on the type and style of hat. There are plenty of free hat patterns available online, but if you're looking to make a felt hat you're going to need more supplies than just a sewing machine. I've made a couple of cloth hats, just a couple of little 50's pill box hats and a 30's cloche that came with a pattern for an outfit I made, and they're not terribly complicated.
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2023
It's basically a military cap made of denim, It was called a Road Rag by Robo Cap.
Thanks for the links, I'll try to track a pattern and work it
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- Joined
- Jun 29, 2019
Fishing line is going to be stronger than whatever fabric you are using it to repair. If it is a high wear/high friction spot you may eventually see tearing around your stitchwork.
- Joined
- May 6, 2020
Yeah, I figured that's what may happen. I reattached a backpack strap and a few pockets like that, pockets aren't a big concern but the strap area is pretty high wear. Been a few years and no issues, though.
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2019
If it's a nylon bag it should be fine and that you haven't seen issues you may never. It'd be different if you'd used it as thread for a knee patch or some such in a favorite pair of pants.
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2023
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2021
Using thicker/stronger thread than you need when sewing, counterintuitively, will weaken the seams you sew. The friction of the thread rubbing against the relatively weaker fibers in the fabric wears them down and can cause it to fray and shred. With any kind of sewing it's a good idea to match the fiber content and general weight of the thread and fabric so that they behave similarly.
Singer isn't overhyped. They made some of the best machines back in the day and the Touch and Sew wasn't out until the 60s which was the 600s series and was not bad. The 700 was closer to the 70s and I would agree that those are to be avoided. Also you can still find many of them for cheap too, the Featherweight is overpriced, but you can find the exact same hook in the 301 with a larger bed. the 201 is one of the smoothest machines I've ever used, and has an amazing stitch. The 15-91 is a design that lasted for decades and was copied by the Japanese for many decades as well after WW2. You can still find parts for these easily online and for cheap.
Anyways I do agree though, find an all mechanical metal machine, oil it and it'll outlast you.
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2021
I sew on a mid 70s Kenmore and it's a solid machine. The only thing I had to do was replace the pedal because the wires made sketchy popping noises but I was able to get one that works perfectly for like $20 on amazon. The only plastic pieces are the dials for stitch length and tension.
Newer machines tend to come with a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles that complicate the machinery. A lot of the features aren't something you'll even use much if at all (99% of sewing will just be straight stitch with the occasional zig zag) and then there's shit like auto backstitch, which, wtf... it takes .00001 seconds to just press the reverse lever and do it manually.
As an aside, look into industrial machines if you have the space. Industrial machines are faster and have much stronger motors. They generally only do one thing (like you cant switch between straight and zigzag) bc in a factory/commercial setting there's generally the space and capital to have different machines for different jobs, plus doing one thing keeps the machinery as simple as possible so it can be repaired much more easily. Juki DDLs are a good solid machine that works for 99% of sewing jobs. I want one (I learned on one) but my apartment doesn't have the space.
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I'd like to get an industrial walking foot machine. The biggest issue for me is cost and transporting the machine and table. I guess I just need to a friend to help.
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2023
A pincushion is a classic quick and simple project. Take some small pieces of fabric, put the right sides together, and sew around the perimeter. When you get close to finishing, flip it inside out, stuff it, and finish closing the perimeter. It's a decent way to practice a running stitch, stitch size, and getting used to hand sewing.
A step up would be making quilt squares that you can use for whatever. Potholders, baby or animal blankets, etc. Quilting has more oppurtunities to try out different stitches. I recently added the edge to a little blanket with blindstitching and that's a good stitch for hemming, too.
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2022
Is it better to learn to sew by hand or with a sewing machine? I have a stockpile of clothes I want to repair but I am torn between hand sew and a machine. I'm tempted to buy one of those little $10 sewing machines on Aliexpress.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2021
Always learn to sew by hand first. There's fine details you just can't get with a machine, and it's a very good skill to have so you can quickly whip out a needle + some thread and get a hole/rip patched up right then and there instead of needing to wait for a machine to be available, plus you won't be held up waiting if your machine breaks or you lose power. Think long term with this imo
I wouldn't waste your money, that thing will break if you blink at it wrong. You're better off saving for a lower end singer and not having to replace half the parts like 2 weeks after you get it
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
They are actually two different skill sets. And the cheap machines on AliExpress are absolutely not worth it, they're junk if you're talking about the little handheld ones. If it's just repairs, I'd find a friend with a functioning sewing machine and just borrow it for a couple of hours.
Hand stitching is how it was done for millenia, but to get reliable and sturdy results requires a lot of practice. Just getting something repaired (that doesn't have to be perfect) can be done in a couple of hours on a friends' machine, especially with them to help you learn the procedure.
Hint for anyone looking for a sewing machine: The new ones, unless pretty expensive, are kind of crappy. You would be better off getting an older model from a thrift store/charity shop and then investing a few bucks in getting it tuned, cleaned and oiled by a good repair person. You will then have a machine that will last practically forever. I'm a pretty decent tailor and I use a restored 1938 Singer that I've had since I was 15.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2021
You have no idea how jealous I am, my lord. Finding an older machine which can actually be restored to working condition is nearly impossible where I am, and getting one shipped will nearly guarantee it breaks in transit ;_; The day I find one is going to be glorious
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2022
We're in the same boat! The only older sewing machines that I was able to get and restore come from early XX century and they're more of a decoration than usable objects (although you could use them without any issues). Finding and transporting them was a real pain in the ass
Apron to wear in kitchen- bonus points for useful pockets