Sewing

So I have a serger / overlock machine that has a manual specifying that it uses a needle type called "HA-sp1" needles. Alternatively, they are also called "HAxsp1" and "15xsp1". They're all the same thing.

So I was in a bind because I had no needles for the machine! And I'm on a deadline!! Those needles aren't sold locally, and I don't have a day to spare.

Turns out, the Schmetz company low-key confirmed that their 11/75 & 90/14 "Stretch" needles are very very similar to the HAxsp1 needles.

I tried it, though I was not optimistic. Hours later, no breaks, strikes, or any other funny business! HALLELUJAH!!

Change to the proper needle specification, when you can, but, as a temp, it seems to work just great!

So, to summarize:

All these three needles are literally the same thing: HA-sp1 , HAxsp1 , 15xsp1

The alternative needle if you're in a pinch: Schmetz Stretch needles, size 11 or 14, depending on how heavy your fabric is (11 for light - medium & 14 for medium - heavy).

Happy sewing!

hell yeah

And a replacement button with a similar color scheme :)

At some point I also wanna get some mini patches to go where there's currently the little embroidered polo player. The theme is lavender lemonade, so a little lavender and a little lemon would be cute :)

Didn't think it was anything too special but my family loves how these colors went together. Credit to Choly Knight for the pattern.

I recently got an embroidery machine so this little one is part of my practice for learning how that works. If anyone has any tips or suggestions that is welcome.

I just made an almost no-effort cloak, but when I tried to wear it outside I was disappointed to find that the wind cut right through the single layer of no-pill fleece I had cut into a U-shape and draped over my body. Who could have predicted that! 🤦‍♂️

I'm currently puzzling over how to upgrade my project into something that could protect me from the wind a bit better. I've got two main ideas:

1. Add a layer of polyester or vinyl to keep out the wind, plus an additional layer of fleece. That way, the wind can't get through, and it's still decently light. But will it be loud?
2. Make it out of heavier fabric. I don't care if it's waterproof, I just want to have something that both stops the wind and can be easily thrown over my shoulder like the ultra-wide scarf it is. But my poor little sewing machine 😢 might be too weak to puncture thick blanket material.

That said, I am new, and i don't know which fabrics are best for which roles. I would prefer a fabric that stops the wind, doesn't make a lot of noise, and can stand up to an iron in case I get some questionable ideas later on about waterproofing my cloak with wax.

Please comment what sort of fabric you think suits my needs best. If I'm completely on the wrong track here, please tell me so; i have never had any common sense at all and never will.

@sewing first muslin of McCalls 7652. Because it's vintage, I am starting out with a pattern that is 2 sizes too small. It came out a bit small but the FBA and petite adjustments seem to be ok. I do need to get more muslin before I can size up, so that's it for today. I think having a deadline is really helping me stay motivated. I will probably go get some tomorrow.
#sewing

@sewing I was concerned that a denim jumper/pinafore dress would read as "preschool teacher) but I am quite happy with a fit of this Persephone dress from Made for Mermaids.
#sewing

Excuse the pun in the title. I've got it to work, but looking around doesn't give much info. I'm assuming it might not be an original Singer part. Does anyone know anything about it?

edit: I should clarify that this box contained accessories mainly for the Singer 66k. Most of them identifiable.

edit2: I've found it on this page (in french) towards the bottom. It is indeed an adjustable hemmer without any further info. Might be a Singer part, might not be. Guessing not since it is not marked with a part number.

I love my Brother CP60X, but the thread does not play nice on the holder. It tends to get stuck in the plastic lip and then break. So I made a simple felt barrier like that many sewing machines come with. Works like a charm! Now the thread spool doesn’t spin erratically and instead has just enough friction to maintain tension…and not tangle on the plastic lip. 10/10 recommend.

https://pixtagram.social/p/itchick2014/751276514782646923

My most recent finished project.

Dress was self-drafted. I used rayon challis for the dress, polycotton for the bodice lining and crinoline for the skirt lining.

Send me a message if you're interested!

Maybe this isn’t the right community to post in, so apologies if this seems odd. But I figure we sewists may have specific needs or thoughts when it comes to garment care so this is the first place I thought of to ask.

My washer is throwing error codes this morning and googling suggests it might be related to some computer panel or other, and I’m a bit worried that repairs are going to be so expensive that it might mean a new washer is in the cards. We’ll see.

Are there any features that you love in your washer, wish it had, or downright hate?

Also, back when we bought this thing, front loaders were all the rage. It seems like top loaders are back in fashion. Does anyone know the story there and/or why a top loader might be a better option?

I’m all ears for opinions about dryers too!

Thanks in advance, y’all.

Hello folks!

I'm finally close to finishing up some home projects and am going to try breaking out the old Singer 99k for some summer clothing as it's starting to warm up here in California. Something that I've wanted for ages but haven't found reasonably priced is a summer weight robe for around the house.

I'm leaning towards a linen or cotton-linen blend for airiness and cost-effectiveness but am open to other recommendations. I'm generally not a huge fan of waffle weave but could see utility in the back and seat to promote airflow.

So, the main question is: Anyone have recommendations for a good pattern (doesn't need to be free - professional pattern designers deserve to make a living) for a men's or unisex robe that would fit the bill and be possible with a straight stitch machine (I didn't yet have a zigzagger)?

Hey sewers! Anybody got a duck plush pattern that my wife can use to sew a duck for our baby? Thanks!

Or were you too busy running after children on a sugar rush ?

I finished a pink jacket, but I am allergic to the fabric so I had do gift it to a friend. Pictures here

Next on the sewing plan is probably a similar one, but hopefully without allergies. Or finiding some use for the huge amount of blue fabric that I own. Or an attempt at a jumpsuit. Probably not a blue jumpsuit, as it would read "work overall".

I had a master plan of diminishing The Pile^TM^ of things to finish or repair, and it's going farly well. Some of it was really quick and easy, some of it was surprisingly fun to do, some of it was a bit boring.
I have a plan of making a ... kind of cardigan/vest/jacket thingy by next week end, and I had to pack all of my sewing away until tomorrow. I am not positive that it will work but it would be cool to wear the new thing on the week end getaway.
I have taken pictures of the fancy black trousers, but I forgot the back and I still need to find the energy to write a coherent text.\ Do not despair, it will happen ! Someday.

What are you working on ? Are you having any difficulties, surprises, wins ?

I am currently in a bit of a low sewing mood after finishing "The Pants Journey^tm^". I still need to take good pictures of it, then I'll tell you about the adventure that it was.

I have decided to reduce my WIP pile and finally shortened a tank top (after several years). I have a green skirt that I need to modify a bit and add a petticoat under it. Shouldn't be too hard but I don't want to cut fabric.

But I am also exited about the cardigan, which will come after the skirt. (or maybe not, we'll see). I want to take it to the little week end gateway in two weeks, that would be perfect.

Also, beeswax wraps have been added to my project list, do I need to hem it or does the wax acts as fraycheck ?

Also, does anyone have discovered new sewing content on the internet recently ? I've been watching some Ash LG videos, they are really nice !

The grumpy apple core. I think it's so cute, I love it.

Do you know of any other cute little pattern like that ?

So, what new skill have you mastered recently ? What are you proud of ?

I have come to realise that I prefer embroidering in winter, somehow, and I feel like I have progressed and make neater stitches.
Sewing wise I am in the process of atempting a GOOD fit, not just an ok one, and it's... in progress. I guess the progress consist of having higher standards and not being afraid of multiple mock-ups. Let's see how much more patience I can gather before deciding it's good enough.

I don't follow a lot of new pattern releases but maybe some of you do ?
Let's have a discussion about trends, things you like and dislike and such. Also, do you have a favourite pattern designer ? Did anyone released something interesting recently ?
Here are a few links to popular pattern companies as a starter:
https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/collections/winter-sewing-edit
https://simplicity.com/new-sewing-patterns/
https://shop.deer-and-doe.fr/en/12-sewing-patterns

I wanted to share this awesome Singer 611g I bought over the weekend. The person I bought it from told me it was her great aunts. It came with everything and more! It's in fantastic shape and still works great despite possibly not being used since the 80s. I put in some sewing machine oil following the manual (it had the manual, and warrenty card still). Manual shows a grease/paste(?) as well so need to figure out what to get for those areas that use that instead of oil.

I know sewing machines need maintenance every so often, especially in this case, so I plan to take it in soon for a checkup. I hope it it'll be fine to still use until then, I've had no problems except when I decided I was probably threading it wrong and tried another interpretation of the instructions. I was right the first time 😅.

I'm still a beginner with machine sewing. My family didn't have a machine and so I'm used to handsewing everything. I had a great sewing and embroidery machine I got from my grandma when I still lived in the USA but never used it as I was worried about breaking it (also was missing the power cord). I had to sell it when I moved to Finland, this is my first machine here. I did borrow a friend's sewing machine for a bit, so I at least know a bit more of how to use one in general. All I did was replaced a zipper twice on a coat and make a double pointed needle cover so WIP socks don't fall off the needles when I'm not knitting.

My first project with it is going to be making a dust cover for it. It came with a case that's still in great shape, but I want something easier to just plop over it as I plan to keep it on the table.

A Better Question

@sewing@lemmy.world

In an earlier post (https://dice.camp/@Shkshkshk/111633486456196055) I asked about waterproof fabrics I could use in my next ruana cloak. I got lots of wonderful feedback, but I just thought of a new problem: at some point, I might decide to use a cloak pin to fasten it. I don't know of any waterproof fabric that can heal from having a pin poked through the middle of it. Are there any at least water resistant fabrics that can handle being pinned?

@sewing@a.gup.pe

Which waterproof fabric is best?

@sewing@lemmy.world

I have discovered cloaks, and I am going nuts making them. I have bought so much fabric in the past few days alone. They are so warm and so easy to make! However, I would like to make one that suits the purpose for which they were invented, so that I may wear it outside in the rain. Are there any good waterproof fabrics that won't fuck up my fiancée's #sewing machine?

Asking here because I don't know what I am doing.

@sewing@a.gup.pe

I found this vintage printed panel for making a Cinderella doll, and it was so much fun to assemble and embellish. I added lace, ribbons, gemstones, gold thread, silver fabric paint, sequins on the crown, various beads, gold ric-rac around the pillow, and white piping on the cape. The cape is detachable (using small snaps). I also added a magnet to the shoe which sticks to a metal button on the pillow; that way it can be taken on and off. I'm impressed with how the arms can be moved. They are attached with a thread that goes through the body which allows the arms to pivot. I'm so excited to give this as a Christmas gift for my daughter!

I'd love to see other dolls of this sort assembled, has anyone else here made one?

My mother gave me some skirts she doesn't wear anymore, and a couple of them are pretty cute. The problem is they are too big for me. So how do I make them not too big?