Re: t.v. sewing and quilting shows




On 4/17/08 1:20 AM, in article
4806ec14$0$30908$5a62ac22@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "FarmI"
<ask@itshall be given> wrote:

"Emily Bengston" <cypsew@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
"FarmI"
<ask@itshall be given> wrote:

As a very raw beginner, might I make a suggestion or six?

Invest in some really cheap cotton (dunno what you call it in the US -
perhaps calico, perhaps muslin, but it's a creamy colour and not
particularly nice, but good to learn on) and then just dive in and have a
go
at basic things like seams and various edge stitches and manual button
holes
before you bother about moving on to other types of fabric.

The reason why I suggest this approach is that cotton will 'behave' and
sit
where you put it, other fabrics don't always do that and for a beginner,
behaving fabric is important because you need to know that you are the
boss
rather than the fabric.

I've also suggested seams, edge stitches and manual button hole in that
order because most of the things you will ever need to do on wovens (as
opposed to knits) can be covered by using just those things and can
easily
be accomplished on any machine that does straight stitch and zig-zag.
And
also, if you can master those 3 things then you will have conquoured
nearly
all of the things you will need to to put together most garments. From
the
cheap cotton, then move onto other types of wovens then go onto knits.

Here endeth the unasked for advice (but I know that I learned in that
order
and most other sewers I know) and if I was teaching anyone, this is the
order in which I would teach them.

Farml, if you don't mind, I'd like to copy your suggestion for beginning
sewing to one DGD, who has a SM, but really doesn't know how to sew.

You are most welcome to use the advice, and I'm flattered that you thought
it was useful :-)) sorry I haven't reponded before now - been off doing some
family history.

I've
given her a few books including the Reader's Digest(1977) and the
"Dummies"
book, as well as showing her a few things while visiting her; she is in FL
and I'm in Houston, TX.
But you directions are short, clear & concise. I think she'll enjoy
reading
and be able to remember them more easily than what the books & my
instructions have taught her.
Thanks you,

Sometimes I think that books are a bit overwhelming for a beginner. Us
olderies who learned either at our mother's knee or had to do some hand
sewing in the early days of school, had it a bit easier I think. I remember
it took me a whole year to hand sew bias binding on an apron at school when
I was about 8 - it's a wonder that this didn't put me off sewing entirely.

Farml, she was very appreciative of the notes; I've saved them for the 9-YO,
in case her parents ever allow her to have a machine.
On sewing, my DM taught me on her 1930 Singer treadle machine. I took Home
Economics in 8th grade(US) and taught my instructor how to make good
buttonholes-she was going to skip that part of making our pajamas. Also in
cooking class, I showed that instructor to make a smooth white sauce. She
had not the slightest idea how to do it.
Sewing always came so easy for me, but some of my sisters hate it. I taught
all 5 of my children to sew and cook; both boys enjoy it, although one
doesn't have a machine. Two of the girls enjoy it but one finds it boring
and dislikes it immensely and she is also the only one who hates to cook.

I can understand about the family history; one of my cousins did a good one
on my DD's paternal family and a DB worked on the others, but died before
completing either of them, much less putting them together for all of us.
Since I am the eldest, and was lucky enough to spend lots of tiime with my
DGMs, I have been writing my memories down and justifying them with history
as I can find it. I love finding out all about our blood lineage.
Emily

.

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