In the meantime, I have a project that doesn't require a mojo. My church has started a sewing ministry. Our first project is making baby clothes for a women's shelter. So far we have 5 "willing workers". I suspect some women wanted to join the ministry for free sewing lessons and they didn't make it past the first organizational meeting (Praise God). We made Kwik-Sew 3309 t-shirts in an assembly line. One person cut, another person sewed the neckband, another person sewed the sleeves and since I was late, I sewed on the neckband and sewed up the sides. I don't care for assembly line sewing. With four different people with varying degrees of experience working on one shirt, the finished product is a little quirky. A few of the shirts were sewn wrong side out. Our "Minister of Sewing" and I took a pile of the shirts home to hem. I never really liked sewing knits and putting a narrow 1/4 inch hem in a knit was not really that much fun. I finished the edges with my serger using the differential feed feature. Then I used the serged stitches as a guide when turning up the hem. Finally I used a twin needle to sew the hems. I was trying to eliminate the waviness and I was moderately successful. The wavy seams and hems are the reason I never liked sewing knits. However, I am glad to be "sewing for the Lord". I like sharing my sewing skill somewhat anonymously. Hopefully, more sewers will join the ministry once we get rolling.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
A Sewing Ministry
My sewing mojo is AWOL. I've learned how to deal with my missing mojo. If you love your mojo, set it free. Invariably , I'm more hungry to sew by the time my mojo comes back.
In the meantime, I have a project that doesn't require a mojo. My church has started a sewing ministry. Our first project is making baby clothes for a women's shelter. So far we have 5 "willing workers". I suspect some women wanted to join the ministry for free sewing lessons and they didn't make it past the first organizational meeting (Praise God). We made Kwik-Sew 3309 t-shirts in an assembly line. One person cut, another person sewed the neckband, another person sewed the sleeves and since I was late, I sewed on the neckband and sewed up the sides. I don't care for assembly line sewing. With four different people with varying degrees of experience working on one shirt, the finished product is a little quirky. A few of the shirts were sewn wrong side out. Our "Minister of Sewing" and I took a pile of the shirts home to hem. I never really liked sewing knits and putting a narrow 1/4 inch hem in a knit was not really that much fun. I finished the edges with my serger using the differential feed feature. Then I used the serged stitches as a guide when turning up the hem. Finally I used a twin needle to sew the hems. I was trying to eliminate the waviness and I was moderately successful. The wavy seams and hems are the reason I never liked sewing knits. However, I am glad to be "sewing for the Lord". I like sharing my sewing skill somewhat anonymously. Hopefully, more sewers will join the ministry once we get rolling.
In the meantime, I have a project that doesn't require a mojo. My church has started a sewing ministry. Our first project is making baby clothes for a women's shelter. So far we have 5 "willing workers". I suspect some women wanted to join the ministry for free sewing lessons and they didn't make it past the first organizational meeting (Praise God). We made Kwik-Sew 3309 t-shirts in an assembly line. One person cut, another person sewed the neckband, another person sewed the sleeves and since I was late, I sewed on the neckband and sewed up the sides. I don't care for assembly line sewing. With four different people with varying degrees of experience working on one shirt, the finished product is a little quirky. A few of the shirts were sewn wrong side out. Our "Minister of Sewing" and I took a pile of the shirts home to hem. I never really liked sewing knits and putting a narrow 1/4 inch hem in a knit was not really that much fun. I finished the edges with my serger using the differential feed feature. Then I used the serged stitches as a guide when turning up the hem. Finally I used a twin needle to sew the hems. I was trying to eliminate the waviness and I was moderately successful. The wavy seams and hems are the reason I never liked sewing knits. However, I am glad to be "sewing for the Lord". I like sharing my sewing skill somewhat anonymously. Hopefully, more sewers will join the ministry once we get rolling.
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What a nice and generous thing to do for others. Wavy knit hem tip, Anne St. Clair told me - 1" knit interfacing with the stretch going round the garment, fused to the bottom of the garment before hemming.
ReplyDeleteThat is very nice of you to do this, and I'm sure they will be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you for using the talent He gave you to benefit others. I make children's clothes for an inner city church in Nashville - it is a way for me to satisfy my sewing bug and do something for somebody else.
ReplyDeleteI've had the same problem with knits-- recently took a really helpful class on them at Pattern Review. If your machine has an option to reduce the foot pressure, apparently that helps. Mine does not, but I just finished a hem on a knit shirt yesterday and used a walking foot, a longer stitch length, and just pressed the hem turnup instead of serged it first, and no ripples!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you're able to use your sewing talents in such a way.
I don't use an overlocker on knits at all because I find my seams are always thick and wavy. I sew the seams with a stretch stitch and then just turn the hems up and use the twin needle. I'm sure these tops will be well received. It's a lovely thing to do for others.
ReplyDeletethese are baby t's just leave the serged edge as the finished edge I hate sewing 1/4" hems. they are never as nice as you want them to be, but hey some young mother with no money will be very happy with your good deed. You'll be so happy to get back to your regular sewing, that you'll appreciate that mojo even more.
ReplyDeleteThey're so cute, and yes, a wonderful way to use the talent God has given you to be a blessing to someone else!
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in joining as soon as my current flurry of wedding sewing is completed. What a wonderful and generous idea.
ReplyDeleteI applaud you. Although I love sewing, and I love ministry, I have no desire to sew for others. Fortunately, my ministry is teaching others to sew - and I do love that. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete