Backward blindstitch?
Frank Obits
I've just retired my crappy little Brother (the sewing machine, not
the sibling) in favor of a used Husqvarna Opitma 120. It seems like a
solid, well built machine, but there's one thing that puzzles me.
I didn't notice until I got home from the store that the blindstitch
goes along for a few stitches and then makes a zigzag to the *right*.
The only way I know how to blindstitch, this means that about a
quarter inch of fabric will be to the left of the needle and the
entire garment to the right, which is flatly impossible... there's no
way you're going to cram a whole pants leg under the free arm.
Is there another way to do it, that can be described in words? I hope
so, because a blindstitch is a feature I definitly wanted in the
machine.
-]Frank[-
mdynamic
mdynamic
Dick Lanza
I think the "backwards blind hem stitch" is call the shell edge stitch.
I have an old Elna and I have both of these. They call one blind hem
the other shell stitch.
Sylvia
--
Sylvia Lanza using Dick's account la...@marie.mit.edu
Frank Obits
ali...@datalife.com (Alison Meyer) wrote:
> In article <183xmSqM-$a50...@io.org>, fob...@io.org (Frank Obits) wrote:
>
> > I didn't notice until I got home from the store that the blindstitch
> > goes along for a few stitches and then makes a zigzag to the *right*.
> > The only way I know how to blindstitch, this means that about a
> > quarter inch of fabric will be to the left of the needle and the
> > entire garment to the right, which is flatly impossible... there's no
> > way you're going to cram a whole pants leg under the free arm.
> Sounds like your machine has my Kenmore's least-appreciated feature.
> *sigh* Yes, it can be done, but it's not easy. You need to pin your hems
> close to the fold so they don't slide around, and go very slowly. For
> small things like sleeve or pants cuffs, you have to try to kind of mush
> the garment off to the side and twist it in the opposite direction from
> the one it's going to twist while you're hemming, and go a couple of
> inches at a time, then rearrange the fabric. Yes, it's a pain, but you
> really do get used to it. (Not that having the blind hem bite to the left
> isn't a feature I'll be looking for in the next machine. . .)
Several people have been nice enough to offer advice by e-mail. One
suggested that the stitch may be intended for overcasting, although it
seems that going over the edge every fifth stitch wouldn't bind it
very securely, at least on the fabrics I've been using.
I called the dealer and she didn't seem to know what the stitch was
for either. Her advice was to trade up to a newer and more expensive
model, which I thought was a bit much considering I only bought it a
few days ago! And no, the mechanical models don't have a control for
mirror-image stitchs.
Fortunately it has a *stretch* blind hem stitch which goes the right
way, and since the zigzag part is hidden I see no reason not to use
that for everything. It doesn't step out as far to the side so I have
to sew carefully, but I've experimented a bit and it's not hard. It's
a real mystery why they made the stretch stitch go in the correct
direction and not the regular one.
Apart from this quirk I really like the machine, and expect it will
keep me happy for a long time... my dealer's advice notwithstanding.
-]Frank[-
Jean O. McDowell
: In article <183xmSqM-$a50...@io.org>, fob...@io.org (Frank Obits) wrote:
: > I didn't notice until I got home from the store that the blindstitch
: > goes along for a few stitches and then makes a zigzag to the *right*.
: > The only way I know how to blindstitch, this means that about a
: > quarter inch of fabric will be to the left of the needle and the
: > entire garment to the right, which is flatly impossible... there's no
: > way you're going to cram a whole pants leg under the free arm.
: Sounds like your machine has my Kenmore's least-appreciated feature.
: *sigh* Yes, it can be done, but it's not easy. You need to pin your hems
I have a Viking 230 and it is just as bad - the "real" blindhem stitch is
a slightly wavy zig zag with small "points" which jut out to catch the
hem. But there is another stitch which looks like a real blindhem
stitch except it is backward. I like to put my patch pockets on using a
blindhem stitch (mimics handpicking) but need one with a true blindhem -
so am still handpicking those pockets.
Jean in windy and snowy Chicago.
Edna McFall & SO Fred
>
>Fortunately it has a *stretch* blind hem stitch which goes the right
>way, and since the zigzag part is hidden I see no reason not to use
>that for everything. It doesn't step out as far to the side so I have
>to sew carefully, but I've experimented a bit and it's not hard. It's
>a real mystery why they made the stretch stitch go in the correct
>direction and not the regular one.
The stitch that zigs to the right is usually meant for doing the shell
stitch. Try a sample on a soft slightly stretchy fabric such as tricot.
Fold a narrow 1/4 inch hem then sew with the shell stitch so that the
zig falls off the edge of the hem. You may need to tighten your upper
tension somewhat. The result is a very pretty shell or scallop hem.
This works nicely on T-shirt fabric too which makes it nice to use on
little girl's things.
The zig-zag blindhem stitch can be used as a blindhem stitch on either
stretch OR woven fabrics.
Edna
Auntdodo
>. It's
>a real mystery why they made the stretch stitch go in the correct
>direction and not the regular one.
Hmm... Maybe if you sewed standing on your head..... OK, I'm outta here!!
Have a great day!! :)
Alison Meyer
My Kenmore has a stitch like that - the little zigzag with the bite to the
left. I haven't experimented with it, because the feed dogs being what
they are, I'm worried that it might bite more often than I'd like!
(Feeding fabric straight is sometimes something of a challenge.) I can,
however, adjust the width of the stitch. The funny thing is, though, on
the lower-end Kenmores, the blind hem stitch bites the right way, but you
can't adjust the width! I had borrowed a friend's Kenmore while mine was
in the shop so I could finish some polar fleece shirts, and opted not to
do the hemming because the bite on her blind hem stitch was so wide that
I'd either have a very loose-hanging hem, or large visible stitches on the
right side of the garment. (Are actual sewers involved in sewing machine
design, I wonder?)
Frank Obits
three days and still isn't working right.
In article <4cqh1h$8...@kryten.awinc.com>,
Edna McFall & SO Fred <fmc...@mlc.awinc.com> wrote:
>The stitch that zigs to the right is usually meant for doing the shell
>stitch. Try a sample on a soft slightly stretchy fabric such as tricot.
> Fold a narrow 1/4 inch hem then sew with the shell stitch so that the
>zig falls off the edge of the hem. You may need to tighten your upper
>tension somewhat. The result is a very pretty shell or scallop hem.
>This works nicely on T-shirt fabric too which makes it nice to use on
>little girl's things.
To judge by the articles in this thread a lot of machines have this
stitch, and I'm not the only one puzzled by it's use. I think, though,
that the mystery has been solved.
The softest fabric I had on hand was an old T-shirt, so I made a single
fold and stitched along it, with the points of the zigzag falling just
over the edge. Eureka! It does indeed compress the fabric at these points
and make a scalloped effect along the edge.
Personally I would prefer to have it go the other way, but different
people have different tastes and I'm sure there are many sewers who love
this effect and use it all the time.
P.S. - do cute little scallops around the bottom of your boxer shorts
scream homemade? <g>
-]Frank[-
Linda Wilson
of
> Burda patterns. I had to replace the actual marking pen because the
> one that came with the set was dried out. I even tried adding
moisture
> to it, but it only made a mess -that ink does not like to leave the
> fingers BTW. So, I would suggest either testing the marker in the
> store -it you can, or purchasing an additional one initially.
> Once I replaced the marker it was smooth marking! It takes some
getting
> used to to eyeball excactly where the center of the marker is, but
that
> just takes practice. BTW I also used my son's scented non-toxic
> markers. That was a very pleasent experience! They're fruit
scented.
> I have to say that even though it was slower and sloppier than the
> roller pen, it sure was more fun!
> Linda in Colorado