I got a bunch done on the dress today but I forgot to bring my camera so, alas, no pictures. I do want to say, I'm impressed with this pattern. It's a Palmer Pletsch pattern that has all the fitting information you could need to make it work for you. They use their fitting guidelines from Fit for Real People. I don't have that book, but everyone who does seems to love it. And as I say, I'm impressed by the thoroughness of the fitting instructions. So far, I give this one a big thumbs up. I wish I had gotten it further along, because I'd like to take it to ...
New York with my students tomorrow!
Yes, I'm mother ducking a bunch of my students and a couple of my ASDP colleagues around the garment district tomorrow for some fun and fabric. We're going to meet up with Carolyn and Lindsay T. I can't wait to see them both again! I wish we could spend an overnight, but schedules didn't permit this time.
Back to my dress, I have a confession to make. A friend of mine pointed me to a lively, some might say heated, discussion about sewing over pins. See me raising my hand? Guilty. I don't necessarily recommend it, but when people look all aghast at me, I just shrug. I have been sewing since I was 12. I've sewn over countless pins countless times and I have never once damaged my machine, nor have I put my eye out. I have bent pins and broken needles, which isn't a good thing. But I see more damage caused by folks who neglect to change needles between projects. That one gets me going!
Speaking of going, Gorgeous Fabrics warehouse is going to be closed on Friday, July 3 for the holiday weekend. We'll be processing orders, but any orders that come in over the long weekend will ship on Monday or Tuesday.
FB Peeps, check out the Gorgeous Fabrics Facebook page starting Wednesday. And until I get back from NYC, happy sewing!
3 hours ago
12 comments:
Here's the thing about sewing over pins...sometimes it's the only way to get that exact spot on the seam. It's the only way to be sure...matching prints, plaids, zippers closing at just the right spot.
I confess I'm guilty of the same thing...is there a 12-step program for this?!
Can I raise my hand too! Yeap I'll admit it...I sew over pins...all the time! Probably for the same reason as you...I learned to sew at 11 and no one taught me any different. Some habits are hard to break! *LOL* Glad to see I'm in such esteemed company!
Guilty! I've been doing it since I was 9 years old. I didn't know until much later that you weren't supposed to but by that time my bad habits were ingrained.
Used to sew over them until I hit one and the needle broke. It flew up and hit the middle of the lens in my glasses. Since I don't wear glasses to sew any more I don't sew over pins.
Guilty too. Started when I was about 12 too. I agree it is the only way to have proper seams match. I also agree that not changing the needle is worse, by far!
I usually take them out; but then again, I didn't start sewing when I was 12.
www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
I am only half-guilty. I really try to remove them as I go unless I am machine basting and the longer stitch is more likely to skip over the pins. I do slow down. I baste seams where the pattern match is really critical and I use my new dual-feed foot for that.
I learned to sew very young, too, and I have broken needles, bent pins into W shapes, and, honestly, that's what happened when the upper tension module on my 1979 Singer went kablooie 4 years ago. I was driving over a pin at the time.
"Kablooie" is a technical term, meaning "busted apart,unfixable, must replace". I got a new machine instead.
Have fun in NY and enjoy your long weekend!
I think we all sew over them. Heck - I teach people to sew over them. Some freak out - I tell them to pull as they go. Sometimes you really have to leave them in to keep the fabric from slipping. It's all about our comfort level. (and fear of getting hurt)
12 yrs old was a good age to start sewing because that's when I started too.
Have fun with the friends in NY. There will be a gang of you walking around with all the students. Lucky you...
Guilty! I try not to sew over pins, but sometimes it just happens. Actually, I find it's not so bad if I'm sewing a heavier woven fabric -- but if I'm working with a lightweight fabric or a knit, I make every effort to remove them in advance. And I've been sewing since I was 12 . . .
Connie Crawford says to nip your pins in and out very shallowly at the stitch line and sew over them.
If they don't have lots of fabric on them they move.
I do both, especially if I am using a seam guide or on thick fabric. Removing a pin then makes it easier for the fabric to feed through. I have "de-sharpened" many needles this way over the years, and aslo bent pins. The only times I have broken needles seem to be over thick fabric (regardless of pins) and the tip has never flown up because the eye of the needle was still threaded.
I learned to pin baste when inserting sleeves when I was in Junior High back in the 50's. You use a lot of pins and cannot remove them as you go so I just sewed over them and removed the pins later. I gather the sleeve now and supplement with pins now so there are fewer to work with.
Guilty. Bad habit, I know. But it works for me.
Angela
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