bella
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Sewing
Jan 31, 2012 15:13:51 GMT -5
Post by bella on Jan 31, 2012 15:13:51 GMT -5
Is there a way to hem jeans without a sewing machine?? I've tried the fabric glue, but they get stiff; and hemming by hand works, but still doesn't look that nice.
I'm 4'11", and usually wear girls jeans, but lately whatever brand I buy, it seems they are still too long. It works if I wear boots, but who wants to wear boots all the time. I've not had a sewing machine for years, but may have to get one if nothing else. Any suggestions??
|
|
|
Sewing
Jan 31, 2012 19:17:02 GMT -5
Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 31, 2012 19:17:02 GMT -5
Bella, Find a seamstress who does hemming and pay the $6 or whatever it costs these days to have pants hemmed. A lot less hassle and it will be done right.
|
|
bella
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Sewing
Jan 31, 2012 22:58:21 GMT -5
Post by bella on Jan 31, 2012 22:58:21 GMT -5
Well, I do that for my dress slacks, and seldom wear jeans away from here, but mostly for working, gardening, etc. Couldn't see paying for having that done....but, may have to just get me a little basic sewing machiine so I can do it myself.
Used to have a Singer, which did about everything, but the parts inside were plastic; junk. It kept knotting up in and under the bobbin, and that got tiring. Hard to find a good one now.
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 1, 2012 13:47:06 GMT -5
Post by colojd on Feb 1, 2012 13:47:06 GMT -5
Hi Bella, I have sewn for years and I think machine hemming is the best way for jeans. The glue or iron on tape just does not seem to last. If these jeans for wearing around the house, maybe you can just roll them up and make a cuff.
The Singer machines have not been made in the US in a long time. Once they sent them overseas (I think to Japan) to be made, they started using plastic gears and parts.
You might want to talk to a local sewing machine repair person - often they buy good old machines and tune them up and you can possibly get a good one that is sturdy.
|
|
bella
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Sewing
Feb 1, 2012 16:12:51 GMT -5
Post by bella on Feb 1, 2012 16:12:51 GMT -5
Yup, you got it, colojd. Years ago, my daughter had an old portable machine, which she put in a garage sale. I wanted to buy it, but she wouldn't sell it to me; told me to just take it. I didn't since I knew she needed the money. Don't know what I was thinking; could've bought her groceries or something else for that. That old machine worked so much better than my Singer.
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 1, 2012 17:05:43 GMT -5
Post by garrett on Feb 1, 2012 17:05:43 GMT -5
i thought brother made a small portable in the 150-170.00 range?
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 2, 2012 13:39:24 GMT -5
Post by colojd on Feb 2, 2012 13:39:24 GMT -5
I am not an expert but think the Brother machines are not very well made. They sell some through Wal-Mart but the feedback I heard is that they tend to be very cheap and don't last.
I used to have a fabric and quilt shop and sold Pfaff sewing machines and that is the brand I use to this day. The first one I bought in 1980 was when I was pregnant with my daughter and it was still mostly a metal machine back then (she and her husband now have that machine and love it). I have a machine I bought in 1989 and it is still in great shape and use it often. I also have a Pfaff serger.
When I had my shop, I asked my sewing machine repairman which brands he sees the least for repairs and he said Pfaff, and then Bernina were second.
So much is made outside the USA, makes me sad. Wish we could get back to a strong Made In The USA country again! Joyce
|
|
bella
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Sewing
Feb 2, 2012 14:31:16 GMT -5
Post by bella on Feb 2, 2012 14:31:16 GMT -5
Thank you, colojd! I read that about Brother too; cheap, but cheaply made. Will have to look into the Pfaff; shouldn't be too hard to find a used portable one. I get you about stuff made in USA. We really need to bring some manufacturing back here again. I am so sick of everything made in China or elsewhere. Planned obsolescence, I guess.
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 2, 2012 21:38:34 GMT -5
Post by nightmist on Feb 2, 2012 21:38:34 GMT -5
I actually am an expert, and I do not own a machine made after the mid-1960's. I own 5 sewing machines, 3 that only do straight stitch and 2 that zig zag. The vast majority of home sewing requires nothing more than a straight stitch. If you do coture sewing or work with a lot of knits you will probably want a zig zag. I got my workhorse machine, an old Pfaff 130, for $30 at a thrift shop. It cost me another $35 to have my sewing machine guy go over it and make sure it was in good shape and tuned up. A good sewing machine guy is worth his weight. Frequently they will have machines they have refurbished for sale as well. A good place to start if you are looking to buy a machine, especially a first machine. If you are buying new make sure to get it someplace that lets you do a test drive, and will stand behind the thing.
So far as hemming jeans sans machine... Press the heck out of the hem before sewing. Don't forget to fold the raw edge under so as to avoid fraying out. If it is more comfortable for you, you can use a glue stick to hold it in place for sewing instead of pins. I am talking about a plain old glue stick as in school supplies. You can use a blind hem technique to sew it down, just as you would on a pair of dressier slacks. That would be quickest though not as sturdy. If you can match the thread that was used in the seams just use one of the running embroidery stitches, running straight stitch is the obvious choice, but stem stitch, chain stitch, or split stitch will do just as well. For that matter you might find it easier to match the thread in both size and color if you use embroidery floss. Drawing your seam line on with chalk to make sure you are sewing in a straight line might be useful if you do not sew a lot.
As a person with curves who made it to 5 foot 3 then quit, I suggest shopping for jeans in the husky boys section of the store. The hips fit, the legs are not too long, and you can always wear a belt if the waist slumps. Alternatively measure your inseam and try on jeans in the men's section until you find the size to fit your hips. It seems to me that clothes sold in the girl's and women's sections are made for imaginary females, nothing fits no matter what size you try. Mens clothes come in a bazillion sizes to fit every wierdity of proportion.
I usually charge $5 a pair for hemming jeans if you give me a pair to match them to. If you want me to fit them to you you pay my usual hourly alteration rate. A few of us will flat fee simple tasks that do not require fitting, but not all.
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 3, 2012 1:31:39 GMT -5
Post by annclaire on Feb 3, 2012 1:31:39 GMT -5
Yeah, grandmother bought me a Brother through Service Merchandise back in 1985 and I believe that was the last of the ones with the metal insides ... SM had the contract to sell off the US inventory after they moved manufacturing to Japan. Other than that, I have a 1940s beige Singer just like the one I learned on at grandmothers ... she bought this one off her hairdresser as a present for me just after we bought the house in 1995 and thought it was the neatest thing. I had made an offhand comment several years earlier when hers gave out that I had hoped to inherit it one day.
Still have the Brother and it works a treat! I also have another machine that I can't remember the name of from grandmother and it works just fine, and I believe it is a 1970s mfg ... I'll have to dig it out one day and take a look at it and see what it is.
|
|
bella
New Member
Posts: 6
|
Sewing
Feb 3, 2012 12:50:37 GMT -5
Post by bella on Feb 3, 2012 12:50:37 GMT -5
I learned on an old treadle machine that was my grandma's. I remember sewing a dress for high school home economics class, and I was so happy it actually turned out quite nice. ;D Thanks nightmist, now we know who to ask when we have sewing problems. I'll give it a try, and see what works best. I remember buying boys jeans years ago, but did have problems with the waist being too big, and then got the best fit with the girls jeans. It seems these days, the size varies with the brand, and you never know just what you're going to get. Arrrggg; I hate trying stuff on, but that's all you can do.
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 3, 2012 15:31:59 GMT -5
Post by colojd on Feb 3, 2012 15:31:59 GMT -5
Glad to see the chat about sewing machines. I learned to sew on a White Domestic machine - very heavy but a workhorse! I sewed my wedding dress on it. My Dad still has that original machine but it was loaned to someone who returned it in need of some work. I actually found a White Domestic, same make and model, plus in its original cabinet for about $20 at the thrift store a couple of years ago. I was tickled to find it.
I sewed my daughter's wedding gown (a designer Vogue she selected) in 2005 and she looked beautiful. She is about 5'2" and very curvy, so I did work on the pattern to make it a custom fit. She was thrilled with the results. I had always sewn for her and her big request when she got engaged was to have me sew her wedding gown.
When I said I was not an expert, meant not an expert on the history of vintage machines but as nightmist noted, you can find some great old machines for next to nothing at garage sales, estate sales and thrift stores, and then a tuneup by a reliable repair person makes it like new again. Well worth the time and cost!
They always say when the economy is down that sewing and quilting go up. I have always sewn and quilted and have always loved it.
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 5, 2012 17:05:09 GMT -5
Post by garrett on Feb 5, 2012 17:05:09 GMT -5
project runway is a fun show.lol
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 6, 2012 8:58:23 GMT -5
Post by colojd on Feb 6, 2012 8:58:23 GMT -5
I like to watch Project Runway too. If any of you like to crochet, this is a good site that has free patterns: www.allfreecrochet.com/ml/1
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 13, 2012 15:35:58 GMT -5
Post by colojd on Feb 13, 2012 15:35:58 GMT -5
Attaching picture of a dinosaur stuffed toy I made. My daughter and her husband are friends with a couple who has a 3 yr old boy who loves "dinos". I made two different ones for his birthday this past weekend. Attachments:
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 13, 2012 15:37:33 GMT -5
Post by colojd on Feb 13, 2012 15:37:33 GMT -5
Here's the second one. Attachments:
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 13, 2012 16:00:34 GMT -5
Post by bluelacedredhead on Feb 13, 2012 16:00:34 GMT -5
Those Dinosaurs are Adinosaurable!
|
|
|
Sewing
Feb 13, 2012 18:21:44 GMT -5
Post by colojd on Feb 13, 2012 18:21:44 GMT -5
Thanks, I thought they were cute too. I used a older Simplicity pattern and it had patterns for three large dinos plus a little one. I made them out of flannel. My daughter just got them last week and she said her husband immediately got attached to them! The main pieces weren't bad but there was a fair amount of hand sewing to attach the legs, sew the body closed, etc. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to have more sewing and quilting time this year, so thought I would start with something fun.
|
|