But rules were made to be broken, right?
I use cheap thread. Really cheap - like a triple pack for $2. Not always, but particularly for white thread. My machine is fine with it and I've never had any thread snap or nest.
Sometimes when a pattern says "trim seam allowances" or "clip curves".... I don't.
When a pattern says "sew side seams then finish with a serger" I just use my serger for the whole thing.
Sometimes I use my rotary cutter to trim paper.
I cut fabric with an old pair of scissors I nicked from the Year 7 art and craft cupboard from the school I worked at in 2007.
Sewing in a perfectly straight line is REALLY HARD. And I'm terrible at it.
I free motion quilt on my second hand, very basic, small Janome that I bought on eBay for about $100. I bought a darning foot and then I
I am very lazy when it comes to finishing touches. I have improved my skills when it comes to the finish of an item, but perfection is not something strive for.
It's been a looooong time since I took my machine in for a service. Maybe about two years?
Alright, fess up. What naughty things have you been up to?
Geez if you commit crimes I think I must be a sewing serial killer. I use hemming tape if I can't be bothered finishing, I also just serge seams and my cutting is horrific. Thanks for the confession though lol
ReplyDeleteSerial killer HAHAHA! Love it. Whoever invented hemming tape is a GENIUS.
DeleteThe machine I bought at 19 years of age, and sewed with until a few years ago, was never serviced. Ha, ha... perhaps that was why it was time to get rid of it.
ReplyDeleteNever!? Wow must have been a good work horse!
Deletemy Janome machine is around 28 years old, its a no oil machine and guess what, it has never been serviced! and still works a treat with an awful lot of sewing being done on it! old saying....don't fix what's not broken :)
DeleteI can never be bothered changing the colour of the thread on my overlocker/ serger - so I keep it with white and pretend it's intentional "contrast stitch", I have had no working light bulb on my sewing machine for a couple of years... yeah I'll get round to that one day! I serge the seams rather than sew first too! I never oil my machine and have never serviced it! And sometimes when I'm feeling really naughty I don't preswash my fabric (Stretch denim made me regret this recently though!) Love this post, might have to do one of my own ;)
ReplyDeleteI have never changed my overlocker thread either! The choices for seams around here are white, white or white ;)
DeleteI sew over pins every now and then.
ReplyDeleteMe too! Guilt on that count as well ;)
DeleteThis makes me feel a whole lot better about my current response to the instruction "lap the end of the waistband facing", which is pretty much "make something up and don't worry too much because it's inside and I'm the only one who'll ever see it". Thanks! I'm just getting back into sewing and it's good to know that breaking the rules is part of the game.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I certainly subscribe to the "if it's on the inside and no one will see it, I will make my own rules!" idea.
DeleteHaha. Love your honesty. Although I am guilty of breaking many rules I consciously try to work on my downfalls! Let me add...points in blocks are not pointy, used glue to hold a pulled seam after the quilting was done!
ReplyDeleteAh yes - glue is an excellent tool to help trouble shoot when sewing!
DeleteI don't prewash my fabric.. and my cutting is absolutely horrid, it always comes out really wonky, no idea how to improve that.. Also, I buy fabric with no project in mind, only because I feel compelled to buy it. Phew! Glad I got that off my chest
ReplyDeleteThis confession thing is very cathartic! :)
DeleteHaha! I'm the queen of short cuts!
ReplyDeleteI will roll hem rather than a traditional hem because that would require having to iron stuff.
I sew on an Elna Sew Fun. It's never had a service. I've oiled it twice.
I only change needles when they bend or break because Ive sewn over a pin.
I use my standard needles for sewing knit.
Hell, I use my standard needles to sew leather!
Oh yeah - I can't even remember the last time I changed my needle!
DeleteI oil my machine *occasionally*, but as far as I know it's never been serviced - not since I've been using it regularly, anyway. My mom got it in the '80s sometime I think and I started using it a lot in the '90s. I tend to avoid "monkey fuss" and try to figure out easier ways to do sewing projects, especially after I've done something "the right way" once already (or tried). I don't consider them sewing crimes, just saving work. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy husband's motto is, "It's easier that way." I appropriate it when it's useful! :-)
DeleteI agree - not crimes, just money and time savers - but let's not let the truth get in the way of a good story ;)
DeleteHa ha ... I never pre wash fabric, use a ballpoint needle for everything, have never serviced my machine ... Poor thing ... I think it needs one though, and will avoid inserting a zip in clothing whenever I can work out another closure method instead. I don't think I've ever followed a pattern/tutorial exactly (it might be laziness, but I like to call it 'my own creative slant') and hand sewing? ... I loathe it ... Everything can be machined, right? That was so much fun ... Thanks for the confessional Ros!
ReplyDeleteNo worries! It's quite nice not to have to pretend that we are all perfectionists! :)
DeleteOMG, I am so glad I am not the only one.
ReplyDeleteI recently stopped pre washing certain fabrics...I was making baskets, not clothes, so it doesn't matter! Right?!
I ran out of white thread on my serger, so I saddled up the hot pink I'd bought! It's been 6 mos LOL
(It's always on the inside, so it gives it some inside fun!)
I saved an old rotary cutter blade for paper when cutting out patterns. Awesome right?! Well, sometimes I"m too lazy or forget to change it back for fabrics!
I have to ask....how do you serge the seams without them pulling apart? I tried that when I first got my serger and the slightest pressure made the thread show.
Cheers!
I've never had that problem Kerry so perhaps it's related to the tension on your serger? Not sure sorry. Love the story about the hot pink thread - that would actually look really cool!
DeleteHmm, tension is automatic. But no sweat. I'm sure it's me :)
DeleteHehe, I do like the pink!!
One day I will rethread with all pink and do something to let it show!
It's not just you Kerrie. I have the same problem with serging too :)
DeleteThey all sound like very clever things to do. I never clip my threads if they're going to end up on the inside of something. If you turned out something I've made it would be the biggest mess! If your machine can work with cheap thread then that's good! I've only had my overlocker serviced once when the timing was out and all the tensions were rubbish...it's 25 years old so I think that's pretty good!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome post. I probably do all that and more!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm glad so many people have been able to relate :)
DeleteOh my what a funny blog topic! Yep I do it all, cheap thread, buy fabric from Hobby Lobby, don't change needles, etc etc etc, but hey I love nearly all my quilts, and the people I give them to seem to enjoy them too so hey, it's all good! Break those rules!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOk, the most shocking for me out of all those was your choice of fabric scissors... How are they still sharp, lol?!
ReplyDeleteHmm, well, I'm terrible at changing my machine needle - only when it snaps or I'm having stitch issues. I cut scrapbooking paper with my rotary cutter, but I do use an old blade for that.
Great post! It is very liberating to see so many other people doing the bad sewing things that I do :)
ReplyDeleteI commit sewing crimes. I could probably fill a couple of blog posts with my list of offences, but I regularly admit to my crimes after each project I blog about, anyway (although I haven't admitted all of it! Shhhh!). I find it cathartic to do it regularly, I imagine it's like going to confession :)
ReplyDeleteNow I can't help but come up with Micheal Jackson sewing songs - Smooth Criminal has become Sewing Criminal, and Billy Jean is now about sewing Skinny Jeans. I'm struggling to stop Thriller turning into Quilter... but I can hear it... please make it stop... 'CAUSE SHE'S A QUILTER!... ahhh...what have you started?!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to have run across your blog. My sewing guilt is gone! But I suppose there is something I should check into. I got my machine about 30 years ago at a yard sale - I'm supposed to oil it?
ReplyDeleteI cut pieces free hand and measure by eye. There! I said it! On the rare occasions I do use patterns, I just draw on the fabric with a plain blue biro.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - not changing sewing needles regularly - really makes a difference when you do though. Using my rotary cutter on paper, when paper piecing - I do have scissors for paper though.
ReplyDelete