Teaching students how to use a sewing machine is one of the pleasure of my job. Showing them what each part of the machine can do and how to get the different stitches. They experiment with scraps of fabric trying out the stitches.
Do you get excited when discovering a stitch on your machine?
I certainly do.
The little icon they put on the machines to represent the stitches sometimes doesn't
look anything like what it does on fabric, so I create a
stitch library reference book, this also teaches you how to use your machine.
It records the changes you can make in Stitch length, Stitch width & thread type.
When using a stitch I first do a sample of that stitch, record what I did. This gives me a a clear size & finish of the stitch & if I have used a different type of thread I also do a sample.
e.g. using invisible thread on a stitch
Sometimes I am completely surprised with what the stitch will look like after your have adjusted it.
I use a plain cream coloured cotton fabric in various shades to create sample pieces,
( I selected that because I always have plenty of creams in my stash & makes it easy to see the stitches, you can also use calico for a cheaper option).
I also back them with a piece of cutaway stabiliser on the back of the fabric, this allows you to use just 1 piece of fabric.
The fabric then has firmness so when I adjust the stitches they don't bunch up and fabric doesn't pucker.
I cut them on my Accuquilt GO because its so quick & easy to use & makes them all the same size. I used the Go die 55019 – Square 4 3/4” which cuts 2 squares up to 6 layers in one pass through the cutter. ( 12 squares each time)
I then draw some lines on the fabric to stitch on, I use a heat sensitive pen a blue
Pilot Fixion pen, after I have stitched I can then iron the lines off leaving just the stitches.
On the top of each sample piece I write with
a permanent pen the type of stitches
e.g. Utility stitches, Decorative stitches, Quilting stitches, Embroidery stitches.
( this is how my machine manual sets them up, check your manual for your stitch classifications )
then I underneath I use the headings
Stitch, Width & Length
Then stitch a sample of each stitch using a coloured thread so you can see each stitch clearly.
The first row of the stitch is always the automatic pre set in the machine
e.g. Stitch Width Length
1 0 2.5
then each row underneath is changing the width & length.
Some stitches have more options with changing the width and length than others. I always like to do at least the smallest options & largest options.
Once I have all my stitches created,
(my Pfaff has 222 pre-set stitches not counting ones I can create & the numbers & lettering )
I group them together
I then overlock the edges
after overlocking I give each sample a press to remove the stitching lines
Then you bundle them up & decided on how you will keep them together
you could save them on a clip
or
I like to keep them together with a ribbon.
Punch a hole in the corner with a hole punch
& thread a ribbon through the holes.
I keep this stitch library with my manual of machine as well as pre-cut squares of fabric and stabiliser ready for me to create new stitches for my projects. I can easily add to it at nay time without it talking too much time.
Whether you have just purchased your machine or have had it a few years you will learn something about your machine creating your own stitch library.
Have Fun creating your stitch library
Kim
