Lesson Two: Tools and Terms

Now that you have gotten your machine out and made friends with her (hopefully you are BFFs by now;), lets talk about tools and terms. These are really basic, but essential to understanding instructions. (Press through the blah stuff and we will be up and sewing the sassy stuff soon, promise!)

Basic Tools: I would reccommend having all of these except pinking shears. You should know what they are and can help you, but aren't necessary.

Cutting Shears: Are used only for fabric and have a straight cutting edge.

Pinking Shears: Are used only for fabric. They have zigzag teeth and they cut fabric zigzag to keep fabric from fraying.

Pin Cushion: A great place to store pins while not in use.

Seam Ripper: Used for removing stitching mistakes. To use, insert only the sharp end under the thread used to stitch the seam. Be careful not to cut fabric threads.

Thread: You will use an all-purpose thread for cotton fabric. Choose a thread that matches your fabric. When matching thread, take your fabric to the store and choose a thread that is slightly darker than your fabric.

Iron and Ironing Board: Ironing the seam after each step makes your project look its best.

TERMS

Back Stitch: A back stitch is used at the beginning and end of a seam to keep the stitches in place.

Basting or Gathering Stitch: Basting is a longer stitch that is used to hold fabric together temporarily or to gather. Your stitch length will be set at 6-8.

Raw Edge: The cut edge of a piece of fabric. This edge will fray if not finished or zigzagged.

Seam Allowance: The measurement from the edge of the fabric to the stitches.

Topstitching: Stitching that shows on the outside of the garment or project.

Wrong-sides Together: Place the two pretty sides of the fabric together and sew along the back of the fabric.

You made it! One more post of instructions and then on to our first project.

Lesson One: Getting to Know Your Machine

All right ladies, it is time to get sewing and just like your first day of school, we need to get to know each other and the tools that will help us get where we want to go. My name is Michelle. I am passionate about sewing. I try to make sewing as simple and easy as possible. That is why I began Oh, So Sassy. I promise to show you the right AND the easy way to do things so that you will enjoy sewing as much as I do.

Now let's get to know your machine. Let's face it, your sewing machine can be your BFF or it can be like that girl in your fourth grade class that looked and acted like your friend, but when it came right down to it was never there when you needed her. (I have had friends and sewing machines like the latter and there not worth having if you ask me.)

My favorite machine has been my old Bernina that we got off ebay. It is an old work horse of a machine, not too fancy but gets the job done. It has become my BFF.

You really can sew on any machine, just like you can be friends with anyone, but some take care of you better than others.

If you have a manual for your machine, get it out and look over each part on the outside of the machine. You can go to sewusa.com and order a manual if yours is lost. Here is a basic picture and explanation of each part you will use.

1. Power Switch: This turns the machine on.
   
2. Presser Foot: Holds fabric in place while you sew. It can go up and down. Lower the foot while sewing and lift to take fabric out.
   
3. Presser Foot Lifter: This is the lever that lowers and lifts the presser foot.
   
4. Throat Plate: Metal plate between needle and presser foot.
   
5. Feed Dogs: Pulls the fabric forward and backward during sewing.
   
6. Needle: Goes up and down through fabric to make stitches. Needles come in different sizes. The bigger the number the bigger the needle. For sewing cotton fabrics use size 10 or 12.
   
7. Thread Take-up: Part of threading the machine. Moves thread up and down while sewing.
   
8. Upper Tension Regulator: Determines tension on thread. Set on middle setting for cotton fabric and all purpose thread.
   
9. Thread Guide: Guides the thread while sewing. This is part of threading the machine.
   
10. Spool Pin: Where you place the spool of thread.
    
11. Bobbin Winder: Used to wind bobbin.
    
12. Balance Wheel: When turned, moves needle up and down.
    
13. Stitch Length Regulator: This determines how long your stitch lengths will be. Set at 2.5-3 for sewing most seams and 6-8 for basting or gathering.
    
14. Stitch Width Regulator: This determines how wide you zigzag stitch will be. During normal, straight stitch sewing this will be on zero.
    
15. Bobbin: Holds the thread that goes underneath the presser foot.

16. Foot Control: Press this with your foot to make your sewing machine go.

Sewing with PjVietti

These little girls are super sassy and so model-rific!



pjvietti said "I got both of my DIY kits today and finished one (quite the feat since I had so much else going on) you make my girls look so amazing. The way you pair fabric patterns is genius. Your dress patterns and instructions are so simple and amazing that I can't even tell you how much you have changed my life!!!! These are my 5th and 6th DIY kits I have purchased since December. I am obviously in LOVE with your work!! You are my (not so little) secret! My girls are the best dressed girls in town thanks to you. EVERYONE always asks where I bought these amazing dresses and when I tell them what I paid and that I made them myself they are astounded!" (I love this lady!)

Sewing Party

Sewing is fun, but sewing with friends is crazy fun! My friends and I had our first sewing party. We got all the girls together, brought our sewing machines and talked and laughed over the whirrr of our Berninas. And the best part...we all left with a sassy dress and a smile on our face.
Thanks ladies, it was a blast!


(Want to save 10% on your dress kit and have a party doing it? Contact me for more information on hosting your own sewing party!)

Turning 2 Never Looked So Sassy

Juneaux says:
"Sew Easy! A snap to put together - nice directions, everything worked just perfectly. My daughter will look lovely in her special birthday dress! Thank you!"