tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post6451692660330987818..comments2024-03-28T09:14:59.192-04:00Comments on La Sewista!: NLS #7, What notions do I really need?Bunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-2728724847033228852020-09-16T10:14:44.542-04:002020-09-16T10:14:44.542-04:00Thank you Bunny for the detailed information of em...Thank you Bunny for the detailed information of <a href="https://www.absolutedigitizing.com/" rel="nofollow">embroidery digitizing</a> scissors.... Great job. Julia Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04038761189058588795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-75303020902448382932015-11-14T19:25:58.290-05:002015-11-14T19:25:58.290-05:00Doesn't freezer paper have a waxed surface tha...Doesn't freezer paper have a waxed surface that can transfer to the fabric when heat is applied? If so, then this would create problems if one is working with silks...?Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12246685101112641635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-40112648250050413152014-11-20T06:17:01.750-05:002014-11-20T06:17:01.750-05:00I found out about your NLS posting at Sewing Patte...I found out about your NLS posting at Sewing Pattern Review and I'm so glad I did! Thank you for taking the time to post these. I've found them really helpful and it's true that there's a gap between newbie tips and experienced articles. It's as though we're hanging out together and you're chatting about what you've learned that I may not otherwise find. Very much appreciated!Barbaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-84755242260168642772014-11-19T17:16:24.886-05:002014-11-19T17:16:24.886-05:00To totally protect your scissors- I have read of p...To totally protect your scissors- I have read of putting a combination lock through the handles when you are not using them! It made me laugh as I have threatened my family with this. As someone suggested, what I actually did was buy a big multi pack of inexpensive scissors and put them in accessible places for everyone to use. I love reading your posts!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-17341876109113775802014-11-18T21:50:51.136-05:002014-11-18T21:50:51.136-05:00That's great, Nancy. You just made me rememb...That's great, Nancy. You just made me remember the pinking shears. How did I forget those? Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-49230464005299381702014-11-18T21:47:05.174-05:002014-11-18T21:47:05.174-05:00That's so sweet, Joyce. Thanks so much.That's so sweet, Joyce. Thanks so much.<br />Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-8239717503723381932014-11-18T18:57:28.811-05:002014-11-18T18:57:28.811-05:00Bunny, several years ago I was gifted with a big b...Bunny, several years ago I was gifted with a big box of Wiss Scissors, Shears and pinking shears, most were still in the original packaging and a few were lightly used. The family that gave them to me said someone had a connection to Wiss and had given their Mom one of each size and kind. She had recently passed and they brought them to me at one of the schools that I did costumes for. I love them all but to be honest I also use my orange Fiskars the most because I feel like they cut the best. I get all my scissors sharpened regularly. I have writing on every pair that says "DO NOT USE" but my family will still come to me with any scissor to ask if they can use them to cut paper. I have them well trained.<br /><br />I have a rotary cutter and mat but mostly use it to even off an edge or cut bias strips. It is just too easy to make a mistake with it.<br /><br />I am so enjoying this series.<br /><br />NancyNancyFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12865355449228458761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-87415206741228976972014-11-18T12:19:43.327-05:002014-11-18T12:19:43.327-05:00(returning to sewing Joyce)
Bunny, I so look forwa...(returning to sewing Joyce)<br />Bunny, I so look forward to these posts! I just treated myself to some Gingher scissors --- I feel I deserve them and I too enjoy the metal feel. I have bought many "good pair" of scissors but somebody always ruins them on me. It's amazing the mystery of "who done it". I am definitely putting a ribbon on my new pair. <br />Bunny, I've been wanting to tell you. This week I have been working on a navy wool skirt, Simplicity 2475. Each and every step I have said to myself "Now, Joyce, what would Bunny do?" ha.....and it works! No unnecessary back stitching. The right thread for the right job. Lining the skirt because I know I should. Looking procedures up BEFORE I attempt something IM not completely sure of. I only have the hem left to do and I've very proud of my results so far , and it went so smoothly, no drama, not even the invisible zipper! I will continue to say to myself "what would Bunny do?" because this is the results I've been looking for.Thanks for sharing, your sure helping me!! Joyce Lathamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08160629501236759910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-36821269470902425182014-11-18T12:15:23.676-05:002014-11-18T12:15:23.676-05:00Bunny:
I understand the point of the post and I t...Bunny:<br /><br />I understand the point of the post and I think the posts are very helpful. I just didn't want to discourage anyone who wanted to go whole hog with notions. The cutting tools and the sewing machine are the biggest investments, everything else is reasonably priced and it's worth it to experiment, plus, as you wrote previously, in connection with marking tools, no one tool will work for every task.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-51480680957190082382014-11-18T12:08:07.702-05:002014-11-18T12:08:07.702-05:00Forgot to add that I sometimes use a rotary cutter...Forgot to add that I sometimes use a rotary cutter when I'm cutting through freezer paper and lining fabric. It's painful to use my good shears, so if I have an RC and a mat available, I take them out.<br /><br />If I'm using a big piece of freezer paper I align it with the selvedge. If I'm tracing patterns, I of course copy and observe the grainlines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-645853940016085382014-11-18T12:04:23.437-05:002014-11-18T12:04:23.437-05:00As for rotary cutters, everyone has her or his pre...As for rotary cutters, everyone has her or his preference, but I don't find them faster or more accurate. If I'm cutting with shears, I can see exactly what I'm doing (BTW, I usually use the tailor's method of tracing the pattern onto the fabric, which is more accurate). I've made some cutting errors with shears over the years, but a cutting error with a rotary cutter could be disastrous. I use a quilting ruler as a straight edge and it often slips, no matter how I position my fingers. There are products that can be applied to make the ruler more tacky, but I don't want to risk that with good fabric.<br /><br />I'm timid with the rotary cutter and have never had an accident (knock wood). But that means that even after some practice cuts I often don't bear down hard enough and often have to go over areas that weren't cut all the way through. I'm never making multiple garments so I don't need to cut through several layers. I do like the rotary cutter for sharp curves. After experimenting with various sizes, I prefer the smaller ones because they give me the most control.<br /><br />A rotary cutter is also good for use with a slippery lining stabilized with freezer paper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-87866997749418592472014-11-18T11:52:26.268-05:002014-11-18T11:52:26.268-05:00Bunny, all you have to do is lightly touch the iro...Bunny, all you have to do is lightly touch the iron to the Bemberg. If you're cutting out big pieces, you don't even have to have freezer paper covering every inch of the fabric, just enough spread out to stabilize it. As I said in a reply below, if the pieces are small, you can trace them right onto the paper, and can reuse them, which is handy for things like pocket linings. An FIT student suggested this method to me after I'd tried various methods for cutting slippery fabrics.<br /><br />With more experience and microserrated shears I don't have a problem with a fabric like silk charmeuse, but Bemberg is notoriously slippery. Before I started using the freezer paper my Bemberg pieces were so jagged and nasty looking that I hated working with them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-21186725660813061172014-11-18T11:44:31.246-05:002014-11-18T11:44:31.246-05:00"(one layer, then a sandwich of two)" [..."(one layer, then a sandwich of two)" [correcting typo]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-83955188062962218722014-11-18T11:41:26.669-05:002014-11-18T11:41:26.669-05:00I use freezer paper. Tissue paper (one layer, tha...I use freezer paper. Tissue paper (one layer, than a sandwich of two), was one of the methods I tried using to cut silk organza but it wasn't working for me. With small pattern pieces, you can draw the pattern right on the paper and reuse it. If I'm cutting the paper and fabric for the first time, I use my regular fabric shears. The freezer paper stabilizes it and makes cutting easy. If I'm reusing my freezer paper pattern, I use my microserrated shears and cut around the edge of the paper.<br /><br />It may help some people to realize that the serrations are, as the name indicates, "micro," the shears don't look like pinking shears, which is almost everybody's assumption if they haven't seen them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-73997628241498404402014-11-18T11:34:25.882-05:002014-11-18T11:34:25.882-05:00"My scissors have a note on their ribbon: USE..."My scissors have a note on their ribbon: USE AND DIE. I am not a threatening person, but I needed to make it clear. Listening to Adam Savage's podcasts on his tools, he has roughly the same attitude about his fabric scissors."<br /><br />It was only after starting to learn to sew and acquiring tools that I began to understand how almost fetishistic people can be about their tools. :-) Most of mine aren't very expensive, but I get a kick out of looking at them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-44546355561825797042014-11-18T04:15:54.567-05:002014-11-18T04:15:54.567-05:00My scissors have a note on their ribbon: USE AND D...My scissors have a note on their ribbon: USE AND DIE. I am not a threatening person, but I needed to make it clear. Listening to Adam Savage's podcasts on his tools, he has roughly the same attitude about his fabric scissors. <br /><br />Tissue paper: yes. Yes yes. Also big flat work surface that won't make me move the goods. <br /><br />Mostly, I would recommend a really good seam ripper. And the patience to know it's good to use it.SJ Kurtzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871599515352715171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-69299749454371127852014-11-17T19:55:45.965-05:002014-11-17T19:55:45.965-05:00I would try starching the Bemberg, however the ide...I would try starching the Bemberg, however the idea of ironing it on to freezer papers sounds like a really good one. <br /><br />Personally, after years of practice, I do find RCs much faster and definitely more accurate as well. They are my cutting tool of choice but that is me. Others prefer shears and that is fine. I just think it is important to start with shears before using the RCs. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-91574341148089893952014-11-17T19:52:14.704-05:002014-11-17T19:52:14.704-05:00It is fun, isn't it? Have fun with your stampi...It is fun, isn't it? Have fun with your stamping!<br />Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-57363849066201494802014-11-17T19:51:28.274-05:002014-11-17T19:51:28.274-05:00Personally, I would use both. Hopefully others wil...Personally, I would use both. Hopefully others will share what they do. The paper just helps secure the slippery fabric even more. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-67130929532900573782014-11-17T16:17:37.800-05:002014-11-17T16:17:37.800-05:00Bunny, apart from your noted & very obvious in...Bunny, apart from your noted & very obvious inspirational teaching gift, you are an artisan at heart. Love that!<br /> Since your fabric painting blog, I have renewed my keen interest in my fabric ink stamps. Thanks for the inspirational blog, creative lady!!<br />robyn xvannequinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04786790044675276338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-34744941302360823232014-11-17T16:12:28.767-05:002014-11-17T16:12:28.767-05:00I can cut more quickly and easily with a rotary cu...I can cut more quickly and easily with a rotary cutter than shears. My hands hurt and tire when cutting with shears. Also, I am ambidextrous and only have right-handed scissors. Train yourself to use a rotary cutter in either hand and you will save soooo much time, running around the cutting table.badmomgoodmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11569728075698885020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-88840968601492156142014-11-17T15:25:12.320-05:002014-11-17T15:25:12.320-05:00I very recently purchased serrated scissors - do y...I very recently purchased serrated scissors - do you still use tissue paper or something to hold the slippery fabrics in place, or do the serrated scissors take care of everything?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855258283549942928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-25650856082758887182014-11-17T15:23:29.016-05:002014-11-17T15:23:29.016-05:00Do you iron the freezer paper onto the Bemberg, as...Do you iron the freezer paper onto the Bemberg, as the post above alluded to using a light touch? I had a horrid time with Bemberg the last time I cut it, and am on the look out for ways to improve the process.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14855258283549942928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-43421512532088793082014-11-17T12:14:53.028-05:002014-11-17T12:14:53.028-05:00Definitely, Anon. I am just showing the helpful b...Definitely, Anon. I am just showing the helpful basics. Looking at a Joanns notion wall can be totally intimidating to a new sewist and it can be hard to know what to just start with. But you are right. New projects requiring new skills and tools are how we grow and learn.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-6369733219954654462014-11-17T11:03:38.974-05:002014-11-17T11:03:38.974-05:00I don't have a coverstitch, Cidell. So far I j...I don't have a coverstitch, Cidell. So far I just don't sew enough knits to justify it but who knows, maybe in the future. I will have to look for that Vislene interfacing. Glad you like the post.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.com