Class 10: Sewing Machines

Tues. Mar 9, 2021, 10:30AM to 12:20PM (Zoom)

Today’s class is primarily devoted to hands-on learning.

Warm-up

1. Brief check-in.
2. Any questions?

Announcements

Sewing Machine Return Requests from IDeATe staff:

• do not leave unprotected needles and pins floating around in the case or in the case pouches.  Use the included small, plastic tube for spare sewing machine needles.  Pins and hand sewing needles should not be returned with sewing machines. 
• wind up the foot pedal cord and strap it together with the attached velcro in the same way as when the machine is received from us.
• unspool small amounts of thread from bobbins to help keep them from becoming a tangled mass of thread inside of the pouch. 
• whenever possible, protect spool pins by either retracting them (Brother) or detaching and storing in the pouch (Janome).
• be upfront about any issues or breakage with the machine.  Unless it’s a clear case of abuse, students won’t be charged for repairs.  We just don’t want a broken machine going back out.

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Sewing Machines

We will use the entire class period to set-up our sewing machines, familiarize ourselves with the machine’s settings, and make some stitches.

Materials:

• Muslin fabric
• black and white spool of sewing thread
• sewing machine on a table near an outlet
• scissors
• seam ripper
• package of machine sewing needles
• bobbin(s)
• pencil
• ruler

Overview:

• Setting up the sewing machines
  • Brother Set-Up Slideshow
  • Getting to know the Brother excellent video by Natalia Pinchuk
  • Great Step by Step guide for the Brother by Spoonflower
• First samples (follow-along demo video):
  • Understanding tension
  • Concentric Squares
  • Concentric Circles
• Second samples:
  • Straight seam
  • Test out the different settings on the machine to make a Letter

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Sewing Machine Manual

• Brother Sewing Machine Manual

Helpful Beginner Videos

• Understanding Your Sewing Machine (Brother) 
• Sewing Machine Samples (very first set)
• Sewing a small bag (helpful reference video)
• Sewing a small heart (helpful reference video)
• above videos by Natalya Pinchuk

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Assignment 10

• Complete the following samples shown on this helpful sewing video by Natalya Pinchuk: Understanding tension, Concentric Squares, Concentric Circles, Testing Different Stitches to make a Letter, and Straight Seam. Take quality photos of these samples and upload them to the course site.
• This will be an individual assignment.
• This is due Thursday, March 11 at the beginning of class.