A couple of people asked me about my topstitching. My topstitching is far from perfect. I sometimes wish for those topstitching feet that make all topstitching come out even, but they continually fail to materialize in my sewing room. So I just sort of wing it, and it is good enough.
As for topstitching over multiple layers without breaking a needle, a size 18 needle is very helpful, but even more helpful is a very powerful sewing machine. Any machine that's made entirely of metal and produced before 1950 or so will do. They can generally be acquired cheaply. I use a White Rotary that I bought at an American thrift shop for $20. It did not work when I purchased it, but these machines are super simple. I found the manual online and fixed it pretty quickly. It only does a straight stitch, but it will stitch through anything. Old Singer machines are fantastic, as well, but IMO the fashionable featherweights are overpriced. They only do straight stitches, but really that's all you need. < snob >You should be doing your buttonholes by hand anyway< /snob >.
< trashy >The inseams are not flat felled, they are only topstitched in place. The side seams are topstitched for a couple of inches at the top, but otherwise completely unfinished. I tend to do cotton trousers this way. Perhaps if I had a serger, I would serge the seam allowances.< /trashy >
8 comments:
I have an old old machine in the garage that probably needs a tune up of some sort. Thanks for the tip on the needles and what type of machine to use. My machines break needles on denim pretty regularly.
Thanks for the idea! I found your tags hilarious. Though, your product looked far from trashy.
That's a beautiful machine. But if I had to make 3 pair each of pj's for 4 boys and all those buttonholes, I'd have to be committed. I do lots of basic sewing for things you probably just buy, so I depend on a few extra features. But it's hard to take my eyes off of that machine.
HAHAHA. Ok. Seriously. My mom doesn't sew. She can't thread a machine. But, her parents were tailors in Carriacou. And she thinks machine worked buttonholes are crapola.
You are right. Featherweights are overpriced. I have two other vintage machines that are straight stitch only and they have served me very, very well.
Hah! I laughed at this one. I'm only wearing RTW if I ever meet you in person. What do you think of sewers who get their buttonholes done in the garment district by machine? Just as bad?
I just inherited a 1972 Kenmore from my mil. Just tuned it and that thing is better than anything I have ever used. How can this be? My other machine is a 20 year old Elna. Not bad but the Kenmore is an unexpected dream. Hope I never drop it on my foot.......... Loved your tags. Too funny.
I have a similar machine that was given to me by a friend that needs a little work, and I recently picked up an old JCPenney workhorse for $5 at a porch sale. These old machines are the best for heavyweight fabrics.
(And I admit to frequent machine buttonholes and garment district buttonholes as well.)
What a great machine.
www.sewingwithtrudy.blogspot.com
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