Done sewing for a bit ...

[iain robb]

Well, the $99 Big Box Special sewing machine that I bought before I knew better has sewn its last. And it turns out the Elna I was given needs a LOT more than a cleaning and lube.

Two of my next three projects require at least a zig-zag stitch or better yet serging, and the Elna I have does straight stitch only.

And I have only $100 available right now.

So it looks like after the holidays I'll try to muster the cash to either get the Elna in for repairs and get a Brother 1034D serger, or to get an Elna Zig Zag or Supermatic.

I've heard that serger's highly regarded for the price, and I'm keeping an eye on ebay for the Elnas. Any other thoughts?

[Kate XXXXXX]

Get the Elna repaired and then save up for the Brother 1034D.  You can do all sorts with the Elna, but the serger will need to be in addition, not instead of.

[gem]

This is a great time to polish up your hand-sewing skills! You shouldn't technically "need" a machine for any of it! French seams, for example, will give you a strong seam finish to replace the serger/zigzag/overlock.

[iain robb]

This is a great time to polish up your hand-sewing skills! You shouldn't technically "need" a machine for any of it! French seams, for example, will give you a strong seam finish to replace the serger/zigzag/overlock.

I just knew that someone with a lot more patience and manual dexterity than I have would mention sewing by hand.  

Perhaps I'll try, but it's more likely to be done out of desperation than inspiration. Every hand-sewn thing I've done so far has looked awful.

But ... I have a lead on a good shop for getting the Elna repaired, and I think I'll take that route, and later see if I end up being able to afford a serger.

[gem]

Do try it again. It's a really, really good skill to have, especially for when you get to those parts of projects that *must* be done by hand (cartridge pleats, sewing down facings, closing up bodice straps, etc). No, it won't look totally 100% neat at first, and it will NEVER look as perfectly straight and even as a machine stitch (which is OK!), but it really doesn't take very long to vastly improve your technique (hemming one gown by hand will pretty much do it).

I've been a needlewoman (embroidery, needlepoint, etc) my whole life, so whenever I tried hand sewing I was really dismayed by 1.) how bad I was at it and 2.) how much I hated it. But after hemming my peacock blue velveteen Irish gown by hand, I got tons and tons better. By the time I made my 18th century linen shift, I was ready to do it ALL by hand! Lemme tell you, all those French seams? My stitches now look as good as the ones in Fashion in Detail! But until Milord bought me that book--which is entirely filled with close-up pictures of extant period clothing--I also thought my stitches could be tidier, closer to the same size, etc. It was exhilarating to discover that *my* modest hand-stitches looked EXACTLY LIKE the ones on these exquisite gowns by professional period seamstresses and tailors! (We won't talk about the actual construction; I'm nowhere near that--but the actual stitches I have aced! Hee!)

Here's a picture of the inside of the neckline of the shift, so you can see a close-up of the stitches:



They *don't* look machine-perfect, but they're pretty darn good! And it didn't take me that long to get there, either.

Having this skill is also very freeing. If your machine is broken, if you tear out a seam at a friend's wedding, if you're bored at your mother-in-law's house... this is a skill that can travel with you, and once you realize you're not yoked to your sewing machine in order to make something, it's wonderful.

[iain robb]

You're really serious about this hand-sewing thing, aren't you? 

I'll give it a shot, again. It's a whole lot better than not sewing ...

[gem]

Yes! I have become a hand-sewing evangelist! LOL Don't get me wrong; I literally give my Viking machine a big hug whenever I sit down for a new project, I love that machine so much, but hand-sewing is one of those valuable skills that's practical, beautiful, and rewarding.

Except buttonholes. 

[iain robb]

Now, that is funny. The only thing I consistently hand-sew is button-holes. I think I'm starting to get better at them. So there is hope for my hand-sewing, I suppose.

[Kate XXXXXX]

It's worth marking up the stitching lines for hand worked buttonholes, not just the slit itself.  You can always cut yourself a little stencil to make then all really accurately the same size...  Bit of plastic stencil card and a sharp scalpel should do the trick...

[Anna Iram]

Gem, your stitches are gorgeous. I'd love to learn to sew like that.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Hand sewing takes practice, lots of practice. Not even I get stitching that lovely as gem's.

[iain robb]

Well, I'm back at machine sewing again. Got my Elna overhauled, and it runs beautifully. Looks like a tank, and sounds like one too! (For those who don't know, Elnas have little metal cleats on the drive belt so it can't slip, but it makes them "clack" rather loudly.) Guy who overhauled it said it was likely to last another 50 years with proper care.

It had no problem moving through multiple layers of fabric on the Inverness cape I'm making for my wife. And once I re-do the collar (ah, the joy of ripping out seems -- NOT!), I just have some hand-sewing to do -- finishing the pockets, making buttonholes and sewing on buttons.