We had our very first NSC LIVE event last month! We were joined by the incredibly talented Nicki LaFoille to talk all things sewing and to answer your sewing questions live on air. In case you missed it, you can watch the video here. We’ll be hosting these live video events every month so make sure to stay tuned for more!
Any tips on how to take accurate body measurevents? Only have my husband here to help now. I don’t have a lot of faith in his skills.
How can sew with out patterns?
How to put zip on skirt
hem stretchy fabric using a double needle makes a nice finish
Can you send me in spanish the vidios pelase
Hi, Cecilia. Currently, our videos are not available in Spanish. However, we have forwarded your suggestion on to the proper department
I’m n
O sure what time interfacing I should use for different fabrics
Hi, Nancy. When it comes to different types of interfacing, you want to use the different types depending on the outcome you want to achieve. If you want to add a lot of stiffness you would use heavy weight interfacing, whereas if you only want to add a small amount of stiffness or body you would use a light weight interfacing. This is the case across all fabrics. In most cases it is easiest to use the fusible interfacing, unless you are adding it to a fabric that can not be pressed, in which case you would want to use sew in interfacing.
ANY ADVISE ON HOW TO SEW WITH ELASTIC
Hi, Annabella. I may be better able to answer your question if I had a little more information- what are you wanting to sew with the elastic? Are you adding it to the waistband of a garment or using it in home decor projects?
A solution for thread catching in the notch on spools, if you are sewing on the machine, make sure that the notch is toward the side of the machine head that is opposite the side that you start threading the machine.
When I sew the bobbin side of the sewing loops and knots and I can’ t seem to adjust anything to stop that . Therefore the back of my seam ends up very messy
There are several different things that could be causing this problem. Tension could be one of them. Make sure your bobbin and needle tension are where you normally have them to sew and that they didn’t get accidentally changed. Your needle could also be the problem. Make sure you have a nice sharp needle when sewing. Also, ensure that when you are sewing you are allowing the feed dogs to pull the fabric through the machine and you aren’t forcing it through. If none of these things work you may need to take your machine in to be serviced.
Audrey, the odd time I have inserted the bobbin in the wrong direction & it will loop & knot on the wrong side. Make sure you change your needle for a new one often. Clean your bobbin case.
When you are buying patterns,can you make a larger size than it says on the pattern.
Hi, Denise. When it comes to buying commercial patterns, I would not recommend trying to make a larger size than what the pattern is meant for. Doing this, if not properly sized up, could result in the finished garment not fitting correctly.
I was watching your live sewing & question segment Nicki was answering questions about thread
Catching on the little slit on the spool, what I do is take extra fine sand paper & buff it down works better than your hubbies jackknife.
Swhen sewing athd skirt and attaching it to the top of a dress, how do you avoid bunching And thickness?
Hi, Cheryl. I apologize, but I am not sure I understand your question-are you wanting to attach a skirt bottom to a bodice top?
hi can you tell me a good pattern to start to lean to sew on my son just got me a sewing machine he hope it will help me get better sooner. thank you.
When it comes to just learning how to sew, the best patterns are ones with simple shapes. This will help you get the feel for your new machine as well as teach you the basics of sewing. This being said, I recommend a pillow. Here are some great pillow patterns we have:
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/how-to-make-a-throw-pillow-with-a-fun-flange-008856/
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/sew-pillow-sewing-perfect-corners-003845/
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/decorative-pillow-005163/
Happy to learneverything am beginner
I am a very experienced sewer, but find it interesting.
Don’t know if you are still live I’m watching in Asia so big time difference.
In your instructions about printing out online patterns you might mention the requirement of checking that the printer isn’t trying to scale the drawing. The box “actual size” needs to be checked and you need to print the firs page and check that the test square measures correctly. Otherwise the pattern size will be all out of sync.
Cheers
Hi, James. We would like to let you know that your feedback has been forwarded to the proper department. Your comments are important to us and help with the development of our online video streaming community.
JUST GETTING INTO SEWING. I WAS BOUGHT AN EMBROIDERY MACHINE WHICH I LOVE BROTHER INNOVS (EMBROIDERY AND APPLIQUE). I WOULD HAVE LIKED BIGGER GAP TO DO QUILTING. LOVED THE SHOW AND HOUR WENT SO FAST. I LEARNED SO MUCH. THANK YOU. CAN U PLEASE PUT TIME IN OF BROADCAST FOR US HERE IN UK? WOULD BE FAB TO JOIN YOU LIVE. GREAT SHOW AND SO WELL EXPLAINED.
We would like to let you know that your feedback has been forwarded to the proper department. Your comments are important to us and help with the development of our online video streaming community.
I I love NSC
I am a month from being 80 and I just started Quilting Thanksgiving past… go for it
How do I make my own pattern for a perfect fit?
Hi, Monica. We have several articles and videos that explain how to alter a pattern for a better fit:
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/article/alter-sewing-pattern/
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/sewing-pattern-alterations-and-alteration-tools-003879/
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/full-bust-adjustment-tutorial-004121/
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/small-bust-adjustment-004574/
I have many years experience
My no 9096313131
I just purchased a sewing machine (Brothers) and am looking for a basic course for beginners. Is there anything available via National Sewing Circle that will help me get started?
When buying store bought blouses I always have to buy one that will fit across my hips and stomach but the shoulders are always to big and hang down off the shoulders. How do I adjust the shoulders?
Hi, Judy. You can adjust the shoulders by taking in around the upper, front and back of the arm. This will make the bust and upper back area slightly smaller, which will bring the shoulder in. By taking in at the upper arm, you are making the area where the blouse front and back are stitched together more narrow, which will raise the shoulder back up to where it should be. All of these alterations should also be done without changing the size of the arm hole opening, unless that is something that needs to be made smaller as well.
If I want to embroider sweatshirts but am large busted and don’t want to center a decoration that will call attention to that area, where would be the best place to put it? I just started to do embroidery this week.
Hi, Patricia. You can always offset a small design on a sweatshirt and place it where you would find a breast pocket. Also, since you just started embroidery, you may find it easier to start with a smaller design.
The older woman, if in a metropolitan area or in California/Massachusetts among the state I know should check out community resourses, such as an adult ed course. In CA adult ed at a community college for seniors in sewing/quilting, etc., are free.
Are there particular needles for serger machines, or are the sewing machine needles the same for all types of machines and sergers?
Hi, Gwen. This is actually a much debated topic among those in the sewing industry. There are needles that specify that they are specifically for sergers, however, many people prefer to use regular sewing machine needles and change up the needle according to what kind of fabric they are doing. Since this is sort of a personal preference topic, I would recommend doing whatever your machine manual says.
Looking forward to more shows
Where is a good place to pick up cheap fabric?
Hi, Christina. Many places offer inexpensive fabrics as well as have sales. I personally live near a Joann craft store and like to go there and look through their clearance bins and sales racks and stock up on fabric I many use in the future. I also like to shop online at places like Fabric.com, which also regularly has clearance items.
FashionFabricsClub.com
Very good, low priced fabric. Wouldn’t call most of the fabric “cheap” as the quality varies but is usually at least good if not excellent. I believe they buy fabric from stores or manufacturers that are “unloading” fabric at a discount to FFC. Plus they have great sales every so often. You do need to know what kind of fabric you want. And the colors in the photos and often the descriptions are not exactly accurate, but I’ve found a lot of great fabrics there, sometimes just by accident!
Still there?
I’m finding that when I embroider a project with a lot of text or especially embroidering a design on a t-shirt that even though I use the softer cutaway stabilizer I frequently land up having to trim around each item to get rid of the puckering that pulls on the fabric.
Is there a website you can go on to learn to make your own patterns as I am overweight odd shaped
Hi, Betty. We have several videos about drafting patterns as well as how to alter commercial patterns to better fit you.
Drafting Patterns: http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/back-to-basics-drafting-patterns-006378/
Altering Patterns: http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/how-to-alter-sewing-patterns-for-shorts-and-pants-006372/
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/article/5-tips-for-fitting-plus-size-patterns/
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/full-bust-adjustment-tutorial-004121/
How do you sew curved hem on knits, please??
Hi, Lynn.
Here is a great tutorial on how to sew and hem a knit skirt:
http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/video/how-to-make-a-pencil-skirt-003877/
How do you fix a saggy but in pants?
I have two old sewing machines. The stitch dials are hard to figure out. Do you recommend that I upgrade to a modern sewing machine?
Hi, Maria. I would recommend an upgrade only because you are having difficulty figuring out the dials, which can make using your machine frustrating. I have an old singer machine that I still use that has some dials as well. I also have a newer, more modern machine that I use most often because I find it easier to use. So I wouldn’t worry about getting a machine that is necessarily the newest most modern machine out there- just one that you are comfortable using, suits your sewing needs and is easy to figure out.
What’s the secret to sewing the perfect t-shirt neck? Tks
Hi, Linda.
Here is a great tutorial that gives you step-by-step instructions and great tips on how to sew a neckband on a t-shirt:
http://www.made-by-rae.com/2014/02/knit-necklines-part-i-adding-a-neckband-to-a-tee/
Do you know where I can get a downloadable wedding Gown ?
I am not aware of any pattern companies that offer wedding gowns as downloadable patterns- as this would require a significant amount of paper to print out and tape together. However, there are many wedding gown patterns available online that you can purchase and have shipped to you if you are not finding what you are looking for at a local store.
Any tips for men who sew? Not a lot of places offer classes that have projects for men.I am trying to teach myself, and I do machine embroidery also.
You are correct that most of our garment and accessory patterns and videos are more geared towards women, however we offer a lot of home decor projects as well : http://www.nationalsewingcircle.com/videos/home-decor/
These are also some of the easiest patterns to learn on because often times they require sewing simple shapes, like squares for a pillow or hems on curtains. As a beginner teaching themselves, that is where I would start!
I have been wanting to do a quilt for a long time and I do not know why but I am scared to start it. I know the basics of quilting and making blocks, but I am nervous about how to pick my fabric to match. I like the disappearing nine patch and I have about 3 different pieces of fabric to make the quilt with but I don’t know if it going to match well.
I need to know how to make the bottom of buttons or zippers (where they end in the skirt portion of a dress ) look professional. I seem to always have a little gap in the fabric.
I have a brother sc9500 ajust top stitch tensions
Why sometimes on a brand new design out of the cd not line up. Called the manufacturer Anita goodesign she said it was my machine I have a brand new design?
just turn the spool the other way
What is the best advise for threading a serger?
There are so many different stabilizers for embroidery work, is there a chart to know which one to use with what material?
Where could I find quality skirt fabric, something that flows, hangs well and classic?
Nicki needs to get a drink of water and the moderator needs to lower her volume
I do machine embroidery and always use Isacord since I have two Berninas. I have never had a problem with thread breakage with the exception of Yenmet where I always stitch very slowly. Hope this helps.
I need something sowed, can i get help and am i suppose to provide the products for it?
Is there any way i can get something sowed? Or is there a class i can attend and get help so i can sow it.
Thread problems breaking can also be controlled by using the thread the machine manufacture reccomends and again the correct needle size, also problems with the types of bobbins can cause problems
I have questions i need answeres
can please tell me if I shold invest in the aquaquilt go macine as a new quilter or is it easier to measure and cut I’m confused thanks glad your here
Have trouble squaring mug rugs after embroidering them
Thank You Ladies, it was a wonderful show =)
When sewing minky fabrics as a backing to a flannel baby quilt, how do you keep the minky from stretching?
What fabric is the best for making sheets?
What do I need to know if I want to embroider on card stock?
If you are in-between pattern sizes should you sew by- your bust, waist or hip size? Which is easiest to alter?
Will this session be replayed?
Yes, Cynthia! Once the broadcast finishes, it will be uploaded to the NSC Youtube page for easy reviewing.
How do you keep a thin material hem from curling and making it a little stiff.
Looking forward to this event. Thank you.
Info on short cuts
Any recommendations for a sewing machine that you can grow with?
You can never go wrong with a Janome.
I have a Bernina 830 that I bought about 3 years before my daughter was born. She’s 27 this year.
It’s still going strong and does everything I need to make all types of clothing, household goods, Halloween costumes, and wedding dresses! Highly recommend Bernina and you can still find this model for sale online, in “shops” like EBay.
A friend of mine recently bought one from a sewing machine repair shop in Texas. I used it when I was at her house and it worked just as well as mine at home does.
Of course, all sewing machines need a little TLC from a legitimate repair shop every once in a while, even mine about every 5 years.
Any tips from going from beginner sewist to advanced sewist?
How do you blend sizes in patterns?
Any organizational tips for those of us who have a very small sewing space? One wall is 9 feet wideand the other 3 feet wide.
When sewing a gathered skirt and attaching it to the top of a dress, how do you avoid bunching and thickness?