Life Skills – Sewing Basics: Study GuideName:_______
Re-write for Practice!
- ______9. ______
- ______10. ______
- ______11. ______
- ______12. ______
- ______13. ______
- ______14. ______
- ______15. ______
- ______16. ______
Parts of the Machine – Functions
3. ______- This pin holds the spool of thread.
4. ______- This dial adjusts the tightness or looseness of the needle thread.
5. ______-Feeds thread from the spool to the needle.
7. ______- Holds the fabric firmly in place against the feed dogs for sewing. Must be down to sew!
8. ______- Metal plate under the machine needle, has seam allowance markings for accurate
sewing and straight lines.
9. ______- A set of metal “teeth” that move the fabric during stitching.
10. ______- Bobbin – small, flat spool that hold the bottom thread. Cover is placed over top.
11. ______- Lever raises and lowers the presser foot.
12. ______- Allows backward stitching (or re-tracing your stitches)– secures edge for a tight hold.
15. ______- Can be adjusted to make different stitching patterns.
16. ______-large wheel on right side of machine controls the up-and-down movement of the
needle and thread take-up lever.
It is important to know the parts of the sewing machine and their functions. This makes for a less stressful and easier sewing experience!!
Sewing Safety! (Pg. 295)
-Keep your ______away from the path of the sewing machine ______.
-Do not attempt to operate the sewing machine if it is ______or making an unusual noise.
-Put ______and needles in a pincushion or on your pin-pad, NOT in your mouth.
-Keep ______when not in use.
-Be concerned with yourself and your project, not what others are doing.
-Do not distract others, let them concentrate.
-Wait patiently for your turn on the machine and do not be a machine “hog”.
Sewing Tools(Pg. 300-301)
- ______
Used for trimming, clipping, and cutting threads. ONLY to be used on fabric!
- ______are used for hand sewing or machine sewing.
They are different and cannot be mixed up.
______should match your fabric & it holds project together.
- ______cushion or holder
Used to hold pins and needles.
- ______- has a small, hook-like blade at one end
for removing stitches.
- Fabric Marker– used to mark lines on fabric for cutting and sewing.
It washes or rubs right off.
Parts of Fabric(read page 310 while you look at this diagram)
**Label the parts of the fabric.
______= GOOD edges
Frayed “___” edgesFrayed “___” edges
______(where you fold the fabric in half)
______
Cutting
- Please the fabric flat on the floor or table.
- Use 1 hand to hold the fabric in place and the other hand to cut.
- Cut with long, even strokes. (Do not be choppy with cutting!)
- After you’re done, keep fabric folded the way you cut it out, do not open it up.
Machine Stitching
- Raise the take-up lever and needle to the highest point
-Do the same when you finish stitching. This keeps thread from pulling out of the needle or tangling in the bobbin.
- Pull the needle thread and bobbin thread to the right side of the presser foot
-The threads should also be underneath the presser foot.
- Place the fabric under the presser foot
-1st lower the needle into the fabric at the beginning of the stitching, then lower presser foot. Do your first few stitches (4-5) using hand wheel. The bulk of the fabric should be to the left of the machine.
- Start the machine slowly
-Smooth and steady allows excellent control! Don’t forget to backstitch 2-3 stitches.
- Use the seam allowance markings to guide your fabric through the machine –helps you keep even seam width.
- Slow the machine speed for the last few stitches.
-This helps prevent stitching beyond the edge of the fabric.
- Secure the end with a backstitch with your backstitch button.
Stitching Straight Seams
-Line up edges so that they are even. Pin (about 1 -2 inch(es) apart). Check with me before you start sewing so I can make sure your pins are right.
-Look at throat plate on your sewing machine. The line markings show how far the needle is from the seam edge. In our project we will use both ¼ “, 3/8 and 4/8“ seam allowances
-Find the seam allowance line your directions say to sew at and keep the fabric edge against this mark as you sew and your seam will be straight.
-As you stitch, guide the fabric with both hands, but do NOT push it. The feed dog will move the fabric as you sew.
-Don’t forget to backstitch 2-3 stitches at the beginning and end of the seam.
Turning Corners
-Turning corners or pivoting takes practice – so slow down and take your time!!
-When you come to a corner, slow down the sewing machine.
-The last stitch should position the needle exactly in the corner. Do not run off the fabric.
-Use your hand wheel, move it towards you, and lower the needle down. Lift the presser foot.
-Turn the fabric, with the needle still down in the fabric, to the new direction you need to go.
-Put the presser foot back down again and stitch the next side.
Adding Seam Finishes
-After stitching parts of your project, you may need to add a seam finish.
-Seam finishes are used on seam edges to prevent fabric from raveling.
-For this project you will use a zigzag stitch for the finish.