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Sewing/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| bobbin thread isn't picking up | 6/17/2009 | Vinette de Phillipe |
| Q: The needle on my Singer Touch and Sew Model 640 won't pick up the bobbin thread while sewing. Any ... A: could be the needle is wrong, the top of the machine is not threaded correctly, or there is not ... | ||
| beginner..obviously | 6/16/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: good to meet you. I currently have a couple pairs of jeans that need some stitching/sewing. I'm ... A: I am sending along a couple of websites that give good instructions for repairs. I hope they are ... | ||
| Altering an elastic waistband in pull on slacks | 6/10/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I have lost some weight and want to alter a few of my elastic waist pants. They fit ok if I pull ... A: Congratulations on the weight loss! To fix your pants, put them on and with pins, mark where you ... | ||
| Flat Drapery Panels | 6/10/2009 | Karen Erickson |
| Q: We have a small problem at our workroom. We have a client that wants flat (sheer/gauze) panels. We ... A: Okay... To recap... Client wants a flat piece of fabric hanging, it is a gauze/sheer fabric. Flat ... | ||
| Flat Drapery Panels | 6/10/2009 | Karen Erickson |
| Q: We have a small problem at our workroom. We have a client that wants flat (sheer/gauze) panels. We ... A: I would like to help... but I am not sure what you mean by a flap drapery panel? Is it a flat piece ... | ||
| zipper inserted and now splits apart | 6/10/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: I inserted a zipper in a handbag I am sewing. I added the handle and when I went to close the ... A: The zipper is salvageable, but it will take a little ripping at the base of the zipper, to get the ... | ||
| mens sleeve suit jacket cuff | 6/9/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: just checking about taking up a suit jacket sleeve cuff with the buttons and all? my friends son, so ... A: Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes, your inclination is right - you want to carefully ... | ||
| silk drapery | 6/8/2009 | Karen Erickson |
| Q: I have been making draperies both lined and un lined for a number of years. However I have been ... A: I hope I can help you with this project. I do have a few questions beyond what you have written. ... | ||
| shortening pants at crotch | 6/7/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: I have elastic waist pants that the crotch is way to long almost to my knees. They also have pockets ... A: You won't be able to shorten the pants from the crotch. If you think of a pant pattern, shortening ... | ||
| hemming cuffs | 6/6/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: I have this mans jacket that needs the sleeves hemmed about 3", it has a lining ,,, so how do I ... A: First, mark where you'd like the new sleeve length to fall. You're going to have to remove the ... | ||
| neckline heming of stretchy nylon material | 6/5/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: I am trying to hem the neckline of a stretchy nylon material..(remember the silky, stretchy material ... A: The first thing that comes to mind is that you are using too many stitches per inch. You can try ... | ||
| how turn a narrow tube right side out | 6/4/2009 | Claudia Buchanan |
| Q: I am making a cushion for a rocking chair. I need to make the ties to tie the cushion to the chair. ... A: Roberta, It can be done with a lot of patience. Sew one end closed and then use a pencil or ... | ||
| Protecting fabric transfer-ons | 5/28/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: ) I'm considering printing my own designs off the computer and transferring them onto t-shirts ... A: There are a few ways to help protect iron on transfers, but they mostly have to do with the wash ... | ||
| Stitch witchery hem | 5/27/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I am in a pinch because the dress I'm wearing in a couple days is too long and it is a ... A: No, I would not use one of the iron on hem tapes or stitch witchery because of the amount of heat ... | ||
| SEWING SPANDEX MATERIALS | 5/27/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: i AM SEWING SPANDEX MATERIAL (WITH COTTON LINING). AM USING A ZIGZAG (#4 STITCH). SEAM DOES NOT ... A: The first thing that comes to mind is that you are using too many stitches per inch. You can try ... | ||
| Crotch Problem ? | 5/27/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I am short and overweight. My problem is that the only pants that fit me correctly are the petite ... A: This is not an easy alteration for someone who does not sew a lot, but if you are willing to try, ... | ||
| Making collars with stretchy fabrics | 5/23/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I almost exclusively work with stretchy fabrics (knit fabric, jersey, spandex...) and I was ... A: You have discovered that knit fabrics do not work well when making garments that require sharper ... | ||
| What clothing cut/ fabric/ detail require tailoring | 5/23/2009 | Jenna McAuliffe |
| Q: I am going to have my wardrobe tailored as I have to mingle with the rich snob and they look down on ... A: Any garment can be mass-made or individually created and/or tailored. A simple skirt for example, ... | ||
| making a ruffled edge | 5/23/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: Not sure what this hem is called but on organza it looks like a curled or slightly 'ruffled' edge. ... A: That is a rolled hem. It is done using a rolled hemming foot that comes with most sewing machines. ... | ||
| fitting a pattern to these measurements | 5/22/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: this person is 4'11 with a chest 35.5, a bust 37.5 a waits of 39 a hip of 38 back of neck to waist ... A: When picking a pattern size, consider the style of the garment and how the person wants the garment ... | ||
| rolled hem | 5/20/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: how do I sew a rolled him, using a rolled hem sewing foot A: It's funny you should ask this question because I just did a lot of rolled hemming on a chiffon ... | ||
| Making a Mao collar using knit fabric | 5/19/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: I almost exclusively work with stretchy fabrics (knit fabric, jersey, spandex...) and I was ... A: You can interface any stretchy/knit fabric w/ tricot fusing! Tricot is a fusible made especially ... | ||
| gusseted crotch | 5/18/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I have probably bitten off more than I can chew, but I've agreed to make hiking pants for my ... A: I found a pattern for cargo pants at the following link that has the gusseted crotch. You might ... | ||
| Ballroom Dancing Gown | 5/18/2009 | Jenna McAuliffe |
| Q: Do you know of anyone in the industry who will cutom make a ballroom dancing dress, I have been ... A: You know, I really wish I could be more help but I did some searching too, and came up empty. The ... | ||
| Altering jacket for small bust | 5/17/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: I have a jacket and also a simple black dress that apparently require a bigger and lower bust, since ... A: I recieved updated information from you, quoted below. "Here is the item, and on me it looks much ... | ||
| Pants hem | 5/16/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I have a pair of pants that are too short(about 3 inches) to wear with heels. I had the pants made ... A: I am curious as to why the pants are 3 inches too short if you had them made? The only way to ... | ||
| Sears model 385.8152X | 5/16/2009 | Claudia Buchanan |
| Q: I was wondering if the bobbin case is causing this machine to not stitch properly. needle seems ok ... A: Nick, Even if the needle looks OK, I would suggest that you start by changing it. I suggest ... | ||
| Sewing valance trims | 5/15/2009 | Karen Erickson |
| Q: I want to sew a small swag valance and insert a narrow cording and also beading. They both have a ... A: Wow this sounds like a fun project. This will be a great look. Would love to see all. Can you ... | ||
| Wedding dress alterations | 5/14/2009 | Jenna McAuliffe |
| Q: My wedding is in 6 weeks, and my dress needs to be let out. Everyone I have talked to claims it ... A: The hard fact about your dress is that it will be extremely difficult to let out, and the alteration ... | ||
| singer 834 | 5/13/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: i have a problem with my model number 834. I can not hook the thread up to the boobin. Is there ... A: The following link should help with your threading problems. If not, please write again. ... | ||
| sewing question | 5/12/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I made a bag by folding a length of fabric in half. Sewed the two sides. Open top is on the ... A: Decide if you want the drawstring on one side or both. For one side, which is easier, make a mark ... | ||
| Needle seems like it is hitting ? | 5/10/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I just got a singer touch and sew 640 model from my boyfriends parents house. It worked like a champ ... A: Is the fabric moving when the needle moves? If not, check to see if the feed dogs have been lowered ... | ||
| Needle seems like it is hitting ? | 5/10/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: I just got a singer touch and sew 640 model from my boyfriends parents house. It worked like a champ ... A: It sounds as if there is a problem with your needle. It may be dull or bent or it has gotten ... | ||
| Sewing on Trim | 5/9/2009 | Sarah |
| Q: I want to sew some trim onto a dress at the neckline. How do I sew the ends so that they don't ... A: You have a few options with applying trim. You can sew the trim onto the necklines before the front ... | ||
| hemming | 5/8/2009 | Jenna McAuliffe |
| Q: I am in a pickle! My daughter has decided that I an to hem her prom dress. It is made of silk with ... A: Stitch Witchery and similar products can be a great tool but only on the right dress If your ... | ||
| Alteration on side seam and sleeve at armhole | 5/8/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: Where the sleeve seam meets the side seam of the dress it hangs too low. I need to bring that ... A: You would need to make the armhole smaller and to do this, the side seam should be taken up enough ... | ||
| shorten a dress at shoulder (sleeveless) | 5/7/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: Just purchased a sleeveless round neck dress. The top is too big. If I pinch around an inch at top ... A: If the fabric is not really thick, you can just fold the pinched up inch to the inside, stitch ... | ||
| Side seam pockets | 5/5/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: Looking for a simple pattern/idea to make side seam pockets in a pair of older persons lounge pants. ... A: I am assuming you are putting pockets in existing pants, right? If so, have him stand while wearing ... | ||
| crumpled drapes | 5/2/2009 | Claudia Buchanan |
| Q: We have just bought some expensive curtains (as we in U.K. call drapes) made for us and they appear ... A: Andy, I have found that some fabrics are not woven on the straight of the grain, so if you ... | ||
| sewing bobbin | 5/1/2009 | Sharon Vogel |
| Q: sharon, i'm ronny i'm the one who ask about the thread wrapping around the bobbin case on the singer ... A: It sounds as if you may have some thread or lint stuck under the feed dog plate or in the bobbin ... | ||
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Sewing
Answers by Expert:
Sharon Vogel
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer general sewing questions as well as tailoring, heirloom, menswear, children's wear, craft sewing, quilting and just about any fabric or notion. I can also help with some sewing machine repair and maintenance.
Experience
I started sewing at the age of 3...thanks to my mom and grandmother, and I am now in my fifties. Home economics classes in junior high and high school helped me to finesse my skills.
Education/Credentials
Palmer and Plesch tailoring class
Basically, self-taught...give me the instructions and I will figure it out and then make it better!
Awards and Honors
A few blue ribbons at fairs along the way
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