SUMMARY
• All sewing machines operate in a similar manner.
• Choose needles and thread according to fabric type.
• Needles should be replaced when dull, bent, or rough.
• Adjusting the machine produces the best stitch.
• Controlling sewing machine speed comes with practice.
• The serger can stitch, trim, and overcast a seam at the same time.
• A serger creates different stitches with three, four, five, or eight threads.
• Special equipment and tools are used for measuring, pinning, cutting,
marking, stitching, and pressing.
Review and Activities
RECALLING THE FACTS
1. If you have a specific question or problem with your sewing machine or
serger, what should you do?
2. When choosing a machine needle and thread, what should you consider?
3. Why is the long groove on a sewing machine needle significant?
4. What three recommendations would you make for winding and inserting a
bobbin?
5. What does thread guide location tell you about threading a machine?
6. What causes a lockstitch to form?
7. What stitch length is recommended for regular stitching on most fabrics?
8. Before you start to stitch, what two things should you do to prevent
tangled stitches?
9. Where are the hands placed when stitching with a conventional machine?
10. What are three features of computerized sewing machines?
11. What three tasks does a serger do at the same time?
12. Why does a serger have a looper instead of a bobbin?
13. Why shouldn't you sew over pins with a serger?
14. Name the three essential measuring tools.
15. How should you use and store pins safely?
16. What is the difference between scissors and shears?
17. Why is a thimble useful?
18. Name the three essential items needed for pressing.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE
1. Sewing machine use. Wind the bobbin on a conventional sewing machine.
Then thread the machine and stitch a row of regular stitches, basting stitches, and reinforcement stitches.
2. Serger use. Thread a serger and adjust the tension for each looper and needle. Then sew the stitches that the machine can create.
3. Safety poster. Create a poster of safety tips for using sewing machines,
sergers, and equipment.
4. Basic tools and equipment. Make a list of the basic tools and equipment
that a beginning sewer will need for a simple project.
Underhanded Uniquizing Effort Sub-Series:
Wiki Sewing
Thread the Bobbin
The bobbin provides the underside thread for the sewing machine. Properly
winding the bobbin is important to achieve the correct tension on the bobbin
thread and have an acceptable stitch quality. The best source on how to
thread your bobbin is the machine manual.
Most sewing machines wind the bobbin on the top of the machine before it's dropped in or placed in a bobbin case.
1 Place the bobbin on the bobbin winder. Consult your manual for the correct
type of bobbin to use.
2 Place the thread spool in its position. Guide the thread to the one
or two thread guides it must go through on its way to the bobbin.
3 Manually wind the end of the thread around the bobbin a few times. If
the bobbin has access holes in it, bring the end of the thread through
one of the holes and wind it around the bobbin a few times.
4 Gently slide the bobbin holder over toward the bobbin-winding regulator
or brake. See close-up of an already filled bobbin engaged against bobbin-winding
regulator in the photo on the right.
5 Hold the end of the hand-wound thread and slowly engage the machine.
Allow the machine to partially wind the bobbin, covering the entire shaft
of the bobbin with two to three layers of thread. Trim the end-tail thread
that you've been holding.
6 Keeping the machine speed slow and even, resume winding the bobbin until
the sound of the machine changes or the bobbin stops turning because it
has filled and is touching the bobbin winding regulator or brake.
7 Slide the bobbin holder shaft and bobbin away from the bobbin winding
regulator or brake.
8 Place the bobbin in the machine as shown on the next page. Leave a long
enough thread tail to thread the bobbin area.
Note: A small number of sewing machines have bobbins that wind in their
final position. These machines with a bottom-winding bobbin usually have
a button or latch that must be engaged for the bobbin to wind.
Tie it in to the Core Science/Technology Curriculum:
1. Math. Visit a store to research the price of sewing tools and equipment.
Using a list of basic items a beginning sewer might need, determine the total
cost of the items.
2. Internet. Visit the Web site of two or more sewing machine and serger
manufacturers. What machine features are highlighted by each manufacturer?
What is the price range of sewing machines and sergers? What additional information
is provided for sewers? Summarize your findings in a report.
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