HOW TO FIND TIME TO SEW
Schedule sewing time like any other appointment. As little as 15 Minutes is all you need to make progress. It is better to sew briefly and frequently than to sew once in a while for hours. Regular practice keeps skills in top form so you can sew faster with fewer mistakes. During your best time of day you will make fewer mistakes and sew more efficiently, so you will complete your projects that much sooner.
TIPS FOR BETTER PRESSING
Pressing is the unsung saviour of the dressmaker. It can improve a poorly made garment just as easily as it can ruin a well-made article. Many problem areas can be restored to perfection with a gentle coaxing of an iron which, after the sewing machine and scissors, should be the most-used piece of equipment in the sewing room. Here are some tips to help you perfect the art of pressing:
- Always press from the wrong side of the fabric, or garment, or use a pressing cloth
- Press in the direction of the grain of the fabric - from the widest part of the piece to the narrowest
- Let pressed fabric cool before handling. Cooled garments will hold their shape when moved
- Pressing is not ironing. When pressing a garment, allow the iron to do the work, by using heat and steam
- Press darts and seams only after you've checked that the garment section fits
PLANNING TO BUY A MACHINE?
The following tips might help:
- Decide on the main purpose of your machine. Dressmaking? Quilting? Embroidery?
- Decide on your budget and compare like with like throughout the various models. There's no point comparing a budget one with a "mortgage-your-house" model
- Check whether lessons are free, when, where and how often are they held
- Check with accessories come with the machine and which cost extra. You will need feet for straight sewing and zigzag, buttonhole, zip and blind hem as a basic kit
- Your crafty demonstrator will use thin, tightly woven fabric for samples. Check the machine's performance on stretchy, slippery or thick material. Also check performance through multiple layers
- Look at warranties and the availability of service and spare parts in your district
GRAINLINE IS IMPORTANT
If you cannot fit the pieces on the fabric with the grainline of the pattern parallel to the selvages, it is better to cut the fabric on the crosswise grain, with the grainline at right angles to the selvages, than to simply shift the pattern pieces slightly offgrain. Offgrain cuts result in seams which do not hang straight and stretched out seats
SWP NEWS
Fairs & Lincraft
We had a wonderful time in Sydney and Melbourne during June/July and met beautiful people over there. Apart from exhibiting at the Needlework and Craft Fairs we were also very fortunate to present Lutterloh Pattern Making Classes (six days) at Lincraft (Australia On Collins) in Melbourne City Centre. What a fantastic Store!
Owing to the warm welcome received in Australia, we will go back there in October this year to participate in the Brisbane Needlework and Craft Fair and also present Lutterloh Pattern Making Classes at Lincraft Stores in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane
Online Classes
We are getting ready to start with Online Classes before the end of this year. We will kick off with Pockets and Zips classes and next year add Plackets, Collars, Children Clothing, Pattern Making and Lined Jackets. We will keep you posted
SPECIALS SPECIALS !!
For the month of August only: The Lutterloh Classic Edition for the fuller figure - 86 models and patterns is available at a discounted price of only US$ 27.75 (plus shipment). Depending on exchange rates approximately A$ 44 or NZ$ 49. If you want to order online please go on our website at www.dressmaking.co.nz , click on the "Order" button and download the e-book (it takes some time) and follow the instructions. Alternatively mail us a Money Order or Bank Cheque.
Sewing greetings
Sonja Bezuidenhout
SEWING WITH PRIDE
Ph: 0064 9 473 2227
Fax:0064 9 473 8772
924 Beach Road
Torbay
Auckland 1310
New Zealand
IT'S TIME TO START PLANNING YOUR SUMMER WARDROBE!
