...Seriously, PINTEREST is the bomb!!! Simply put,
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| Wavy vs. Smooth Hem Source: http://marlaken.wordpress.com |
...Found this sewing tip on Pinterest just yesterday, and was able to nab a sheet of tissue paper from school because I was in a hurry to try it out. Love myself some knits, but I despise wavy seams and hems. The tip is a great solution to sewing knit fabrics, and can be found on MeSewCrazy's wonderful blog. And yes, MAYBE the tissue will dull the needle, I'm not sure of that though - but I'll soon find out. I think having to throw out a needle is a small cost compared to the value of smooth knit seams and hems. You have to change the needle every now and again anyway - right???
JUST HOW OFTEN DO YOU CHANGE YOUR SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE ON AN AVERAGE???
I change my needle every two or three garments.
ReplyDeleteI change it every few garments as well, depending on what kind of fabric I'm sewing on. Last night I was sewing on some poly shantung that was pop-pop-popping..so it's time to change it tonight.
ReplyDeleteI use tissue paper under a lot of things for stability. I also will sometimes use the medical table paper that I use for tracing patterns. It's good under the ends of ties and other small items that are difficult to sew. I keep meaning to try it when I'm sewing with the clear elastic around collars, but I haven't yet.
ReplyDeleteI use tissue paper for some things but I've never thought to try it for hems! I change my needle every two or three garments, too. It depends on the fabric and what I've been sewing. I also take more time matching needle and fabric than I used to. I've developed a love of microtex sharp needles lately. The one needle I've never seen (and it may not exist) is a twin needle with larger eyes.
ReplyDeleteEr, I plead the fifth as to how often I change my needles. I mean, I use the right needle for the fabric but as far as throwing them out, I'm not sayin'. But I will have to try the tissue paper idea. It's kind of funny because I bought a walking foot just last night online! put if tissue paper will do the same thing....albeit, it will dull the needle faster, again, i plead the fifth.
ReplyDeleteOooooo, I'm afraid I don't have a set amount of time when I change my needles. I can tell when they've gotten dull and I change them at that time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the top, I'll have to try this!
Oops, I meant "tip"!
ReplyDeleteI change the needle on my sewing machine every project. On my serger, every third project. That seems to work well for me.
ReplyDeleteI get rid of needles pretty often, at least every 1-2 projects. My problem lately is that I change the type of needle I use A LOT - so I have a pin cushion that just has needles - different sizes and types (knit, regular, microtex, topstitching...) and I tend to lose track of how long a need has been there. So I periodically just throw them all out. I'm sure I get rid of some barely used ones. Oh well.
ReplyDeletePS - I love following your pins. You definitely seem smitten!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip Faye! I am going to try it.
ReplyDeleteI'm determined to get over my fear/dislike of sewing knits. This tip will help.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been bitten by the interest bug yet. I've been purposely avoiding it because I know I'll get hooked.
On needles...
ReplyDeleteHmm...I change the needles usually after I've asked the question, 'how long has this thing been in here?' Yeah. That often! I'd say it's probably every 3rd or 4th project, depending on the fabric.
On Pinterest...
I tried to get into Pinterest, but it's like Nonterest to me at the moment. My connection can be snail-like at time and it can take too much time to pin something. Maybe I'll try again in the future.
Lynn
I am totally addicted to Pinterest and I don't want a cure for this addiction. I change my needles every two or three project depending on what I am sewing.
ReplyDeletedidn't know the use of tissue paper for this. Recently I found out that a strip of water soluble tape works very well for a hem or for a knit that didn't behave well under my serger.
ReplyDeleteAnd I change my needle regularly, often when starting on a more delicate fabric (lycra, silk), or just when I notice it's not so good any more.
Nice tip! I change needles after 2 garments on my sewing machines, new needles for the serger each new garment. Those 50% off wall notions sell are my got to go day.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great tip! I was just working with a pink knit last weekend, and my serger is behaving like a fat piece of crap. So I'll be trying out this knit tip soon!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm awful about changing my needles. Really awful.