Monday, April 28, 2014

It Is Always Nice To Have A Full Seam Guide Handy

By Eloise Hewitt


Sewing, knitting, crochet and tapestry work used to be the housewife's pass time. As the world is changing people are adapting and you find more men trying their hand at some of the above. Especially in single parent homes. Cost of clothing has sky rocketed and people are choosing to make their own by taking up sewing. You may want to consider using a seam guide to keep that stitch straight.

Your seam is very important when sewing; this will determine whether or not you can get your hand in your pocket or even your leg right through those pants you just made. With a seam that isn't straight not only will the item look a little off, it really won't function the way you want it to.

This is the role and importance of having and using the guide. After all, what's the point of having something if you are not going to make use of it? Perhaps the question is, most people see it there but what is it and how does one use it?

So the question is how does this guide work? What is its function and how do you know you have one? Well the sole purpose of the guide is to keep your seams running straight. This is normally a metal plate with measurements and lines to follow. Most sewing machines have one, if yours does not you can easily make one.

This does not mean that you have to go out and buy a small plate of steel and start engraving lines and numbers on it. There is a much simpler method. Take a ruler and a fine marking pen, measure from the tip of the needle the length you require and make a mark. Then take some craft tape, preferably not clear. If you use clear tape you will be straining your eyes to see the marking. Remember to stick it down straight!

When you use it for the first time it may be a little bit daunting. Keep up the effort, it will soon pay off and become a lot easier to follow. Some machines come with a plastic attachment which can be clipped into place so you not watching the thin line so intensely. Just remember that, even with this attachment, material can be very soft and pliable.

Remember not to use clear tape as this will make it very hard for you to follow the edge as a guide. Write down the measurement used so you know for future or encase you get interrupted later on. When you have finished you can remove the tape accordingly. It's best to use a tape that is not too sticky. You do not want to have sticky residue left on your sewing machine.

Remember that even with a raised one, you can still go off- line. This is due to the materials flexibility. Keep an eye on what you're doing at all times and you will get to sewing straight in no time at all. Soon you won't just be mending old clothes, but making new ones too.




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