Items you may find usual for doing clothing alterations.
Most of the clothing alterations I do, I do on my domestic sewing machine. I believe that most people who would be subscribing to this newsletter will also use domestic sewing machines and domestic over lockers (sergers). In fact in all six shops that I have operated, we only used domestic sewing machines. In one of those shops we were doing over $6,000 per week in work. So you can imagine the machines got a [...]
We all get used to using different tools when sewing, however when unpicking something I prefer to use the Quick Unpick. The brand I use is called "Clover" and the quick unpick is a brown color. It is very sharp. When I open a new one I write the date on the handle using a Permanent Marker pen. This way I know which one is the sharpest one because it has the latest date on [...]
Bodkin to thread elastic I used to have all different sized safety pins in my sewing drawer for threading elastic, and then I found the bodkin to thread elastic. This particular bodkin has a clamp at the end. Plus at the very end there are small teeth which grip the elastic. How many times have you got half way around threading and the elastic has popped off? To use, slide the silver circle [...]
The plastic bikini clasps tend to break when they are in the washing machine. Instead of putting them into the machine loose with all your other clothes, buy or make yourself a bra bag/laundry bag and put the bikini top into the bag to protect it. If you are going to make your own, buy some of the single fabric with small holes in it. Cut out a square x 2 and join together at [...]
If the stitches are not sewing correctly, check that the thread on the bobbin is not loose. When I wind the thread onto the bobbin I place my index and thumb over the thread to hold it firm, so that when it winds onto the bobbin it is not loose. it must be firm. If the thread is loose, your stitching will be loose and may develop loops underneath or on top. The practice of [...]