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We're looking at buying me a sewing machine, and we're heading to our local Singer store - it's the only reliable place we know of locally to buy such things. They have a website and all, with their product line listed. There isn't a wide variety of sewing machines available, so I've narrowed my options down to the following three. The specs are not listed on the site, and I know that when I ask questions, I'm not necessarily going to get the truth - they may not know themselves how things work or what the features are for or that sort of thing.
I have a fair bit of experience sewing - I've been doing it since I was five. But I've never bought a new machine and with one exception, I've never worked on anything fancier than a straight stitch and a zigzag stitch machine. Yep, that was it. Oh, and I had a serger for years as well and I loved that beast! It was an Elna 4 thread and it worked like a dream. So, point being that, when it comes to buying new, I'm a little clueless.
These are what I've got it narrowed down to, and I'm leaning towards the middle one:
Cheapest - Easy sewing, 18 stitches which also lists the following • Easy Sewing Without Discs • Free Arm Sewing • 18 Stitches • L.C.R. Needle Position • Reverse Push Button
mid-price - 18 stitch with buttonhole which also lists the following: • 18 Stitch Patterns - This mid-market mechanical has been engineered to meet with the needs of collaborators incorporating an extensive 18 stitch pattern functionality. • Thread Cutter - Conveniently and neatly cut your excess thread ends. This implement allows cutting of thread directly and conveniently. Enhances ease to complete stitching tasks and continue with new ones. • 6mm Width & 5mm Length - To allow for wide range in pattern designs, the unit comes with an adjustable stitch width up to 6MM and stitch length up to 5MM. • 1-step Buttonhole - This mechanical model comes with a quick One Step Buttonhole system. • Needle Options - Spots 2 needle sewing capability and allows for 3 needle position selection options providing a wide scenario of usage functionality. • Drop Feed - Allows for easy switching from ordinary sewing to free hand embroidery.
more expensive - Cast Iron Zig-Zag Machine which lists these features: • Cast Iron Zig-Zag Machine, Flat Bed. • Motor Optional. • 30 Interchangeable Cams, • 4 Step Buttonholer
Motor optional on the last scares me, to be honest. The middle one looks to me like the best bet. I don't know what 2 needle sewing is about - is this sort of a poor man's serger without the cutting ability? Ie, locking up the stray ends of fabric so it's all nice and neat and tidy and doesn't fray? Or what does that mean?
Opinions, please, if you can from the scant information available.
We're looking at buying it sometime between now and Thursday.
Thanks!
[ March 19, 2006, 02:48 AM: Message edited by: quidscribis ]
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
I've never bought a machine either, but I've used several different brands via 4H sewing and costume shop work in college. I'd go for the middle one, too. I have no clue about the two-needle sewing (a bootleg serger sounds like a good guess, though), but as the cheaper one lacks a buttonhole function, I'd cross it off the list because buttonholes come in handy.
I've never seen anything like that last one, but - if it's made out of cast iron, that'd probably be obnoxiously heavy, wouldn't it? And "motor optional" makes me think of my parents' antique sewing machine that runs by foot pedal, but that can't be what that means. Perhaps it means a secondary motor is optional?
I've used Singer, Bernina, Kenmore, and Elna sewing machines, and out of those, I liked the Berninas and Elnas the best. But the Singer and Kenmore models I've used were older, so the newer models are probably a lot more comparable between brands. I know you said Singers are what's available near you, but I'm just sayin'.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I'll dispel one notion upfront - other options available from the Singer store include foot-pedal sewing machines, no electric motor. They're needed in this country with only 62% of the country having electricity, and those with electricity having frequent power outages (we've had more than a dozen in the last week, for example - but it has been particularly bad lately.) So yes, it is possible that they do mean foot-pedal operated.
I've lived here long enough that I'm used to these things and I forget that not everyone else knows what I know.
The other brands you mention are likely not available in this country, or if they are, I'd have to really hunt for them. Singer is a chain store, and in that sense, they're already much more reliable than other stores that won't honor returns for defective equipment and can't do anything about warranty issues. I didn't make that clear before, and I should have.
I agree with what you say about the button-hole function. That, to me, is useful even if I only use it occasionally or seldom. Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Oh, I have a sewing machine question, too. But I'll wait until quid's question is answered before asking mine. I don't want to hijack the thread.
--Mel
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
The midprice one looks like a reasonable choice to me. I agree that it's worth it to have a button-hole function.
I have two really old sewing machines with not too fancy options, and to tell you the truth, for most things you don't need a fancier, more expensive machine.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Ah. I hadn't thought about power outages. How long do those usually last there? Hmm, the only foot-pedal machines I've seen are pretty much built into their own tables in order to house the belts attached to the pedal. That one looked like it just sits on a tabletop - I wonder how that works with a pedal?
Singers are very reliable, so you shouldn't have any problems with it. My mom's machine is a Singer, and she's had it for over 20 years with no trouble. I don't dislike it, but I must say I'm more attracted to the bells and whistles on the newer machines. Doubtless, yours will have these in abundance. Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
To clarify: by "bells and whistles" I mean little things like digital stitch length displays and electronic setting buttons rather than clunky knobs - you know, the important stuff!
Plus I just liked the overall design on the Berninas and Elnas better, but then that was after I'd worked with them a lot, so I'm sure it was just because I'd gotten used to them.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Nell, you are obviously too high tech for me. My sewing machines precede the digital era. (One was my grandmother's. )
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Heehee. The digital thing caught me off-guard at first - I thought it made the machine look like a warped microwave! Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Ela, you look like the person to answer my question. I have a Kenmore sewing machine from 1962, a model 90. It was my husband's grandmother's sewing machine. It has a cabinet that it fits into. Now, when his sister moved to Tucson, she lost the screws that attach the machine to the cabinet. Without those screws I can't fold the machine down. Where would I find replacements? The manual only refers to them as "hinge screws" with no part number. I got a half-dozen different sized screws from a hardware store, but none of them fit quite right.
Oh, and this thing weighs a ton. Imagine me trying to install it in the cabinet when I was nine months pregnant But, it still works after 40+ years. I call that quality.
--Mel
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
CrowsWife, go ahead and ask now. I don't mind.
Power outages can last anywhere from a second (if we're really really lucky) to 12 hours. During droughts, which seems to be three or four months of the year, Colombo has power outages schedules daily for different areas - probably one area gets it one day a week, that sort of thing. Since we're outside of Colombo, it doesn't affect us as much. Last week, we had four power outages one day that lasted a total of four hours, another 8 hours out over night (I use a CPAP machine at night to keep me breathing, so I notice these things), and another 6 the following day lasting a total of another couple of hours. Oh, and two days before that, we had a scheduled power cut from 8:30 to 5 for maintenance. But like I said, this is a bit unusual even for Sri Lanka.
The east and the north, however, where the civil war has mostly taken place, has a lower percentage of electrical infrastructure because of the war. Bombs, guns, land mines, lack of safety for engineers and workers to install stuff. Ya know. The usual.
Back to sewing machines. . . I've never gone high-tech. Low tech is fine. But what's that two-needle thingie? ( NOT button thingie!) And is it likely that this sewing machine can handle zippers?
Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going for the middle one. Cast-iron no motor is out for sure. And if Fahim is willing to spend more money, why not get one with more features?
Edited to correct dumb errors. Urgh.
[ September 20, 2005, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: quidscribis ]
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Yeah, quid, I was wondering about the zippers too, cause none of the descriptions actually mention that. Did you say you are actually going to the Singer Store to shop? If so, you can make sure it has a zipper foot. (I can't imagine it wouldn't, though. Maybe that's why it's not mentioned - it's taken for granted.)
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Wow. All those outages would be Very Irritating. Especially if it can affect your health! My dad is on oxygen constantly, so that'd definitely be worrying.
I'm not sure where you're looking with the "two-button thingie" - do you mean something on the pic of the machine? I see the two sliding things to pick the stitch width and the needle position, and then between those I see a sideways wheel thing to pick which stitch you're using. Was that it?
It probably comes with a foot to use just for zippers, and if it doesn't, I'm sure you can get one separately at the store.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I don't know - it's not worth taking anything for granted here. Seriously, that usually leads to huge problems.
Yep, we're going in person to the store, and before we actually put any money down, I read the specs first and see what comes with it. The Singer store knows us - we bought our fridge, stove, washing machine, entertainment system, and probably a few other things there, so they know us by now. And I pretty much always ask for the manual to look at the specs. They probably hate me for that.
But it's a good idea - for me - to figure out as much in advance as I can so I know what I need to ask or look for.
And yes, I'll be looking for a zipper foot. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Er, oops! I meant two-needle thingie. Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
If I were in your position, I would go for the mid-price one as well. That thread cutter sounds really handy. I imagine that if you did a lot of sewing that would definitely increase your efficiency.
My machine has the two needle set-up as well. I think it's mostly a decorative thing, but it would also add some strength to your stitching.
--Mel
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis: Er, oops! I meant two-needle thingie.
Oh, okay! Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Crow's Wife, I am not sure about how to get parts for old sewing machines. I actually need to replace a part on my grandmother's machine, also, and I've been putting it off.
Isn't Kenmore a Sears product? Have you checked with them?
Other options:
*We have a real oldtime hardware store with a salesman who can answer most questions and find almost anything we need, so we often go to him for stuff we can't find elsewhere.
*Are there any sewing specialty stores around your area?
*Look at some of those sewing groups online, there's bound to be someone on one of those groups who can answer your question (my daughter briefly asked questions at one such group when she had a fabric-finding question, and got some answers).
Sorry I don't have a better answer for you.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
OOOH! Mel, does it explain what the two-needle thingie is for in your manual, if you have one, other than for decorative stitching?
I've done a Google search, and either my Google-fu is extremely low today, or there isn't much. Maybe I need to drink some Google-potion.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
No problem, it's a place to start anyhow. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to load the machine up in the car and take it to a sewing machine store. That way I can actually try out anything that they suggest.
--Mel
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
lol, quid - I tried googling for it too, but no luck. But I did find this page, which has cool animated demos of how a single-needle machine works. Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
It sounds like you'd use it for something like jeans or military stitching. That actually sounds pretty cool - it'd save you from having to sew something twice. Hmm...I wonder if there's a shortcut device for doing true French seams?
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Unfortunately, no. It just tells how to set up the two needles and what kind of thread to use. But the very next section is decorative stitching.
If you just did the basic stitch with two needles, you would end up with two parallel lines of stitches. It seems to me that that would be a quick and easy way to do reinforced hems or things of that nature. If you had a lot of them to do, it would probably be worth the bother of threading a second needle.
--Mel
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yay Nell! You're my hero! Thanks!
It makes sense, now that it's pointed out to me. Whew!
Okay, folks, that's the machine I'm getting - the middle one. I can't think of anything against it, other than the possibility of no zippers, but I'll figure that out at the store. Altho, truth be told, I've done zippers with a regular foot - it's not ideal, but it can be done. I hope I never have to do that again.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Although, the section on thread selection for the double needle seems to indicate that it is mostly for decorative work:
"Use only mercerized machine embroidery thread or mercerized sewing thread size 50 and finer. Machine embroidery thread is recommended for both upper and lower threading."
--Mel
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
In my experience, regardless of what it comes with, Singer machines can be fitted with a zipper foot as an added attachment. So that may be a possibility as well.
Good luck. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Mel - you're right, and it's an excellent idea. I think it's a useful feature, especially for items that will take a lot of wear.
Nell - what are true French seams? *off to Google*
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Even if it doesn't come with a zipper foot, you should be able to buy one seperately. Even if you had to buy it online, it would be light enough to be worth it, I would think.
--Mel
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Aw, shucks.
If you google "twin needle sewing machine", it gets mentioned a few times more than "two needle sewing machine". But I haven't seen any more elaborate explanations of what it does other than parallel straight stitches, hems, and pintucks, and implications that replacement needles are more expensive than regular ones. Which I guess stands to reason.
True French seams (I think that's the proper name for it) are what you might use on chiffon or fabric that frays really easily. Basically, you end up sewing all the seams twice - the first time inside-out, and then the second time so that the right side of the fabric is the finished side. Plus there's lots of pressing and trimming going on between those two steps. It's a huge pain - I had to do it on a 4H dress, partly because we didn't have a serger, and partly because 4H judges are super picky. Plus that dress had a double layer of fabric (one chiffon layer, one lining layer) and I had to French seam both, so I pretty much sewed the same dress 4 times! It has a really nice finished look, but it's SO obnoxious to do. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Very interesting. I found info on French seams here. I've seen them a lot, of course, and always wanted to know how to do them. I could figure it out on my own, of course. Hmm. Actually, I did. But now I know what they're called. My life is complete.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I have a 1960's console Singer with extra attatchments (including a ruffler.) My dad got it at a yard sale for $45.
The Jaffa have a saying: they do not make them as they once did.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I was just going to add a nail to the coffin of the heavy duty model- nothing bites like losing a cam. The only stitch I sometimes use is a hidden hem stich, but that should be on either of the 18 stich machines. I guess I've used a decorative criss cross stitch from time to time, but that still brings the total number of stitches that I know what to do with to 4.
Also, I install zippers without a special foot. But my machine does let you position the needle close to the side. Mainly, it isn't worth it to me to change out the foot and risk losing it.
For over a year I was convinced I had lost my bobbin cover. I finally got my husband to buy a new part, and when it came I realized it was a drop in bobbin. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
CrowsWife - you're right, it would be worth it. I'll see what they say - it may come with a zipper foot. We tried calling the shop, but it was busy. We'll try again in a minute. Fahim's going to do the talking - no one ever understands my accent!
So I tell him I want to know if it has a zipper foot, and he asks me what it does. So I explain it to him, including the fact that it's not a full foot, but it's open to manuever around the zipper, and he interrupts and tells me that all I had to tell him was that it was for sewing zippers. That's why it's called a zipper foot, honey.
Nell - yeah, after you mentioned twin needles in your first thread with the link, it made sense that that's why I wasn't getting anything useful. Thanks.
Hmm. So the second needle is a special one? This could be interesting.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Oh yeah, I called it "true French seam" because I recently learned that there is such a thing as a "false French seam" that looks a lot like an actual French seam, but it's really just a cheat and isn't as strong. No idea if it's called that in real life though - I just make the distinction now to be on the safe side. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Pooka - what the heck is a cam and why are they interchangeable? Yep, that was another nail in that coffin for me - the fact that I don't have a clue what it is.
Nell - what's the false French seam? No initial stitch, just a fold and tuck, then one stitch? That's my guess.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Cams are little disks that you insert to get the fancy stitches. My machine has them, although I've never tried to use them. [EDIT: The first two machines you linked don't use cams. They have the different stitches built in.]
I could be wrong, but I think that the twin needle setup is actually two needles welded to a single shaft that you put in the needle holder. So if one needle breaks or is worn down, you have to replace the whole thing. [EDIT: While looking at the cams for my machine, I found a double needle. It's basically how I described above, only the two needles are attached with plastic, not welding.]
--Mel
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks for the explanation on cams. Turns out I have seen them - I was, um, perhaps 9 or something - but never knew what they were called other than "disks for fancy stitches".
quote:I could be wrong, but I think that the twin needle setup is actually two needles welded to a single shaft that you put in the needle holder. So if one needle breaks or is worn down, you have to replace the whole thing.
Oh.
That would suck. But again, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
I googled it for a definition (cuz I forgot!) and found this: "False French Seam - Sew a standard seam, fold the seam allowances in on eachother, and then sew the seam allowances together along the edge of the fold."
But what the costume manager at my current school said it was sounded more like this: "False Flat-Felled Seam - Place the pieces of fabric wrong sides together and sew. Trim one of the seam allowances and fold the other over it, pressing both flat. Then sew again along the edge of the fold." Only instead of the trimming, I think she said to fold both of the seam allowances under itself over to one side (did that make sense?), and then topstitch it. But I'm positive she called it a false French seam. Ah well, neither is one that's really all that common or necessary.
This site is where those definitions came from, btw - it has some good explanations of other stuff that might come in handy. Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
You're welcome.
It's funny, I'm a complete newbie when it comes to sewing, but I just love machines and figuring out how they work. That's how I know all this stuff: I obsessively read through the instruction manual when I first got the machine. Maybe someday I'll actually be able to use these neat things I know about .
--Mel
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Hey Mel, I obsessively read through every single instruction manual and assembly instructions for everything I've ever received or purchased in my life, and that includes the fine print of every single contract I've ever signed, despite protestations of "it's just a standard contract."
Nell - thanks. I found the same initial definition you found at the same site. And yep, I agree, good site.
rivka - if you come in here - if you don't want me to respond, don't give me something to respond to!
And yes, I had fun. Thanks!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:Thanks for the explanation on cams. Turns out I have seen them - I was, um, perhaps 9 or something - but never knew what they were called other than "disks for fancy stitches".
Me, neither, and I have them on my machine!
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
I have never heard of cams or fancy stitch disks. I think all the machines I've used were of the built-in fancy-stitch variety. Do they work sort of like templates or stencil-y things?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
No, it's a mechanical version of the electronic programming. (And just as easy to use, and mine has lasted through 40 years of use.)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:rivka - if you come in here - if you don't want me to respond, don't give me something to respond to!
I've been reading the thread with interest, but wasn't expecting to have anything else to add to it.
And please tell me how I was supposed to conduct rigorous testing without doing what I did?
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: No, it's a mechanical version of the electronic programming. (And just as easy to use, and mine has lasted through 40 years of use.)
Oh, okay. I was thinking this is some manual thing you have to do, like switching the foot.
And as it is now 2am for me, I am retiring from this thread so I can get some sleep. Yay, sewing! Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
It is manual, but it looks very easy. On my machine there is a little cover on top that you open, and you just drop the disk into the holder. Assuming that you have the cams right there and you haven't lost the one you want, the ease of use is probably pretty comparable to the built-in machine.
--Mel
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Oh, and quid, you're starting to scare me. It seems like we have a lot in common. What was your blog address again?
--Mel
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, you just pull out the regular one and put in the fancy-stitch one. Each disc has both a number corresponding to the pattern chart in the instructions and a representation of the stitch itself. I have all the basic ones and some of the fancy ones; my grandma has some of the harder-to-find, special ones, like kitties and hearts. It's about as much work as using the stitch selector on my mother-in-law's quilting machine, honestly. Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Oh, kitty stitches sound cute! I always love playing with the different fancy stitches.
But now I really am going to bed! (Self-discipline is a trait I have never learned... ) Night, all!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
CrowsWife - I hear ya. Except you're way, way younger than me. And probably have fewer white hairs.
(quid, did you miss my Stargate reference? )
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: (quid, did you miss my Stargate reference? )
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq - I saw it. And I laughed. I love them Jaffa! Miss it! Bah!
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Thanks!
Way, way younger? I didn't really think you were that old. Shows how much I know .
As for white hairs, my best friend found one when she was doing my hair for my wedding, two years ago. I decided it was from the stress of planning (oh, how I hate planning things like that!). I haven't found any since.
And now it's nearly midnight, so off I go to bed. G'night!
--Mel
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Heck, I had two white hairs while planning for my wedding.
And I was 20 at the time.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:The Jaffa have a saying: they do not make them as they once did.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Thank you quid, I said it that way just for you. I need a little acknowledgment now and then. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
CrowsWife - I'm late thirties, I have cataracts, I'm going through perimenopause, and I'm now 70% or more white at my temples, and a conservative 30% white elsewhere.
I'm old.
Whereas I checked out your blog, and I think it said you were mid twenties? Oh, to be young . . . Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Shame on me for skimming. I missed that even when I went back and re-read! Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
KQ - I hear ya. I love it when Jaffa sayings get sprinkled in hither and thither. Or, really, any Stargate references. *drools*
Oh hey, did I mention? We bought the first seven series boxed set. I've seen them all, of course, but Fahim hasn't - I think he started watching in season 7. We're starting watching them at the very beginning. Yeah, I'm happy.
(Wormhole Xtreme: Does it say Colonel anywhere on my uniform?)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I love that episode! And the commentaries are great, too. Yeah, Jeff had never watched Stargate, so we Netflixed them all, from the beginning. He's now hooked (although not, of course, as much as I am.)
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
What I hate about the edition we have is that it has none of the extras. None. Baaaah! I love the extras! It's all because it's a cheap pirate. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, how sad. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yeah. See? You understand.
Did I mention that it's shot in Vancouver, BC, and I lived there for 5 years? Same as X-Files. I loved picking out the areas I knew when they showed up on-screen.
Yep, I'm obsessed. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
You did mention that. At least, to me.
That's why I love reading detective stories set in L.A. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
And why I had so much fun watching the 2 seasons of Moonlighting that are on DVD. Season 3 needs to come out, darnit! (Also S8 of SG, and S2 of L&C, and . . .)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
My favorite is when cops work for the LACSA (County Sheriff's) up in the hills or the Foothill Station of the LAPD-- our former and current local police officers. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
While my favorite is when the street shown (and that darn street appeared two or three times in Moonlighting alone) is the one a block from where my kids attend school -- and where I was in school a couple years before many things filmed there. It was a very popular spot for a while.
Never figured out precisely why, but I think it had something to do with the arrangement of perpendicular alleys.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So*, we went down to Singer like we planned and took a look at the sewing machines in person.
Remember that third machine that has "motor optional"? It was set up in the showroom with a footpedal. Big rubber strap leading to the footpedal from the round turning thingie on the right side of the machine. So yes, my assumptions on that score were correct.
The look on my 15 year old niece's face were worth the trip. "Oh look, funky foot pedal. Great grandma used to have one of those!" Yes, I know. I've sewn on it.
After some exploration, which was mostly due to wait time for the salesperson to get things done, we bought the sewing machine I had previously decided on.
And I saw that they have a serger that is not listed on their website. It's a Singer 4 thread serger for Rs. 25,000, or around $250 US. That's a pretty decent price. I'm wangling for one. No idea how long it'll take to get one. And yes, I'm lusting after it. I love sergers!
Anyway. We got the sewing machine. It came in a handy carrying case - no box - and the case is actually funky. It looks sorta like a bowling ball case. Useful.
I've already used it to fix a few things, and it works well. It has a whole lotta features that I have yet to figure out, and that's okay. I've got it for a while.
Tomorrow, perhaps the next day, we'll go shopping for fabric and patterns. But first, we need to figure out where to get such. Will there be fabric patterns here? In English? Well, we shall see. Meanwhile, I have already determined that I can order patterns from Simplicity, Butterick, et al over the internet.
Me is very happy. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Why would people buy the big old foot pedal thing? Are there lots of areas in Sri Lanka that are not reliably electified?
Enjoy the sewing!
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Well, I bought a machine that has a motor and doesn't need a footpedal and guess what? I use the optional foot pedal all the time. I just prefer to be able to control the speed with my foot, because I can make corrections quicker than I can if I'm just pushing a button.
Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :
Sounds like you made a good choice, quid. Enjoy! Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Yay, sewing machines!
And good luck getting the serger. My mom has one that she's never used (it's still in the box), and I fully intend to steal it the next time I go home with my car. I'd rather not find out what happens to something like that on a plane. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Congrats, quid. Enjoy! Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Tante - yes, a good portion of the country doesn't have electricity, and those who do have frequent power outages. I talk a lot more about it on the first page of this thread, so check it out.
Nell, I've had a serger before in Canada - had it, oh, 10 years, and used it all the time. I loved it! But because it was 110 volt, and electricity here is 210-220 volt, I couldn't bring it with.
And we just found out a few days ago that Fahim's brother is getting married - arranged marriage - and Fahim is being brought into the fold at the insistence of his brother, who I finally met last night.
Anyhoo, I'll need two new outfits - one for the wedding, the other for the homecoming a week later. That sewing machine is going to get the workout!
Sis and I have looked at patterns online and have some ideas of what we think will work for me and my body type, and now I need to make phone calls to some local friends to find out where to go to get patterns and fabric. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis: They're needed in this country with only 62% of the country having electricity, and those with electricity having frequent power outages (we've had more than a dozen in the last week, for example - but it has been particularly bad lately.) So yes, it is possible that they do mean foot-pedal operated.
Ah -- you did say that! I forgot! Apologies.
Mazel Tov on the wedding, and wear you new clothes beautifully and in happiness.
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: My favorite is when cops work for the LACSA (County Sheriff's) up in the hills or the Foothill Station of the LAPD-- our former and current local police officers.
KQ, I'm assuming, then, that you've read Faye Kellerman's Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novels. Or have we talked about this before? Anyway, if you haven't read them, you really need to.
My only problem with reading her (or her husband) is that I get ferociously homesick for SoCal when she mentions places I know.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, yes, I love those novels. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
And if you like her novels, good chance you'll enjoy Rochelle Krich's mysteries.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Ooh, I read some by her but forgot her name-- I read everything the library had, about 5 years ago. Thanks, rivka!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
And she's really nice, too.
So are her kids.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Tante - thank you for that sweet wish on my new clothes.
So. Made phone calls, looked at patterns on the internet - Simplicity and Butterick, mainly - and I'm now seriously considering learning how to make my own patterns. I suspect that it's going to be difficult to a. find the patterns I would like and b. find them in the size I need.
To that order, I found a site online that sells a course so I can learn how to make my own patterns.
Has anyone done this? Or, better yet, used this person's method and course?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Yikes. quid, my mom is a very experienced sewer, and she is hesitant to make patterns from scratch. (She has been known to take apart a dress to use it as a pattern.)
Why aren't you just getting a pattern from Simplicity or Butterick (both very good)? Is it anything that having someone here who could probably get to a fabric store and pick up a pattern in person and mail it out would help with?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Gee, I really didn't explain myself at all well, did I?
I could order patterns and have them sent here, but with postage and handling and import taxes, it'll more than double the cost of the pattern.
I could look for patterns here, but most women wear saris or shalwaar kameez, combined with the fact that most women here are petite and small, and I am neither, and that makes it more likely that, assuming I found a pattern I liked, I'd have to alter it anyway.
My sister and I were discussing altering patterns because we're both intolerant for having fabric bunching in our armptis, plus other such things, and I'm likely going to end up altering the pattern anyway.
Then, I went online and took a gander and found one site with instructions on how to make your own pattern - just really basic and for a medieval costume, so not enough for what I would need to learn - and it's just math, which I'm good at, and I start thinking how hard can it be?
I'm an experienced enough sewer that it doesn't scare me.
Plus my sister's here for the next two or three weeks, and that's plenty of time for her to help me with this, and she's even more experienced at sewing than I.
Eh. It just kinda makes sense.
Plus, it'd be kinda fun. Ya know? Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
You and I have very different notions ( ) of what constitutes fun. Enjoy, I guess!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks, rivka. I never claimed to be completely normal. Heck, I never claimed any degree of normalcy AT ALL.
And during my searches, I found something else. A book. Which looks even better than that previous downloadable course thingy I linked to previously.
Yep, I think this book is what I really really want.
Now, to figure out how to get it. Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Ooh, making patterns sounds like fun. Any time I learn a new craft I always end up making my own patterns before too long.
The wedding sounds like a good opportunity to put your new machine through its paces
Good luck!
--Mel
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
See? I knew there had to be someone who'd understand.
You've just made my day, CrowsWife. Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Making patterns from scratch isn't that hard, but you *have* to start with a good body sloper.
quid, lemme dig a little, but I have an excellent book to recommend for you. It's a costuming book, but it's perfect for making your own patterns. My copy is packed (all my books are still in boxes ) but I'll see if I can find the title. I used to use it all the time and made quite a few dresses using the techniques I found in it.
*goes off to research*
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Quid, here it is. There are written recommendations on it, to which I can add my own...it's the best book I've read on this topic, and I used it a LOT when I was still sewing.
[ September 26, 2005, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: jeniwren ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I make my own patterns all the time. I have had a lot of help from my dad's fiancé, who used to do it professionally (she was a fashion designer.) If you need help at any point, quid, please e-mail me and I will pass the question on to the expert immediately! Good luck!
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
jeni, you stretched out my whole screen! If we can't get the posts to fit the screen, then how can we get the dress to fit on quid?
I'm wary about this whole proceeding. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
It doesn't stretch my screen.
Maybe it's just you, Tante. Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I haven't quite figured out making my own patterns, but I majorly change every pattern i make, like switch the top and the skirt on a dress, or make it short instead of long, as well as account for my being not at all proportional (like 42, 30, 40, and 5 feet tall).
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Oh crud...I'm sorry Tante. I use a widescreen monitor and forget that most people don't. I'll try to fix it with tinyurl...I've never used that before so we'll see how successful I am.
Hmph. I don't know if that worked or not, but in any case, the name of the book is Costumer's Handbook. It appears to be out of print, but there were links on amazon to find sources. I'd offer to loan you my copy but I really don't know where it is, and it may be a couple of months yet before I get my entire library unpacked.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Jeniwren, what do you mean by a body sloper? Is that the same as a French curve?
Also, the book you recommend - can it teach me to make all kinds of patterns for both Fahim and I? I want to be able to create everything from dresses and blouses to pants for Fahim.
ketchupqueen, thanks for the offer!
After much discussion here, Fahim suggested that I might actually be able to find something at Vijitha Yapa's, the local big bookstore. After all, in this country, nearly everyone sews (and cooks, but that's a whole other topic) so it has a certain amount of logic to it.
Kim and I, with Fahim as translator, are going to go fabric shopping today after Fahim's done work. There are a few fabric stores over in a mall a fairly short distance away. That'll be our first stop. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
jeni, the tinyurl worked great. You altered the link to fit the screen. Maybe Hatrack can also alter a pattern to fit quid.
Things are looking up!
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Crow's wife, I would think the best way to get your screws would be the following. First find out the specification for the exact screws you need from the manufacturer's information, then buy those exact screws from a hardware store, an industrial fasteners supplier, or even a manufacturer of fasteners, basically the people from whom hardware stores buy their screws and bolts.
Screws are characterized by the type of head they have, by their length, and by their thread count. They are also specified by the material they're made of, but in this application that won't be so important.
Do you understand the difference between a screw and a bolt? Bolts have a blunt end and are fastened on the opposite side by a nut, sometimes with a flat washer and/or lock washer included. Screws often have a sharp end and thread directly into a threaded hole, or into wood or plastic. In soft substances like wood or plastic, screws often sort of make their own threads as they are screwed in. If these screws you need go into wood, it's not that crucial to have the exact same threads as the originals, only to be sure they are small enough to fit in the hole and big enough not to strip out the hole and pull loose.
Thread specifications are usually given (in the US) as number of threads per inch. An example of a very popular bolt would be 1/4-20 NC meaning the shaft of the bolt is 1/4" in diamater, and there are 20 threads to the inch. NC stands for National Coarse, one standard thread system in the US. In addition to this, you would need to know if it needs a countersunk head, a carriage bolt head, a standard hex head, or what, and you need to know the length.
On a sewing machine, I'd expect a machine screw might be likely, and these have finer threads. They are classified by a gauge number, so like a #18 machine screw is a certain diameter with a certain number of threads per inch. In addition you will also need to get the length right.
If the sewing machine manufacturer's information specifies the screws exactly (and you should look for an exploded view of the machine in the maintenance and spare parts section of the manual, where these screws will likely be called out by a part number), then you can buy them from any source of fasteners. If all you have is a part number, you'll have to buy them for many times the real price directly from the sewing machine manufacturer. But at least you'll be assured of getting the right thing. If you don't have the manual, they are often available for download in pdf format on the manufacturer's website. Look for a plaque with the model number and serial number somewhere on the machine. Using this you can hopefully find the right manual online.
If your sewing machine happens to be of Italian or other European make, it will most likely use metric threaded screws and bolts, and so you need to know that, since those standards are totally different from ours.
Another option is just to take the whole thing with you to the hardware store or fastener supplier and go by trial and error until you find what you need.
Good luck! I hope you find your screws. I know how trying it can be to try to live life with several screws loose.
[ September 27, 2005, 07:45 AM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
quid, yes, definitely, the book is all about making your own patterns. It's purpose is to give basic fundamentals to new costume designers (who have to make their own patterns and make often unusual things).
A body sloper is a muslin mockup of your body shape. It's essentially you in muslin. Once you have that right, you can use it to make sure your garments fit properly. The book describes how to make a pattern to make your sloper. If you have a tape measure, ruler and stiff paper, you can make one by the instructions in the book. It's actually pretty fun...I made several and they did work very well for making my own patterns that fit me fine. I'm not a great seamstress (too impatient) so that this book could get me doing that, I think it's pretty darn good. Works for both men and women.
edit: and it if I remember right, does have the basic dimensions for pants patterns. I never used it, but don't have any reason to think it wouldn't work. I recall that it also had basic sewing instructions as well, defining particular sewing techniques.
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
Thanks, Tatiana, that's quite informative. I've looked through the manual, and it only calls it a "hinge screw" with no part number. It's not listed/shown on the parts of the machine page, unfortunately.
Basically, the machine fits into a cabinet, and there are two pins that go up into it to hold it in place. The screws need to not be pointed, because they go in at right angles to put pressure against the pins so that the machine doesn't come off when it is rotated down into the lower part of the cabinet.
I think I'm just going to have to take it in to ACE and see if anything fits. It's just so dang heavy.
--Mel
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
When I need spare parts like that for my (very old) machine, I usually just call up my local sewing machine repair guy. Since he buys old busted machines for scrap, he usually has what I need, and if it's a screw, he usually doesn't even charge me.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks, jeniwren, for the info - most helpful.
We haven't gone out yet to look for books or to get fabric - Fahim's been working crazy hours, combined with niece being sick and sister jet-lagged, it just wasn't a good idea. Things are settling down to normal now.
We're going to see if we can find any books on making patterns here. I'm crossing my fingers.
I met Fahim's brother last Sunday. He drove Fahim home after the male members of both families got together to discuss the marriage. He seemed really shy, but nice, polite, well-mannered. I can imagine that he was probably nervous meeting me, or perhaps it was nerves leftover from meeting his prospective in-laws.
The marriage is arranged, and as such, it's not absolutely written in stone yet that it's going to happen. The various families have to meet the relatives on both sides of the family to make sure they're all acceptable, and as such, I'm not to be introduced into the mess until the wedding itself. I'm the blot on the family honor. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:I'm the blot on the family honor.
That should so be a t-shirt. Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Good luck with the pattern-making adventure, quid! I've only attempted drafting a pattern once as part of a costume design class, but I wasn't aiming for the results to fit me specifically - it was more for a nebulous nonexistence actress. I didn't fail the assignment, so I guess the result must have been close, but I have no idea if it would have actually worked. I'm pretty good at following sewing instructions, but making up my own is still a bit beyond me.
But FWIW, the pattern drafting method that was suggested by our (brilliant, award-nominated) designer was to use a pre-existing pattern as a reference so you'll know what general shapes you're aiming for, then drape muslin on a mannequin/modelform/body sloper (haven't heard that term before, but sounds most interesting! I think I need that book too ) and pin/mark/trim it up to approximate the shapes you need, then transfer the muslin shapes to paper, adding in seam allowances and using a French curve to correct the inconsistencies.
And ketchupqueen. I think you should make a wedding garment that somehow illustrates this - subtly, of course. That'd make an awesome design project. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So*, we went shopping yesterday.
First stop was at Vijitha Yapa's, the biggest bookstore in the country, and nothing. In English, that is. There were some fairly thin books (3rd and 5th volumes, each about 30 pages) on dressmaking in Sinhalese. I couldn't read them to understand the content, but the diagrams were enough to tell me what they were about. But English? Nope. Nothing.
Then we headed down Duplication Road, a fairly major road as far as businesses and shops are concerned, because Fahim saw some fabric shops as we drove by last week. Well, we found those fabric shops alright. One was for curtains and furniture. The other was closed (we could only go after Fahim was done work.)
We then headed into a local fabric store - local to where we were, not where we live, that is. I could swear I've been in that shop before, never mind that I've never been in Welawatte before. It was the usual - a store about twenty feet long, about eight feet wide, with a long counter separating the customer area from the sales area. The walls were covered - floor to ceiling - with glassed over shelves. To the right as we walked in were a bunch of shelves filled with bright orange bundles. Robes for Buddhist monks, I suspect.
They had loads of pre-cut sarong material - some batik, some plaid - and they had bolts of fabric. The employee (owner?) after finding out we were looking for dress material, pointed to the end of the store where round bolts of polyester fabric stood. Polyester! In this heat! Are they mad?
And yet, many women here wear polyester. It doesn't wrinkle, it looks nice for a long time, and the locals don't have a problem with heat.
They had flat bolts of cotton fabric which they insisted wasn't suitable for dresses. Well, so what? I'll do whatever I want. But no, there wasn't anything there I was fond of.
We left after my niece bought some batik sarong material for her to sew into capris. Cool.
That was it. Shopping trip over.
Except. Someone I talked to earlier told me about another fabric store - Salusala - that had hand-painted and hand-woven fabrics, very upscale. Too expensive for me, I thought. I mentioned it to Fahim, who talked to the driver in Sinhalese, and the driver thought there was a Salusala in the neighborhood, but after driving by where it was, discovered it had been closed down. So yeah, shopping trip over.
But, the driver said, he had a fabric shop in our area, and he knew of a Salusala there as well. Turns out Salusala is a chain. Too late for the day, but tomorrow?
We were picked up, and we went. Fahim was dragged along because we thought we'd need translators. Turns out we didn't. Fahim picked his nose instead and kept my nephew occupied as my sister, my niece, and I looked at bolt after bolt of fabric.
They had some very nice Chinese cottons - soft and with a nice drape ($1.45 a yard). They had a few grades of silk, some that hung so beautifully ($1.75 to $2.35 a yard), and beautiful linens. They had t-shirt material. They had fabric stuffed in that place. So*, not as big a selection as a major fabric store in Canada, but far more than I thought I'd ever find here.
But no, no patterns, no dressmaking books. They think that such are not available in the country. At all. Anywhere.
My niece bought two pieces of fabric for more capris. I bought one piece of fabric - Chinese cotton - a green floral. I still have no pattern, nor do I have a pattern. But now, I know where I'll be going to buy all my fabric.
Oddly enough, at a fabric store, all ya buy is fabric. We had to go elsewhere to buy the thread and other notions.
But still, no patterns. *sigh* I may have to end up going with the downloadable course. Or, er, well, maybe not. My sister is probably heading over to the Maldives sooner than she thought - her husband will probably have an apartment for them to live in in a week, so she'll head over there then. And then I'm on my own, and if I'm on my own, then I can take my time, relatively speaking.
And I'm still open for suggestions. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:They had some very nice Chinese cottons - soft and with a nice drape ($1.45 a yard). They had a few grades of silk, some that hung so beautifully ($1.75 to $2.35 a yard), and beautiful linens. They had t-shirt material. They had fabric stuffed in that place. So*, not as big a selection as a major fabric store in Canada, but far more than I thought I'd ever find here.
*dies*
Oh, my gosh, I knew cost-of-living was cheaper there, but those prices are AMAZING! You know that, right?
Okay. So*, the book. You know it's also an option for one of us to get the book for you and send it to you, if it will have time to get there. Otherwise, I have some ideas; what kind of dress are you thinking? I have (free) sites on how to make your own pattern for Renaissance costumes that can be adapted to almost any tunic (including dress or shirt length) and long skirt, using only your measurements and are simple enough for a beginner to use. And you're not a beginner, even, right? It might at least give you some ideas...
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
(I'm up because of insomnia. Just saying that right off the bat.)
Hmm. Yes, I knew those prices were great. Seriously, I'm not dumb. The really nice silk I saw and fell in love with was probably at $2.35 a yard - drapes beautifully. And it's that that I'll probably end up getting, or something like it. There were enough fabrics there that I liked that I wasn't worried about them not having something I liked the next time I was there.
What I don't know yet - and I don't know if they'll know - and forgot to ask was if the silk is machine washable or hand washable. I haven't had enough silks before to know enough about how they behave when washing except that most silks in Canada were labelled as dry-clean only, and I'm allergic to dry clean.
Yeah, I've been going on and on and on about that store in my head. Not out loud - don't want to drive everyone around here crazier than I already do.
The book. Yeah, I've thought about it - that is, having someone send it to me. Since my sister will be leaving so much sooner for the Maldives than we planned, I'm no longer in a rush to get the first dress sewn. It's so unlikely that we'll find and/or make a pattern before then as to be laughable. I have time - a couple of months. On the other hand, I don't really want to leave it to anything even resembling the last minute. I need new dresses for church and at home anyway, so I may as well get going on them.
I'm mainly looking for simple patterns. Princess lines would be fine. I don't like complicated, I hate frills and flounces and picky nitty detail that doesn't suit my personality or temperament at all. Plus good fabric doesn't need picky detail, and this is good fabric. So yes, if you have ideas and/or sites, please share!
Yep, I also have no problem adapting a blouse pattern into a dress. That's easy. The hard part are the breasts and armpits. Everything else . . .
Yeah, I'm in love with that store. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
That's the site I told you about. Check out the tunic page and the skirt page (that's a basic pattern that could be done a lot less full and turn out nice, too.) You probably won't make anything on the site, but she has lots of practical advice on adapting patterns, how to get a good fit, etc.
(If you would like to see an example or two of things I have adapted from patterns on that site, I have a portfolio I could dig through.)
Lots of how-to links. Again, mostly oriented toward Ren faire stuff and SCA stuff, but some of it might be helpful to you.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, and what color is the silk? Is there a pattern? What kind? How tight is the weave? Even if they tell you it's washable, I'd probably hand-wash a scrap before doing anything with it so as to know what's really going to happen with it. (Of course, you always wash your fabric first, anyway, but your normal hand-washing routine may need adaptation, like a shorter soak or no soak at all.)
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks, kq. I'll check them out in the morning when I'm not (finally! Thank heavens!) half asleep. If you think of anything else, feel free to suggest. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
That particular silk fabric was a turquoise and royal blue boxy pattern - abstract. I don't know what kind, but it had a fairly tight weave. Yes, I always wash fabric before I sew. Here, it's even more important. My sheets shrunk close to 12 inches the first time I washed them - and that was a cold water wash (the only kind we have here). *sigh* Evidently, preshrinking is not the norm here.
Good suggestion for washing a scrap of the silk first. I don't have a lot of experience with silk, so I will freely admit to ignorance.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Well, if I had a picture of you, I might have more appropriate suggestions based on build, body-type, and general look.
I'm not so good at guessing in the dark. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
*grumble* Yeah, the details are not something I'm discussing here. Maybe by email. Suffice it to say I'm 5'6", busty as all get-out, and overweight. But at least with the boobs, dresses tend to hang fairly well on me. It's the one consolation.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Blue and turquoise is not usually the runniest color scheme, although you may have some problems with the darker blue depending on what dye they used. If your scrap runs, I would suggest taking another scrap and washing it very gently in a vinegar solution to see if that will help set the dyes; sometimes it does. (I'm assuming you're not going to have access to the good dye-setting chemicals we have here.)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
*giggle* Yeah, I am glad that when you have a baby, the pooch in the tummy is accompanied by a swelling in the bustal area (not that I needed more, but to keep things proportionate...) It helps things drape down to cover the belly flab a bit.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Ah, yes, of course. Vinegar. Used that to set tie-dyes. Thanks for the reminder. Hmm. I hadn't thought about the colors running. I thought that was predominantly a rayon problem (and the store has some very very nice rayons as well.)
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: *giggle* Yeah, I am glad that when you have a baby, the pooch in the tummy is accompanied by a swelling in the bustal area (not that I needed more, but to keep things proportionate...) It helps things drape down to cover the belly flab a bit.
Precisely. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
You never know what you're going to get with hand-dyed fabrics and such. Even commercially dyed things run fairly often. Cotton, linen, silk, they all run and fade if you don't treat them right.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
If you want to e-mail me sometime, we can totally talk specifics on pattern shapes and such. Trust me, I have ze experience in zis area.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I have to clarify - the Salusala store we were in used to, years and years ago, have hand-woven and hand-painted fabrics. It was a government initiative to boost the economy. Now, though, it's no longer like that - it now has machine fabrics from the many factories around the country.
All the fabrics we saw were machine done. The silks, for example, had such a tight weave that it would be impossible to separate one strand of thread from another.
Back to silks. Is it possible to hand wash all silks, including ones that indicate dry clean only? I'm allergic to the dry cleaning chemicals - wicked fumes!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
No, it is not possible to hand-wash all silks. Mainly because, as I said, some silks will lose their color completely. Also because some will fall apart if you try to wash them.
But some can be hand-washed if judiciously done. You'll just have to test and see. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq, thanks for the clarification. As I said before, my knowledge of silks is not great, so I appreciate any information I can get.
The women at this store seemed more knowledgeable than many staff I've encountered in many locations. They may actually know whether these silks are dry clean only or can be handwashed. I'll ask the next time I'm there, which will likely be next week. I have a black t-shirt to replace, and they have t-shirt material. Well, and other sewing projects have I.
Is there any way to tell by looking at the silk whether it's handwashable or dry clean only? Or anything like that?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Generally, a tight-weave, heavier, sturdy silk with evenly machine-loomed fibers is more likely than more "rustic" silks to not fall apart. Look also for one that bends fairly easily; something that's too stiff may not take well to washing, shape-wise. Try to avoid very dark colors just because of the fading issue; also anything with red or orange in it, and just avoid white all together-- all the other colors in the pattern will run right into it if they're not fast, and it's hard to tell if they are or not. You should definitely talk to the salespeople about the silks. Tell them that you're looking for something that will wash, wear, and drape well, hold its shape and color, and see what they recommend.
Are bolts not labeled with care instructions there?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: Are bolts not labeled with care instructions there?
*howls with laughter*
Um, no. They're not even labelled as to the fibre content. Luckily, though, I have an excellent feel for fabric, as does my sister, my mother, and every other female adult I'm related to by sheer volume of experience.
I've been doing a fair bit of research on silk since my last post, and it appears that silks are washable provided you prewash. It's because silk shrinks 10% or more that it becomes dry clean only - garment manufacturers don't want to go to the bother and/or lose that much fabric in shrinkage which would naturally result in decreased profits. That, and if the silk is lined, when you wash it, the lining and the outer part of the garment will no longer fit each other.
The silks I saw in that store all had very tight, even, and consistent weaves, so I'm starting to become a lot less worried.
I've also been reading about using vinegar or salt to set the color. I've done this in the past with cottons, so if it'll help with silk, why not? Plus I also read that with silk, the first rinse should have vinegar in it to dissolve any remaining soap or detergent and to ensure the sheen is restored/maintained.
Edit to add: Thanks for the additional comments. You're a gem! Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Glad you got a laugh-- that was of course my intention. In a place where the Borax is in the sporting goods store, you don't expect much of the fabric manufacturers...
Glad you're finding this info out. I'd still recommend avoiding the things I mentioned in a silk, because I have had pieces fall apart.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So*, the wedding is now taking place in February, most likely. Yay! More time!
I have one pattern arriving in the Maldives today or tomorrow, and after my sister gets there, she'll mail it to me, and it can be used with silk or cotton or rayon and still look fine. So that immediate problem is solved.
I still want to learn how to make my own patterns. It would be much more useful in the long run. But at least the emergency is over.
And I'm also trying to convince Fahim to wear a Salwaar Kameez or Kurta to the wedding - he'd look soooo good in one.
And kq, of course I'm listening to your warnings and will wash small samples before sewing to see how they behave.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
quid - Please tell me about setting color with cottons. I have some jeans that bleed slightly (since I live in Phoenix, in the summer I get hot and sweat and then I get blue marks on my undies ). I've been trying to figure out how to set the color so they'll quit doing that.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
quid, even with having a good feel for fabrics, you can confirm content by burning a small peice. If it goes to ash, it's a natural fiber. Fine ash is silk, courser ash would probably be cotton (you're not likely to mistake one for the other anyway...). If you get a sticky resin or ball of plastic from burning the fabric, it's obviously a synthetic material.
I know that's all fairly obvious, but I probably wouldn't even think to burn a bit to find out for sure what it was. Except that I know that it works and is kind of fun if you like burning things. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
ludosti - sorry, I missed your post way back when. The easiest way I know of to set color with fabrics is to soak the article of clothing in water that has vinegar in it. Say, a cup of vinegar to a gallon, or something like that. Also, I believe cold water helps and hot water should be avoided (same thing with colored hair - hot water makes the color fade quicker).
jeniwren - excellent tip! Thanks! Of course I knew that about burning versus melting, but no, I would never have thought of actually *doing* that.
What about when it's a mix? Say, cotton and poly? Can you tell when it's 65% cotton/35% poly versus 65% poly/35% cotton?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Update: I've met Fahim's parents, and it's all good. His mother would like me to wear a shalwaar kameez to the wedding, and likely all other family events most likely, simply because there would be fewer questions about me and I wouldn't stick out *as much*. Festival, which is the day after Ramadan ends, is coming up (Fahim's not as cranky this year as he usually gets. My theory? The hydration powder I feed him every day is helping. He won't admit that, though. ) in a week and a half. On that day, since we'll be spending it with his family, we'll be bringing along new clothes for his brother and his parents, and they'll be giving us (I don't know how I got roped into this - I'm not Muslim, so the tradition doesn't apply to me! ) new clothes as well.
To further her ends towards getting me in a shalwaar, it's pretty likely that Fahim's mom will get me one. To beat her, I bought a shalwar kit.
The shalwaar kameez kit contains the fabric, with embroidery done to it (I'll have to take a pic, won't I?) for the tunic, another piece of fabric for the pants, and the shawl/thing you drape over your shoulder. (Why, oh why, does my brain block access to internal vocabulary?) Ready mades are readily available, but alas, in the land of the small and petite, where I am neither, that was a complete no go. Hence making my own. The kit was $17. Buy the fabric myself, just plain fabric with no embroidery, for the whole thing amounted to about $3. We'll only buy the kit again if I really really really really really love the tunic bit of things. The pants fabric is just ordinary cotton broadcloth. For the cotton kit, that is. You can get these either in cotton, polyester, or silk.
Anyway. So* I now have the makings of two shalwaar kameez and have to figure things out.
I have the block pattern making book that I found at Sarasavi bookstore - and I was ecstatic at finding it. However, now that I'm going through it and trying to do things, I'm a little sad.
While I have no doubt that I'll be able to create a pattern that fits me like a glove, I don't want a pattern that fits me like a glove. I like loose and breathable.
Which leads me to the next question.
How much allowance do I add for it to be comfortable?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
It depends. You need to make a muslin! Add 1 1/2-2 inches all around to start (but use big seams-- 1 inch allowance, at least-- so you can add more where needed.) Baste it together (in muslin or other cheap fabric) and put it on. Pin it, ripping seams out and re-pinning if necessary, until comfortable. When it's how you want it, use your muslin as a guide to make your final pattern.
You only really have to do this once to know where you need room for your particular body shape.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, and get someone to help you with it if possible; it's much easier.
I wish I could fly there and help you, I love doing stuff like this!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I'm using my cheaper chinese cotton at $1.35 a meter/45 inches wide for practice. Broadcloth is the cheapest at $0.45 a meter/36 inches wide. The chinese cotton is cheap enough that it really doesn't matter if I screw it up.
Only 2 inches? Really? But yes, I really, really like your idea of adding much larger seam allowance for cheating purposes. And yes, I would baste before making final seams.
Um, other than Fahim's mom (and Fahim has suggested this), there's no one else available RIGHT NOW!!!! to help me. Cuz, you know, when I want to do it, I want to do it. Not wait for help. You know.
Yeah, wouldn't it be fun if you could come over to help with this? We'd have a blast! Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
The idea is to make it fairly tight and form fitting, then add fabric where it is needed. (You add two inches to every part, on each side, was I clear on that? So that's a total of 4 inches all around on one piece; 8 total. Still conforming to your body, but loose enough to get on and off.) If you need even more room than you have, make slashes in the fabric to open it up, and add to the seams corresponding to where the slashes are.
Don't use your practice cloth for this. Use the cheapo stuff. This is basically a pattern.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
And we would so totally stay up late doing it all in one night, then eating lots of yummy spicy snacks if I were there! I'd even do some custom embroidery for you if you wanted when you were ready to do a fancy one.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Oh! 2 inches per side! That makes way more sense! Thanks!
Custom embroidery? Seriously? You're good at that stuff? Wow.
I'm thinking about the shalwaar that I'll have to wear for the wedding, and it'll be silk - cotton just would not do! - and I'm willing to bet that pretty much every single other women will have very ornate trimmings and jewellery and such. You've seen the pictures. It's very much over the top as far as my taste is concerned. But. Will they think I'm a total nit if mine is completely unadorned and plain? Do I care? *shrugs* As it gets closer, I'm sure Fahim's mom would love to get involved and educate me. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
*grumbles* Oh, fine! Broadcloth it is! *grumbles some more* It's just that I don't have much. And it's supposed to be for the pants. But I can get more. *grumbles*
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:Custom embroidery? Seriously? You're good at that stuff? Wow.
Only if I'm allowed to design it myself and do it either freehand or over a simple pencil outline. Chain stitching is not hard, and makes pretty borders. And I even do fancier techniques; I took a class at Costume College on the technique they used to use to make gorgeous tapestries and stuff.
There are some simple decorative techniques that can be really pretty when used effectively. Consider ribbon embroidery. It's fairly simple, takes very little time, and is most impressive. Or there are all kinds of really fancy ribbon trims which, while expensive, can be very effective just placed at hemlines. Consider thinner ones for the neck and sleeves with coordinating, very fat ones for bottom hems to add "weight" to an outfit. Add appliquéd colored lace or fancy netting near the neck for a more dramatic effect.
And best of all, these kinds of decorating techniques don't feel "fussy" when you wear them.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quid, yes, get some more cheap broadcloth. Get lots of it. You're going to want it. Really.
I buy muslin 10 yards at a time for my trash fabric needs.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
(Interestingly enough, broadcloth is frickin' expensive here. )
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq, I checked out the link on the ribbon embroidery. That's something I sure hadn't considered, but I can see what you're talking about. That is something I could get into, depending on the outfit and the fabric, of course. And naturally, it leads to more questions. Like needle size?
Embroidery floss - I've always been under the impression that it wears rather quickly, so I have a hard time imagining using that to trim clothing due to the whole wash frequently bit as opposed to wall hangings. Yes or no?
Ribbon trims are fairly readily available here and fairly common, so that's not a problem. The problem is that most that I've seen here on clothing tends to the ornate and I'm much rather more subdued. It's something I can still check into. Same for lace and all the rest of that trim stuff.
On another note. My sewing machine can do some fancy stitches. Some. Not many. And it can do freehand embroidery. I doubt I'll use that particular feature, but if I did, would I use embroidery floss? Or fancier thread? What?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Embroidery floss can wear quickly or last forever-- it depends what quality embroidery floss you use! Also, how you set the colors.
With a sewing machine, you just use colored thread. Choose one that is sturdy and shows well against your fabric. You can get metallic and sparkly and special threads, but they behave differently, so you want to be careful with them. Depending on the fabric and what you do, you may or may not need to back machine embroidery.
From another silk ribbon embroidery site:
quote:There are several needle types and sizes employed in embroidery.
Silk Ribbon is most often worked with Chenille and tapestry needles, because the large eye and sharp point are well suited to producing large holes through which the ribbon must pass.
Bullions are best done with millinery or beading needles, since the small eye and long shank are well suited to the many wraps. Many Australian publications refer to these as "straws", but I have never seen them packaged under that name. I even have a monstrous four inch one designed for doll work which I use on tassels.
Wool embroidery can be done with virtually any needle, but tapestry needles are best designed for this function. Always try to use the right size needle for the wool you are working with. If the hole is too small, the wool can be frayed and pill during the stitching process.
All of these needle types are available in a wide range of sizes and often you will use many different needles in a single project. Always choose a needle with an eye size appropriate to the material passing through it. The thicker the material, the larger the eye must be.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks!
Oh, and if you have more embroidery sites you want to pass on, feel free . . . Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I just found those through googling, I don't really have any favorites. I learned how through books and have since taken some seminars. Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I saw an old Singer sewing machine at the antique mall this weekend and wanted it badly. It's black but electric. We're going to call the guy soon to find out if it works, and all that, it would be worth it if it could do a straight stitch, since that's mostly what I do, though my mom thinks it would be nice just to have sitting around. We have about a 3 year old Necchi that we use for complex stuff.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oooh, is it a Featherweight? My almost-step-mother has an antique Featherweight, and it's WONDERFUL, especially for Costume College and the fashion class she teaches to teenagers through the parks department.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I think so, I didn't look quite well enough, we're going to go back. But it was $100, and looked like there was nothing phyiscally wrong, I know I probably have my hopes up too soon, but it's possible.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
If it's a Featherweight and it's $100, BUY IT. Even if there are a few minor problems, buy it-- that's less than 1/4 of the cost they sometimes go for, so even if you have a $80-100 repair bill, it's a good deal! And it's worth it!
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Ok, that's what I was thinking. What other sorts of models did they have? It's black, had an electric cord so it wasn't an old treadle one, and a wood case.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Hmmm. The wood case makes me wonder if it's older-- they don't go for as much sometimes because their motors aren't as strong. Check out this page and see if it looks like any of these.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
(The very bottom one is just like mine except mine is a console machine in a beautiful table.)
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
It really looked the most like model 128 and the case was similar, deffinatly electric, it had similar decoration, but I think there was some red as well as the gold. I'll go this weekend and take a picture. It was in an area that very few people even go in.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Hmmm. I'd ask to try it out, then-- make sure it works well enough to be worth getting as more than just a collector's item.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
quid - Thanks for the tip I'll have to try the vinegar. I always wash my colored stuff in cold water, so they don't bleed when I wash them, they bleed when I wear them.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Yeah, I think that's what we'll do. If it does work, it would be more than a powerful enough sewing maching for the ammount of sewing I do, when I move out.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
DMC and Anchor cotton embroidery flosses are both colorfast and do not need to be set further. Being 100% cotton, you may want to do a hot water soak to shrink if you're stitching on something not-cotton so you don't get puckering. Of course, I have no idea if either DMC or Anchor are available there. I'd volunteer to ship you stuff, but I remember the hassles you went through to get books and such that were sent to you.
ETA: We must have a high Indian population here. I see lots of women wearing shalwaar in town, I just never knew the name for them until this thread. I've seen some very beautiful sets, some that even I would want to wear!
[ October 25, 2005, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: Goody Scrivener ]
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Breyer, just as long as it's not one of these that looks like an antique but isn't.
ludosti - you're welcome. Good luck and let us know what happens.
Goody - thanks for the tips on the brands. I have no idea what's available here, but it looks like I'll find out soon. Honestly, though, receiving smaller items through the mail is much easier than larger items - if a package is large enough that the local mail carrier can't deliver it himself, then it goes through the central post office and that's when it's opened. If a package is small enough for the local carrier to deliver, if it says something like "gift" on the outside, then it tends to go through with no problems.
Is a hot water soak necessary if we never wash anything with hot water here? Seriously, hot water tanks are almost always exclusively for use in the bathrooms only - when a house has them - and never for laundry. All laundry is either cold or lukewarm if it's later in the day. I don't do a hot water soak with any of the fabrics I prewash. Should I start doing that?
And Goody, does this mean we'll see you in a shalwaar soon? Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:Breyer, just as long as it's not one of these that looks like an antique but isn't.
Actually, $100 would be a totally decent price for one of those, as long as it was what you wanted.
quote:And Goody, does this mean we'll see you in a shalwaar soon?
I wish they sold more around here! I would love some shalwaar kameez.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
It wasn't either of those, it was obviously older than me, but I don't think I would mind owning one of those. My new machine confuses me.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, I totally can't get the hang of the new "easy threading" system. I'm used to jumping through hoops to thread my machine, and it's hard for me to do it any other way! Which is why I have a machine from the 60's.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq, you could make your own shalwaar. It's easy enough and there are no rules, exactly, on what they have to look like, as you saw from that link that rivka provided. So, get sewing, girl!
And what's this new easy threading system you speak of? I still have to jump through hoops to thread mine, but it's no biggie since I've been doing that sort of thing for decades.
breyer - yeah, being confused is a whole other issue. Good luck!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quid, we moved in months ago and my machine isn't even set up yet. My fabric and thread and such aren't unpacked. And I have a ton of projects to do before making clothes for myself hits the top of the list.
Add to this that I'm pregnant, tired, and run after an 18-month-old all day... Yeah, I'll just buy one if I find one I like.
The electronic machines they make now have some kind of funky new "easy threading" system. At least, most of them do. It's strange, but it took me one day to learn to thread an old-style Singer, and I used my mother-in-law's machine for a total of about 40 times and she had to re-thread it for me every single time. I just couldn't get it! Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Well, yeah, I understand that now wouldn't be the ideal time for you to take up tonnes of new sewing projects, but sometime . . . When life is a little less hectic . . . You could do it then.
But living in LA, if you have any decent size of an Indian community, there have to be shops that sell them.
So*, yesterday, I used the block method (it's a locally written book on pattern making, so for all I know, it's a local method. Although, it seems easy enough and logical enough that I doubt that it is) to create a pattern for myself. Well, just the basic thingie. Today, I use it to cut out material from broadcloth and make myself a sample which, if it turns out well, will actually become another shalwaar.
I'm making it out of dark royal blue broadcloth, and assuming it turns out, I'll also experiment with some of kq's suggestions on ribbon embroidery and the like to dress it up a bit. And also because it's an experimental piece, and that's what ya do with experimental pieces. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I could. But it's going to be more expensive to buy the fabric (unless I go all the way down to the Garment District) than to just buy them made.
The problem is finding them in colors I want and sizes and cuts I'm comfortable with. Either they're too fancy, too garish, too bright for my skin/hair color, or sleeveless. *sigh* Maybe now that it's fall they'd have a different selection...
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Hey, I hear you.
People here are brown. They have brown skin, brown eyes, and very dark brown hair. Colors that look good on them just don't look good on me.
That, in addition to the polyester and petite & small factors and, well . . .
It's a challenge.
Good luck.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah. I can do some of the turquoises, greens, and when I very rarely find it, a certain shade of red. Other than that, don't do so well with the colors they sell at the Indian shops.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis: Goody - thanks for the tips on the brands. I have no idea what's available here, but it looks like I'll find out soon. Honestly, though, receiving smaller items through the mail is much easier than larger items - if a package is large enough that the local mail carrier can't deliver it himself, then it goes through the central post office and that's when it's opened. If a package is small enough for the local carrier to deliver, if it says something like "gift" on the outside, then it tends to go through with no problems.
Is a hot water soak necessary if we never wash anything with hot water here? Seriously, hot water tanks are almost always exclusively for use in the bathrooms only - when a house has them - and never for laundry. All laundry is either cold or lukewarm if it's later in the day. I don't do a hot water soak with any of the fabrics I prewash. Should I start doing that?
And Goody, does this mean we'll see you in a shalwaar soon?
Good news on the smaller packages. If you want me to send you flosses, just let me know! Any idea how big of a package is too big for the regular carrier?
As for the soak, considering your hot water situation, probably not necessary. But if you think there's any chance of ever washing in warm enough water to cause any shrinkage, I'd still recommend it as a preventive action. I'd hate to spend that much time and effort on making and embroidering an outfit to have the embroidery go puckery on me.
And for seeing me in one? Probably not while I live in this town for fear of offending someone, at least not out and about. There are a couple ladies who I see at the train station and know they do take offense fairly easily. But for loungewear, visiting, etc, very possible.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Why would anyone be offended? *curious*
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
I don't know why, I just know that these two women get very snotty and obnoxious when they see another woman who in their opinion is trying to imitate "their" look. Anyone wearing pants under a long tunic, whether it's shalwaar or not. Anyone wearing a scarf on their head (other than obviously winter wear). Anyone wearing sandals in cold weather. It got to the point where I had to change my customary seat on the train to another car because they were so whiny and annoying about it.
I truly don't know if there's a cultural or religious requirement for these particular outfits that are somehow being violated (or perceived to be violated) when "white" women adopt similar styles. And I'd rather not be the subject of their attitude, thankyouverymuch LOL
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Well.
That's their problem, isn't it? Especially as Indian stuff is very in right now.
There's no religious prohibition that's being violated. If you talk to Muslim women who wear specific clothing, they will tell you that they would love it if American women dressed like them, as long as they did it respectfully.
(Not that I'm saying you should wear it around them if you know they're going to give you crap. I tend to like to avoid crap myself.)
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Good to know, KQ. And yeah, I wouldn't do it for something like a Halloween costume. But I do definitely like long tunic type tops (helps to disguise the "permapreg" bulge) and prefer pants over skirts. And why not get a bit glittery and fun while I'm at it?
I think a browsing/shopping trip to Sahil is in my future...
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I think I wore a Punjabi suit as a haloween costume in maybe 4th grade, my mom's supervisor's husband was from India, so she bought the three daughters of office staff each a punjabi suit in different colors, and we trick or treated through dorms together one night while the staff was workin on a computer lab (knowing me, it may not have been halloween)
I still can't find the link in this thread everyone's talking about Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Which link, breyerchic?
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Shaalwar's, at least I got the impression there had been a link.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I linked to a simpler one in another thread, I think. But I don't remember which thread.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
the blue one looks a lot like my punjabi suit did, but mine was purple.
This sort of style is pretty common in my group of friends since Raia's aunt had an indian clothing bazaar here a few years ago.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I would totally wear the blue one at the top of page 2.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
I love the blue one on the top of page 3. If it had sleeves I'd seriously consider getting it, even though I'd never have a place to wear it. *sigh*
[ October 26, 2005, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: ludosti ]
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
I'm thinking about the very first one, actually, the orange one. . . it's simple enough that I would wear it to work in the summer, or out for brunch. I also like the blue one on page two, and the red one that's the last one on that page, with the white embroidery. I have some very similar outfits. And the orange and red ones are quite reasonably priced, as long as shipping isn't too bad.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Unfortunately, it looks like they're wholesalers to me. Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Aw, that sucks.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Well, sure, but . . . I could always try to get similar ones to what y'all like here and ship 'em.
I like the blue one on the top of page 1 and the red one on page 4. But still, they're really really ornate for my tastes. On the other hand, they're probably close to what everyone else will be wearing at the wedding.
Hmm. I wonder if they'll let me/mind me taking pictures?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis: But living in LA, if you have any decent size of an Indian community, there have to be shops that sell them.
Downtown L.A., Garment District. They have similar garments with skirts as well; I almost bought one a couple years ago when I was there looking for something to wear to my brother's wedding.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
That's where I've shopped before and not found anything I liked. Like I said, maybe it was a seasonal thing. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I own three Salwaar Kameezes. I live in New Jersey, where we have a very large Indian population. I admired the style, and so I went to the shop and picked out some fabric and the shopgirls stitched it up for me. Two were custom made, and are lightweight for summer wear. The other I got off the rack, and it is this gorgeous Kashmir wool, warm, and not at all itchy.
Does anyone have any tips for keeping the Dupatta from sliding off the shoulder? They always want to creep off to one side when I'm wearing my summer weight ones.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
Velcro? LOL
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I've heard a couple of straight pins works wonders.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
People here use safety pins. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Of course, they're harder to hide. But they do work better. And longer.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
The shawl, as they're called here, are folded in half, and the fold is closest to the neck. So in that case, pin down just the first layer close to the neck and the top layer covers it up. Voila!
Speaking of which, I now have to make sure I have all three shalwars finished by Thursday. Fahim and I are going to Kurunegala to spend Festival with his family - they have another house there, and Fahim's mom is from there. We'll be there Thursday to Saturday.
And his mom gave me a sari last night. So*, now I have to learn how to wear the thing. Well, I also have to sew the underskirt for it, and Fahim's mom called the dressmaker last night and had her come over to measure me since she's making the top - Fahim's mom doesn't trust me to be able to make it properly myself. Sigh.
And there are questions of whether I'll be willing to wear a sari to the wedding.
Anyway, it's all getting a little . . . *screams silently*
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I've worn a sari. It's quite a treat to get into. Good luck.
Maybe your mother-in-law will help you.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I've worn the salwar kameez, but you would never catch me in a sari. Sorry.
I have used pins, and sometimes a pretty brooch to tack the dupatta into place. My favorite way to wear the dupatta is over my head, and around my neck, but that look is a little to outre for even me to wear out in public.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq, she's more than willing to help me if it means getting me into the thing. Trust me, she'd help.
Tante, I completely understand. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it either, but since I'm in the land of saris and shalwaars, I may as well give them a try. And if I still don't like it after that, then no big deal, or so they say *now*. Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Assimilate, assimilate, assimilate
<says I in a weirdly hypnotic voice>
Did that help at all?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
No, Tante, you have to have sitars and drums in the background. Didn't you ever see Help!? "Go to the window. Go to the window..." Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Nah, it is too late for sitars and drums. Wake the whole family, don't you know.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
The Buddhist monks here don't care.
We had a Perahera a couple of nights ago. We get them every Poya day (full moon), and sometimes in the wee hours of the morning when the Poya day starts as well as the following wee hours of the morning. So, two nights in a row, and no sleep.
See, a Perahera is a parade, complete with the loud chanting (sounds like they've got microphones and speakers, it's that loud), drums, and other musical instruments as they wander around the neighborhood. We can hear it for HOURS.
I feel like doing a violence to them monks. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
And I'm having serious problems with my sleeves. Serious. It's not going well.
I'm tempted to do with a magyar sleeve on the next one just so I can get something done. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Fahim donated his old sarong to the cause (it was holy, and really, it was donated closer to a year ago into the scrap heap, but since it was a big enough piece of fabric, it served this purpose very well) and cut out a front and back with magyar sleeves and sewed it up, and it'll work fine enough that that's what I'm going with.
And I figured out why I had problems with the sleeves. But I don't know how to fix them yet. But at least I didn't screw up a good piece of fabric for them, so not all is lost.
So*, now I'm off to cut out the magyar sleeve pattern and sew things up. With these sleeves, it ought to take, oh, maybe half an hour to sew everything. That's one of the major benefits of this style. And I even found a link on the internet that showed that there is a legitimate shalwaar style in India that has magyar sleeves, and I even found it before Fahim told me that, now that he sees what I'm talking about, he's seen it, too.
Happiness is starting to happen. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
And now I've got a collar and facing problem. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I'm online if you need to talk it through...
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
You know what? It's actually not a problem. It was the time of night which produces a brain state called off. I wake up this morning, in the middle of the night actually, and the solution is so pickin' obvious. Why couldn't I see it last night? Why, because it was three hours past my bed time with insomnia, my dear.
It's all good.
But yes, thank you for the offer of help. I appreciate it.
Today, after I get the thing done (there's only about a half hour more of work left, and then I iron the thing, and then it's [u]really [/u]done, I need to go pick out a shawl for it.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
So*. I'm resurrecting this for JennaDean, who drooled over my serger comment.
And I'm also updating on the sewing thing.
So. I bought more fabric.
-dark blue cotton, 60" wide, Rs.45 per ($0.45) for shalwaar pants
-pink floral on white background, cotton 45" wide, Rs. 145 per - nightgown
- tablecloth material, borders either side with patterns of food items, cotton 60" wide, Rs. 160 per - for two aprons
- dark blue voile, 45" wide, Rs. 45 per that was intended for a shawl for one of my shalwaars but I don't think will work out that way. The lady at the fabric shop insisted that it softens up after washed, and it does somewhat, but not enough. It still feels very stiff and not at all what I'd be comfortable using. If it softened up as much as it is when it's wet, it would be fine, but as is, it stands up on its own. Not sure what I'll use it for now, but if nothing else, I could use it to make pattern pieces or something. We'll see.
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
Thanks Quidscribis. I love to picture you in your shalwaars. I've often seen Indian women here in Florida and thought their clothing looked beautiful and comfortable, but I don't have the - what - inclination? guts? to wear it myself.
Don't think I have the inclination to read five pages right now, either, but maybe later. I'm more of a Halloween costume-sewer myself. I keep intending to sew actual clothing, but never get a roundtoit. (I had one of those once, lost it though.)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:- dark blue voile, 45" wide, Rs. 45 per that was intended for a shawl for one of my shalwaars but I don't think will work out that way. The lady at the fabric shop insisted that it softens up after washed, and it does somewhat, but not enough. It still feels very stiff and not at all what I'd be comfortable using. If it softened up as much as it is when it's wet, it would be fine, but as is, it stands up on its own. Not sure what I'll use it for now, but if nothing else, I could use it to make pattern pieces or something. We'll see.
You could try washing it several more times to take the starch out. Did you soak it a good long time, changing the water several times? You could also do something else with it. Draperies?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
JennaDean - I'll post some pics when I get some taken. Have to finish the shalwaar pants first. Here, shalwaars are common enough that no one will look at me funny if I wear them. And my mother in law will be happy.
kq - Nope, didn't soak it. That's a good, and obvious, idea. I think I'll do that. Thanks. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq, I handwashed it, and soaked it for about 5 hours yesterday. It's not as stiff, but still fairly stiff.
Any other suggestions? Will hot water make a difference? We only have lukewarm to cold water out of the taps (except for our upstairs shower), so that's the temp laundry is done in, but I can boil water if that will help.
Anything else?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I wouldn't use hot on that kind of a color, unless you want it to fade. I'll browse around and see if I can find any suggestions.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Thanks. I wasn't too sure about the hot either.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq, I found some ideas here, including vinegar, salt, non-fat milk powder, and using a dryer. Well, we don't have a dryer and nonfat milk powder doesn't exist in this country, so tomorrow, I'll start with the vinegar and take it from there.
I'm finding a whole lot of other really useful clothing tips here - as in, I'm learning useful stuff!
I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Oh, I didn't really say how it went, did I? Ooops.
I ended up soaking the voile a total of five times in salt, vinegar, or a combination thereof, and after the fifth soaking, it ended up being soft enough and pretty much what I was looking for. It's fantastic!
Now I'm on to another question.
I got some crinkly fabric yesterday. I know enough that I don't want to iron it flat or otherwise stretch it when I cut it out, but how, exactly, do I treat it when I sew it, hem it, etc? Any tips or tricks, please?
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
Is it crinkly as part of the look of the fabric? I had a skirt like that once -- it was gorgeous, and it kept the crinkles until the first time I stupidly washed it and put it in the dryer. After that I only washed it and then twisted it onto itself to preserve the crinkles.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I've found that zig-zag stitching works best to catch crinkly fabric. Make sure you don't stretch it when you cut it by blocking the fabric-- pin it to a backing before you pin or trace or draw on your pattern. And like sm said, twisting helps preserve the crinkles-- I tie my longer crinkly garments into a knot (twist tightly, then tie a half-hitch), put in a delicate bag, and wash like that, then hang dry.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
The crinkles/wrinkles are built into the fabric - intentional. I haven't washed the fabric yet - that'll be today after I zigzag the ends. This isn't the same fabric that's used in broomstick skirts - it's a bit different. I'll see if I can get a decent picture that gets it across.
kq, I know to not stretch it when I cut it out, but what about when I stitch it? Thanks for the tip on zig-zagging - I'll try that. When I sew it, do I pull it tightish to make it sorta straight, or leave it really loose and have the stitching end up tighter than the fabric?
Also, I need to figure out what to do about the neckhole. I can either do facing with interfacing or I can make self-bias tape, but that brings up another set of questions.
If I go with facing/interfacing, do I iron the facing to the interfacing so it keeps its wrinkles or so it's straight? If I use bias tape (which is looking like the better option right now), then do I attach it all stretched so there are no crinkles?
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
I'm going to go with self-bias tape for the neckhole, no stretching, and paying particular attention to making sure the shape of the neckhole stays as it should. I'm going to make it a one-piece dress. Just zip up the sides, hem it, and do the neck and be done. I can't think of a better way to deal with the fabric when I haven't sewn with this type of fabric before, and that way, I don't have to deal with as many sewing issues where the crinkles will out-crinkle.
If anyone has any better, suggestions, I'd love to hear them.
My next question involves handbags. I'm now thinking about sewing my own. For fun, for the heck of it, and because I can.
I don't need a pattern for it - I'll create my own. That's easy enough. My question comes in at the putting it together at the end step.
I'll be lining the handbag because, of course, I want various pockets and such on the inside, plus I want it to last. I'm planning on having a zipper enclosure at the top of the purse.
So what's the best method for putting it all together? I've thought about possibly have the zipper enclosure be at the top of the lining section for assembly purposed, putting the lining inside the outside portion and then just doing a top stitch where the lining and the outside meets. Is this the best way? Is there another way?
Also, I've thought about using fusible interfacing to give the fabric some strength - haven't decided if that would be using it on just the outside fabric or the inside as well. It'll probably depend on the specific lining material I end up using. If there's special fusible material for purposes, it's highly unlikely it's available here. Will fusible interfacing stand up under this type of use? Will it stay attached to the material? Is there something better I can use?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:When I sew it, do I pull it tightish to make it sorta straight, or leave it really loose and have the stitching end up tighter than the fabric?
One tip I've used for stretchy or crinkly fabric is sew it loosely (zig-zag), then pull on it, break as many of the stitches as you can, then re-sew over it. That helps you get the right shape, sort of like basting, and see where you need to tighten it up a bit and where it's okay loose.
Fusible interfacing will probably hold up, although you might want to use two layers, or you can use a tougher, sew-in interfacing. I highly, highly recommend "flatlining" your pieces-- get the outside, interfacing, and lining all sewn together on each piece before you sew the pieces together. It makes it look much cleaner, work better, and hold up together (this is the method we used when I was working for a lady who made ballet costumes, which take a ton of stress in every possible direction.)
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
kq, I'm wondering, though, if I don't want to use zig zag simply because I want it to keep its shape. This is where I've been wiggling on the whole issue. It's been suggested to me by someone elsewhere that I'll want to use a straight stitch because this is a cotton weave, not a knit, and the stretch isn't for form fitting purposes, but for hug the body sort of. If that makes sense.
As for the fusible interfacing - we have two grades here. Medium and heavy. The lighter knits don't exist, nor does anything light. The heavy fusible interfacing I haven't bought any of yet because it's far too heavy for shalwaars, waistbands, and things like that. That's part of why I'm thinking it'll be heavy enough for a handbag.
And yep, it sounds like you have in mind what I have in mind. I fully intended to complete the sewing for both the inside and the outside before stitching them together. I can think of no other way to make any pockets or anything else lie properly otherwise.
Anything else I should know?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Handbags aren't hard; you can figure it out just fine, I think.
As for the zig-zag, you can still do the zig-zag to catch it, pull out as much as possible, and then use a straight stitch to stitch over. That way it will have a firmer shape when finished; the zig-zag is basically just basting.
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Doubtless, yours will have these in abundance. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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But, it still works after 40+ years. I call that quality.![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
NOT button thingie!) And is it likely that this sewing machine can handle zippers?![[Kiss]](graemlins/kiss.gif)
You're my hero! Thanks!![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
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Ah well, neither is one that's really all that common or necessary.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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I think all the machines I've used were of the built-in fancy-stitch variety. Do they work sort of like templates or stencil-y things?
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) Night, all!
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ketchupqueen. I think you should make a wedding garment that somehow illustrates this - subtly, of course. That'd make an awesome design project. ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
). I've been trying to figure out how to set the color so they'll quit doing that.