Couldn't decide if I should post this in Self Reliance or Hobbies and Pastimes. Feel free to move it if I got it wrong, mods
I've got perfectly serviceable clothes that are in need of the odd repair, mostly jeans that need patching. Feeling rather tight at the moment, so decided that fifty quid would go further with a second hand sewing machine than it would on a couple of pairs of jeans. Afterall, sewing machines are machines, and blokes are good at machines. I mean, if a girl can use one, then how hard can it be?
..... err, so, that bobbiny-thingy then, what's that all about? And how's a bloke 'sposed to know how long he wants the stitches? and how d'ya know how tight you want 'em
Maybe girls are quite clever afterall
They said "Smile, things could be worse." So I smiled.................and things got worse.
I think you'll find the bobbiny thing is what the cottony stuff goes on but I reckon it would take hours to wrap it round one. They should be manly stitches so at least a foot long and best they are loose so there is a bit of give in them or they'll just tear and you'll have to do it again. Dom
Have you got an instruction manual for the machine? If not, try googling [other search providers are available] & see if you can find one. Get some scrap material & have a play with stitch length etc & see what works best for you :) You can buy denim needles - worth the investment for fixing jeans.
LittleBrownFrog wrote:Have you got an instruction manual for the machine? If not, try googling [other search providers are available] & see if you can find one. Get some scrap material & have a play with stitch length etc & see what works best for you :) You can buy denim needles - worth the investment for fixing jeans.
Ahh, yes, instructions. Bit like maps really, something of a last resort, but I'll bear it in mind just as soon as I stop bleeding
Graham, wots just discovered needles don't stop when they hit ya finger
They said "Smile, things could be worse." So I smiled.................and things got worse.
If you really get stuck, or manage to stitch yourself to the machine give me a shout. The sensible answer re stitch length and tension, normal stitch length between 2 and 3, normal top tension between 4 & 5. For stitching jeans, as LBF says Denim/Jeans needles size 100/16. I assume you have managed to fill the bobbin without Dom's suggestion of doing it by hand.
I've sworn more at the sowing machine sis (a seamstress) gave me than anything on the allotment! That damned bobbin: and when you do get going the *%00*~ cotton breaks! I've managed to make a door curtain and matching sausage draught excluder, shortened two pairs of jim-jams, even managed to sow up a hole in one of my gardening jackets! But I'm never going to produce lavender pillows and other saleable delights!
Been amongst machinery all my life, but sowing machines weren't designed for blokes!
I'd like to live as a poor man with lots of money. - Pablo Picasso
Well in our house it IS the man that works the sewing machines! Hubs started a textile factory in 1984 and whatever the machinists can do he can too. So I never have to shorten trousers or sew a button on cos that is a man's job
Good to hear that Kate. So are hoovering, cooking and ironing.
And gardening, painting, building and driving.
Actually, that's fab as when I decide to use my age old hand singer machine (which I haven't used since my daughter was a baby), I have expert advice to hand as to how to thread the bloody thing as I don't remember!!!
He is quite good at scrubbing kitchen floors too Helen, only thing is that it only happens once in a blue moon and you have to heap praise on him for weeks afterwards
I have a lovely old hand operated Singer machine complete with boat shuttle! On the very rare occasion that I sew anything I use my newer (about 40 year old) modern electric Singer that I inherited about 20 years ago from hub's mum's next door neighbour, it was even used to sew some stuff when he first started out
just as soon as I stop bleeding 
