Przebiśnieg said:
tabby said:
Not everyone here is like him so don't let it get under your skin. Women have one very special power that men don't possess and will never be able to possess, and it's the ability to carry another life within themselves, a whole other soul, and birth it into this world. But that applies to gender specific. As a human, you choose what your value is as a person, and how you regard yourself. You decide your worth. Don't let anyone tell you or make you feel lesser just because of someone else's poor views and opinions.
Here's something jrvan found for me when I was struggling on a similar subject:
"On Women and Goddesses"
https://archive.is/GhGPz
And thank you, all the best!
Yes, I know there is a lot of kind and wise people here. I don't comment too much, but I was observing this forum from a really long time. Thank you for this topic, someone already shared this with me, so I had read this already. I know you're right. Sometimes I am just being sensitive, so don't worry about it. And you know what, I actually love to doing stuff like cooking, baking, cleaning. I even want to have a lot of children, because I got a soft spot for them. And if I would have a husband, I would like to take care of him and make him smile every day, I really would. But I know too, if I would meet a man like Jack, I would escape from him really quickly, seriously.
Sorry this thread turn out like this, it should be only about sewing. This is my mistake too, I should have bite my tongue and just comment about your post, not him. This is the last time, just wanted to reply to your kind words.
And back to the sewing. I'm not sure if anyone has asked you about it before (if someone did, then maybe I forgotten), but you seem to know a lot about sewing. Is the sewing machine difficult? As I wrote before, I have always used my hand. I am thinking of buying one, but want to know if it is easy to use.
I want to teach my sister too, she is eleven years old and she seems to gotten interested in this, but I am not sure where should I start with her. Any advice?
I guess it doesn't hurt to have the link here given how this thread has gone, either way.
I know what you mean. Cooking is a major stress relief for me, and it's a joy whenever someone says "this is so good!" and asks for seconds haha. When something I create makes others happy, I'm happy. Once for a school project we had to design and sew book bags for kids at the preschool nearby. My class was assigned to one kid each, and had to make a bag based on things that they liked (fav. colours, animals, toys, interests, etc). I still remember the little boy who I was assigned to make one for, and the way his face lit up when I gave him his book bag. That was a project that made me really proud as a budding seamstress. It's things like that that fill my heart and desire to have kids even more myself one day.
Yeah, I agree. If I was single and looking for a guy to settle down with, Jack would not even be on my list of considerations.
*shrugs* what can you do? If it didn't happen here, it's likely it would have happened somewhere else on another thread.
I think it's a good thing that you did. How can anyone be made aware of how they make others feel if no one speaks up about it? Even if he doesn't listen to anything we say, it's better to speak up and try to bring awareness to the fact that he is making others feel uncomfortable and unwelcome as women. For me personally, down right angry. Otherwise he's just going to keep going on and on in the echo chamber he's created for himself.
I haven't used a sewing machine since high school, and I struggled with them a bit. It took some time getting comfortable with one since I started with hand sewing for years before hand but I did manage to make some cool projects (such as aforementioned book bag project) with the school ones despite some issues at times. I was pre-teens when I first learnt how to use a sewing machine, and I always fell back on hand stitching whenever I'd chicken out trying to use the machine for trickier projects haha. The peddle speed use to freak me out sometimes. It took some practice and patience but once I learned how to thread the machine, and pair it with some good ol' practice to build up my confidence, it became pretty easy. There are tutorials online for different sewing methods with hand stitching so I don't think it's far fetched to say there are probably just as many tutorials for how to use a sewing machine, and the methods to use with different projects. (When I buy myself a sewing machine I'll probably be looking up these things up as well :lol: ).
Sewing machines come in a lot of different brands and models, so find one that best suits what you want to make and your skill level. Before I made this thread I had no idea the kinds of things you should look for with a sewing machine so I'll refer you to an earlier comment by Lunar Dance 666 that helped me out:
Lunar Dance 666 said:
tabby said:
Yikes, I’ll keep that noted then. Does the Singer models allow for smaller stitches that are close together? If the stitches themselves are smaller and tight together, then that’ll make for a much stronger stitch. Much neater too if you had good control with keeping stitching straight.
It makes me wonder what brand the sewing machines were that we used back in school. They were quite big and bulky but we were able to do a lot of different sewing projects on them without too many issues. The speed control was terrible, you had to be pretty gentle on the peddle to keep your stitching from being really wonky. The thread also broke constantly if you went just a bit too fast.
...
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/2jwAAOSwG7JfHF7P/$_86.PNG
This is the model that I used to have. I figured it'd be easier to show you and tell you whats what, than to explain it.
Here's a link for a user manual for its previous model:
http://sewingonline.co.uk/machines/singer257/
I bet you can find one for the model 258 online, but back when I had it, I could not.
Basicly, on the top left, above the needle, is a wheel that you use to adjust the pressure of the foot on your fabric.
(In my toyota thats an 'automatic' thing or in other words: Only one setting)
Then on the top right you have the place where your thread goes, and also right next to it the place where you can let the machine wind the thread on the spool for the underneath part.
I forgot exactly where the light switch was (is also the power button) its either on the right bottom next to the pug with the pedal attached to it, or on the back.
Then on the blue part, in which it Says Singer, from left to right:
Adjust stich width, Adjust where the needle goes, I think the last one might be the option for patchworking. or making embroidery. I've never used it tbh.
Then you have the small turning knob on the left. This is for adjusting the top pressure on the thread. If your thread breaks or snaps, you need to lessen the tension. Also do a presew on the fabric that you want to sew together. If the thread lays almost like a straight line on top, you need to lessen the tension, if the thread lays like a straight line on the bottom or has loops (which has happened a couple times to me, I've also ended up with knots a couple of times) you might need to adjust the tension on top and rewire the bottom.
Then on the big knob on the right is how to adjust the stitch length. (This is also non adjustable on Toyota, pretty much, it has a couple preset settings and you can't do anything else with it :/)
The handle to pull the foot up and down is at the back of the needle. You can't see it in this picture.
There's also an option up top, to put a pattern disk in. Then the machine would adjust the needle according to the pattern disk you put in, and you'd be able to sew said pattern.
I don't think I can show you an example of that though. :/ sorry.
But like I said, once this toyota is worn out (or perhaps I might sell it as a second hand) I'll go back to a Singer.
...
Honestly for a long time, I thought all sewing machines were the same haha.
So basically find the right sewing machine that suits your needs and skill, practice on spare fabrics, go slow and you'll be just fine.
Hmm, 11 yrs old... Depending on her hand-eye-coordination skills and finger dexterity, I would recommend to start with hand sewing personally. This would help to develop and build up a really good foundation for her skills so that if she wants to start a project but doesn't have access to a machine, then she has a good back up. Especially for the tight spots in a project that are safer to do by hand than machine. There are sewing machines for beginners, and I've seen people talk about how they bought sewing machines for their kids, so she can definitely learn on a machine at her age if you're both comfortable with that.
Start with simple projects that will help develop her skills (machine or hand sewing), and can be completed in a day or two. For anyone starting something new, certainly for young kids, keeping up their motivation through quicker projects that are fun and engaging will keep them interested and continue to develop their skills for bigger projects. Simple stitch embroidery, plushies, circle skirts (very easy as a clothing option to make, and fun to twirl in - though it will require you to do a little math to make the right measurements), custom pillows/pillow cases, blankets, simple tote bag or book bag, finger puppets, etc, if she's interested in things like that.
As a kid, I found the most fun projects were making my own toys and the best part is you get to play with them afterwards. Even if it's not perfect but she still feels proud and happy after finishing a project and has the sparked desire to make more things, then you know you've done something right.
Ask your sister what she would like to make, let her design it if she wants, and you can go from there.
Here's an example of a circle skirt - info about it starts at around 6:40 min in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnNlX5_KPXs