I am have finished a doublet, except for the lacing. I have a crummy cheap grommet setter which causes me no end of trouble; but my fingers are bleeding just thinking of making handmade eyelets - pushing the needle through two thicknesses of brushed corduroy and linen. Any hints on how you ladies make it an easier and less painful project? I imagine I'll have at least 15 per side, and I'm crying already.. :o
Lauren
Wrap the finger your most likely to stab in medical tape, (not tightly) tried it the other day, learned the trick from Longaberger Basket weavers and tried to use it myself, it works... That and it goes pretty quickly imo, it's very Zen in it's repetitiveness... that just my opinion though, i'm sure someone else is bored to tears. But yeah, either use thimbles or medical tape. for me i use it on my left middle finger and sometimes my index, those are the ones that i stab the most... My right hand is usually ok, but that's because I do all the sewing with my right and hold the fabric with my left hand...
Thanks.. I'll try that.. I'm a clutz with a thimble, but have never tried a leather thimble - have you? I have lots of medical tape (as I said, I'ma clutz :D)!
I sew handmade buttonholes on Civil war shirts for reenactors all the time, and I do like the repetition and the challenge to get all the stitches the exact same length.. but boy I hate the thick layers on these 'lizabethan garb...
Quote from: gypsylakat on September 23, 2008, 08:46:57 PM
Wrap the finger your most likely to stab in medical tape
:D
Imagines wrapping as mummy in preperation for hand sewing :D
Ok, so, you know that you form the hole with an awl *first,* right, so you're not actually "pushing" the needle through to make the hole. And a good sharp hand-sewing needle should slip right through for the stitch in the fabric, without you having to force it.
Quote from: LaurenLee on September 23, 2008, 07:45:35 PM
I am have finished a doublet, except for the lacing. I have a crummy cheap grommet setter which causes me no end of trouble; but my fingers are bleeding just thinking of making handmade eyelets - pushing the needle through two thicknesses of brushed corduroy and linen. Any hints on how you ladies make it an easier and less painful project? I imagine I'll have at least 15 per side, and I'm crying already.. :o
Lauren
I tried making my eyelets on my Kirtle. It was not hard, it was pretty simple but I suggest getting a good awl, and it did not take me more than a couple of hours, via 2 weeks to create my eyelets. I have carpal tonal and I had to do this in a couple of hours so it was easy and simple.
Cilean
I had no difficulty getting a needle through thick fabric. Start at an eyelet that isn't in full view. The first few are usually sloppy. Use an embroidery needle (shorter, a little thicker, with a big eye) I separated embroidery floss into 3 strands.
I slipped a washer in between the fabrics to strengthen the eyelet and sewed around it. I occasionally would have to reopen the 'hole', with the awl. I couldn't find the link I used, but here is a pretty good one.http://www.sempstress.org/techniques/eyelets.shtml (http://www.sempstress.org/techniques/eyelets.shtml)
Anyway, I find this kind of sewing, relaxing. Good luck to you.
Cindy
Quote from: uhurainmi on September 25, 2008, 03:58:41 AM
I had no difficulty getting a needle through thick fabric. Start at an eyelet that isn't in full view. The first few are usually sloppy. Use an embroidery needle (shorter, a little thicker, with a big eye) I separated embroidery floss into 3 strands.
I slipped a washer in between the fabrics to strengthen the eyelet and sewed around it. I occasionally would have to reopen the 'hole', with the awl. I couldn't find the link I used, but here is a pretty good one.http://www.sempstress.org/techniques/eyelets.shtml (http://www.sempstress.org/techniques/eyelets.shtml)
Anyway, I find this kind of sewing, relaxing. Good luck to you.
Cindy
Clever idea about the washer! I've done my share of eyelets and I tend to go large with them....a washer would help me regulate my stitches better.
I'm thinking that I'm using dull needles, because I do often have such trouble getting one through the brocades and canvas linings, etc. Perhaps it's time to buy a new package of needles!! I love doing "buttonholes" myself, too - during my favorite TV programs...!!
As with sewing machine needles, so with hand needles: New garment - new needle! :)
Quote from: LaurenLee on September 25, 2008, 11:25:11 AM
I'm thinking that I'm using dull needles, because I do often have such trouble getting one through the brocades and canvas linings, etc. Perhaps it's time to buy a new package of needles!! I love doing "buttonholes" myself, too - during my favorite TV programs...!!
LOL I had this
exact same revelation last spring when hand-sewing my linen shift!! I *always* take Kate's advice and change out my machine needles for every new project, and embroidery needles get swapped out regularly, as well... but for hand-sewing, I had been using the same two needles from my
junior high sewing class! (In 1988! :o) I went straight out and bought a new pack.
I used the rings that you attach dog tags to a collar with (a perk of working at petsmart) for one of my projects, it worked really well to regulate. and were exactly the size I wanted once covered in thread.
Quote from: gem on September 25, 2008, 04:19:26 PM
Quote from: LaurenLee on September 25, 2008, 11:25:11 AM
I'm thinking that I'm using dull needles, because I do often have such trouble getting one through the brocades and canvas linings, etc. Perhaps it's time to buy a new package of needles!! I love doing "buttonholes" myself, too - during my favorite TV programs...!!
LOL I had this exact same revelation last spring when hand-sewing my linen shift!! I *always* take Kate's advice and change out my machine needles for every new project, and embroidery needles get swapped out regularly, as well... but for hand-sewing, I had been using the same two needles from my junior high sewing class! (In 1988! :o) I went straight out and bought a new pack.
Good girl! ;)
In the last week I've made 15 peg bags and 9 Christmas Stockings, followed by 10 Easy-Peasy Totes... No big items, and batch sewn. When I do this, I listen, and when the needle starts 'thunking' as it goes through, I get a new one. This little lot took 4 needles - jeans needles at that!
Today I started hemming a silk habotai shawl for a customer (it'll be beaded over the next few days). That too got a brand new nice fine needle - and some YLI 100 weight silk thread! :o
I dunno if this helps you at all, but what about inserting metal eyelets and handsew around them? I did that for my Unicorn dress after having dreaded the lacing holes for a long time. It worked like a dream, they look good and they are very sturdy. It's a trick often used within theatre costume making, because it combine sturdiness and looks.
I have a rather bad picture here, showing the 1/3 finished dress with a couple of lacing holes:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/unicorn/unicorn5.jpg
(I think I ended up with 7 lacing holes on each side)
When I get tired of playing with the awl, I just grab the hole puncher (like you use for paper) and use that to make small holes in the fabric. (It also makes great fabric confetti) One the holes are made, I just use the awl to make the holes "open" when I go to sew them.
Quote from: LaurenLee on September 23, 2008, 07:45:35 PM
I am have finished a doublet, except for the lacing. I have a crummy cheap grommet setter which causes me no end of trouble; but my fingers are bleeding just thinking of making handmade eyelets - pushing the needle through two thicknesses of brushed corduroy and linen. Any hints on how you ladies make it an easier and less painful project? I imagine I'll have at least 15 per side, and I'm crying already.. :o
I found the site that gives the great how to guide
http://www.curiousfrau.com/Tutorials/eyelets.htm (http://www.curiousfrau.com/Tutorials/eyelets.htm)
Really simple I promise you!
Cilean
This is great... thanks for this site!! Pictures always help! I shall be starting these things soon...
Lauren
The Curious Frau! that was the one I was looking for, thanks Cilean!
This is the link I used when I first began sewing last year. Excellent.
Cindy
Quote from: Cilean on September 29, 2008, 08:15:24 PM
Quote from: LaurenLee on September 23, 2008, 07:45:35 PM
I am have finished a doublet, except for the lacing. I have a crummy cheap grommet setter which causes me no end of trouble; but my fingers are bleeding just thinking of making handmade eyelets - pushing the needle through two thicknesses of brushed corduroy and linen. Any hints on how you ladies make it an easier and less painful project? I imagine I'll have at least 15 per side, and I'm crying already.. :o
I found the site that gives the great how to guide
http://www.curiousfrau.com/Tutorials/eyelets.htm (http://www.curiousfrau.com/Tutorials/eyelets.htm)
Really simple I promise you!
Cilean
Great site! The final blanket stitch give the buttonhole such a nice finished look. I'm about to make a new bodice...will definately use that website.