Sewing MAGAZINE How to ch oose which se mach wing i right ne is for yo u!
Plus tips on thread choice and durability
March 2015
$4.99
Editorial Page
Which Sewing Machine Is Right For You? Take a look at the different kinds of machines available for beginners to expert sewing enthusiiasts.
Page 4
Page 5
What’s insi 1
Thread: Using the right strength for the right project.
Take a look at all the differnt fabric and thread choices available so you can choose the right choice for your projects.
Page 7
Quilting patterns and tips. Interested in quilting? We have provided here a few designs that are fun for any level of sewing. Also, we include great sewing tips.
Page 9
ide... 2
BERNINA 560
Stitch Regulator Function INCLUDED for optimal precision 3
Intuitive Modern Touch-screen Technology
Optional Embroidery Module to Enhance Integrated Software
Editor’s Choice Top 5 Quilting Patterns
Euphegenia Doubtfire Editor and Sewing Expert 3 Time Winner of the National Quilting Awards
Looking for fun, eye catching quilting patterns? These 5 editor’s choice quilting designs are the current top trending patterns! The designs are sure to brighten up any project and will become a family heirloom that can be enjoyed for generations to come. All patterns have beginner, intermediate, and expert levels to accomadate every sewer’s delight!
Wandering Geese Quilt Pow Wow Quilt Flower Quilt Stained Glass Quilt Denim Circle Rag Quilt All featured patterns shown can be found on our website. SewingMagazine.com
4
Which
SEWING MACHINE
is right for YOU?
A Guide To Choosing What’s Best For You With all the brands and types of sewing machines out on the market today, it can be difficult to know just what brand is right for you. Some brands can really take a hit to your wallet while others, while cheaper in price, don’t look as durable or as high tech as the others. And with all the accessories that can be added to a sewing machine, it can be difficult to know what you really need for your skill level. Sewing machines that have all the bells and whistles such as sewing, embroidery, quilting, monograming, etc. with all the high tech touch screen technology is where your machine is really going to get pricey. But those machines are meant for the expert sewers. This is someone who has spent years perfecting his or her talent and has sewn, just about anything imaginable. They need the high tech machines to keep up with what they can sew and create.
5
Intermediate sewers have the basics of sewing down and can graduate to a more advanced machine. These machines should be a combination of sewing and embroidery, which is common with technology nowadays. These
machines have larger screens compared to a basic sewing machine. That is so that the sewer can see the designs of an embroidery design before it is sewn onto their project. These screens are usually touch screen, which helps speed up the process of selecting exactly just what the sewer wants. These customizations help the sewer create unique projects that can make their project stand out to all others. It is a great tool for intermediate sewers to have within their machine. For beginner sewers, it is recommended to keep it simple. Although flashy and eyecatching, the more expensive machines are not what you need. A beginner only needs a machine that does basic sewing. This usually includes a machine that has about 10-15 variations of stitches that the machine can sew. These machines can either have a digital display or only a couple knobs to adjust the stitch length and the thread tension. That’s all these machines are needed for. Basic sewing is in every article of clothing, every blanket, every
piece of furniture with a fabric involved so don’t undermine the importance of basic sewing.
Here are some tips on how to take care of your machine:
When it comes to sewing machines, you really do get what you pay for. The higher end machines that include the extras of embroidery, quilting, monograming, etc. are usually in the price range of $5,000 $8,000. Some are even more. The higher the technology it includes, the greater the price. The intermediate machines are typically going to cost somewhere between $700- $2,500, depending on the brand. A lesser-known brand, such as Babylock, is just as capable of a Singer or Bernina brand machine. So it is important to do your research in what machine feels comfortable for you. For a beginner machine, the price range is about $300$700 depending on the brand as well. If you find a machine for lower prices than these at a store, such as Wal-Mart, be cautious in your choosing. There is a reason that a sewing machine from WalMart cost less than a sewing machine from sewing or craft stores cost less. The example for this is the brand brother, typically only the machines carried at WalMart. The way that they can get the price down is that they may change out some of the metal parts of the machines for plastic machines. That is why they cost less. It is a lesser quality machine and usually wont last as long as a machine that has all metal parts inside. It is important when shopping around for your machine that you as questions about the machine. Ask to look inside the mechanical parts of the machine so you can see if the parts are of quality or if they have been changed out or tampered with. When you do own your own sewing machine remember to take care of it. Sewing machines have needs and you need to keep up on the maintenance to ensure that your machine is performing at its best to make your projects turn out their best.
Keep it clean- as fabric goes across the arm of the sewing machine, fuzz and thread can be pulled down into the mechanism of the machine. Fabrics that are fuzzy, like fleece, can cause major damage to your machine if not cleaned out properly. The way to clean these out is best done with a vacuum so that you are sucking out the fuzz, excess material and threads. Never try to blow into the machine as it can trap the particles in the computerized components of a sewing machine and will internally break the machine. When you are done with a project, store your machine with a protective case over it to prevent dust from settling in. Also, store it out of harms way so as to prevent it getting banged up. Keep it oiled- your machine will need to be lubricated depending on how often you are using your machine and on how you store your machine. Keeping your machine oiled well will help to insure the motion of the parts to not jam or get caught on each other. Sewing Needles- there are several types of sewing needles out there and they are all meant for different materials and projects. You should change your needle often, even if it looks like the tip has not been worn or broken off. The smallest break on a needle can cause it to pull and fray your fabric or make larger holes in the sewing stitches than it normally would. It is also important to know what needle goes with what type of fabric. A more blunt needle is needed for knit fabrics, while sharper needles are needed for heavier materials. Don’t mix and match- this is extremely important. It is important to buy the accessories that go with your model of sewing machines. Many machines have separate attachments available for purchase. These extras are made to fit your machine model and only your machine model. If you don’t you will break your machine from the inside out as well as waste your money. 6