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14 February 2007

OMG Sewing Machine! A friend of mine just gave me her old but very spiffy sewing machine. [More:]I've done a little sewing of the doll-clothes and curtains variety, but not much more. What should be my first project? Any cool sites I should keep an eye on? Any helpful tips and tricks from the crafty Mechazens?

(Oh, and I can knit too, so projects that combine the two would be super nifty.)
I just picked stuff that I wanted to make. For the most part, there are usually pretty easy patterns for most simple things. So I'll go through a fabric store and look for odd fabrics and figure out what they'd work well on. I've made Hawaiian shirts, vests, fleece pullovers, puppets, a faux skunk hat, curtains, costumes, kites, and so on.

Most of those were from fabrics that spoke to the project or were on sale.

Tips - buttons can be machine sewed on - usually with the machine set on satin with stitch with the widest zig zag. Tape the button down with Scotch tape, hand crank the needle to make sure it aligns with the holes, then let it rip.
posted by plinth 14 February | 13:46
Sewing machines are awesome. Go to craftster and look through the forum projects - you'll luvvvv it and find lots of great stuff to make.
posted by iconomy 14 February | 13:52
Also watch Hello my name is Heather
posted by viachicago 14 February | 13:59
Oooh, fuzzbean, good for you. I love to sew.

Be sure to visit sewing.patternreview.com.

Pajama bottoms are easy and fun. Or an apron. There are a lot of easy handbag patterns out there too.

I love Kwik Sew patterns. The instructions are fabulous and the patterns are printed on heavy paper.
posted by LoriFLA 14 February | 14:22
I'm so envious. I'd make weird handpuppets as my starter project.
posted by cmonkey 14 February | 14:33
Skirts are an easy starter to making clothing.
I love my sewing machines!
Granted, they've turned me into something of the official seamstress of my social circle, but hey, I charge people in drinks and food, and everyone's happy.
posted by kellydamnit 14 February | 14:49
Stuffed bunnies, of course.
If I had a sewing machine I would be knitting lots of little cosmetic-sized bags and lining them with silk or something.
posted by casarkos 14 February | 17:33
Best of Pamie || One of the many things I enjoy about parenting

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