NSBR: Sewing Machine help!

[sinead]

I know there have to be some sewers here! (ok, that looks like sewers--the drains in the street! I mean people who sew!)

I'm working on a dress for Maggie and need to do a long machine stitch so that I can gather the skirt. I can't for the life of me remember how to set the long machine stitch on my machine and the manual is in some box in the garage or attic. Can anybody help? i could always just hand stitch it, but i'd rather not if i can help it.

thanks!!

[scrapbubba]

I am not an expert sewer, but I am wondering if you would just set it on the longest stitch (i.e. 4) and at the widest space?? I know you don't backstitch because then you cannot pull the thread. Sorry I am not much help.

[Charla]

I'm no help at all but had to add a :rofl: about the "sewers" :D

[Darcy Baldwin]

LOLOL a 'sewer' person here ROFL.

Sinead - honestly -I'd do i by hand. I found the stitch on my machine was still too tight to do it well. But, just set the length to the longest length it goes on a straight stitch - and give yourself a lot of thread at the beginning and end for pulling.

But doing it by hand doesn't take that long, especially if you give yourself some big'ol stitches LOLOL - but I can do a girl's skirt in about 3 min at the most.

[sinead]

yeah, that's a good idea, Darcy. I think I will do it by hand. Oh, and while I was messing around trying to figure it out, I broke the needle on the machine, so no more machine stitching until I get a new needle. Of course, I could just break out one of my other machines (I've got 3. and an embroidery machine. lol not obsessed, am I?). Nah...I'll just go get a new needle before tonight's chat. ;)

[ccouch]

when I'm doing something gathered, I usually get a piece of dental floss and tack it down, then zig-zag stitch over it. It's pretty easy to gather that way.

Darcy - the "by hand" way sounds smart too. It wouldn't take any time to put some loose stitches in - thanks for sharing that :)

[Darcy Baldwin]

Yeha - that whole detail I forgot ROFL! Thanks, Christine - you can tell it's been ages since I made little one clothing. D'uh That's the way to make it easier as opposed to doing the long straight stitch.