Christine Sews

I seem to have an endless supply of fabric, but not notions.  And every few months I try to buy patterns when they are on sale.  Here’s what I found on my most recent Joann’s excursion.

The patterns are all McCall’s patterns.  For a preview of blogged things to come they are: (more…)

Trying to line up contrasting fabric and trim and get tension exactly right can be nerve wracking.  Invisible thread can help to conceal any flaws.

How to Sew with Invisible Thread:

1. Invisible thread is nylon and has very little stretch.  It is made of the same material as fishing line, and jewelry cord.  Thread it through the spool assembly only.



2. Line up fabric and trim.
3. Set sewing machine to a zig zag stitch.
4. Loosen bobbin tension slightly.
5. Adjust tension again if fabric puckers.  See below.





6. Stitch slowly, using the same method used for attaching gross grain ribbon or velcro .

Sewing Tips and Notes:

• Practice with a test piece of trim.
• Use all purpose thread if the trim and fabric will not contrast sharply.
• Draw a line with water soluble marker if trim placement is not obvious.
• See completed project at Serging Curves How To .

Beeswax can be a great help in keeping thread from tangling when hand sewing.  But have you ever thought of what else you could do with it?

After the initial removal of a zipper to recycle, which is enough of a challenge, you are often left with a stiff, somewhat uncooperative zipper. WD-40 will loosen one up, but will also leave a film on your clothing, and possibly stain.

I got this large stick of beeswax from my friend, the beekeeper . Oh, and the zipper will smell nice.

See related zipper installation tutorials at:

• Hidden Zipper How To
• Zipper How To
• Zipper Bag How To

A jean a ma jig, or hump jumper, is a little sewing notion that can be placed under the presser foot to help sew over and through thick areas of a project.  In this example, the jean a ma jig helps the presser foot sew over thick cording.

How to Use a Jean A Ma Jig to Sew Cording:

1. Attach cording.
2. Place fabric with cording and without cording right sides together.
3. Attach a lightweight presser foot and adjust sewing machine so that the stitch is slightly longer.  Tension may also need to be decreased.



4. Sew up to the cording.  Place the jean a ma jig under the presser foot from behind the needle.



5. Stitch slowly off of the jean a ma jig and onto the cording.  The needle may need to be turned manually.
6. Move the jean a ma jig to the other side of the cording and use it to push carefully.  Stitch off the cording and back onto the jean a ma jig.



7. Remove the jean a ma jig.

Sewing tips and notes:

• This technique will work on almost any area with variable thickness.  (Like jeans.)
• Use a heavy needle, like a 90/12.
• Do not push or pull too hard on the fabric or the needle will break.

The pillow slipcover above uses a recycled zipper and the old slipcover as a pattern.  For zipper installation instructions see Zipper How To .  For getting the best pattern cuts from toile see Toile Fabric How to Cut .  And for attaching the cording see Sewing Techniques - Lip Cord .