tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post5172849966492777414..comments2024-03-14T16:03:32.434-04:00Comments on Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing: (Wo)man Vs. MachineGertiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04314542159287533507noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-47433949424908825282011-07-14T07:52:46.429-04:002011-07-14T07:52:46.429-04:00I'm a machine person except when I have one of...I'm a machine person except when I have one of those very special projects that I really want to do slowly and enjoy the process. The main reason I go the machine route started from wanting to discover the "secret sewing techniques". You know, the techniques that the pattern companies would never tell us about and just told us to sew by hand instead. I knew that the RTW factories were not sitting around have their workers doing hand sewing. Now, I get so excited when I find a new machine technique :)<br /><br />BTW - Thanks for the basting tip!Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514929600248371886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-87270038647241951372011-07-10T20:41:59.286-04:002011-07-10T20:41:59.286-04:00I think there's a zen to hand sewing. When I h...I think there's a zen to hand sewing. When I have time, I love to sit in front of my television and hem a nice big circle skirt (until I'm about 10 feet in I guess). I feel more pride in my work when I do hand sewing. Of course there are instances where everything on a garment is machine sewn because that's what time allows. (Like for my 5 year old, who's so rough on her clothes, it's not worth my effort to hand sew parts of it.)Thien-Kim aka Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00944429273741512796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-10741879343744992252011-07-07T12:22:55.063-04:002011-07-07T12:22:55.063-04:00Love the tulip sleeves.Love the tulip sleeves.rjhopkins12https://www.blogger.com/profile/02824406340269378825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-44816722964678323432011-07-07T03:04:02.231-04:002011-07-07T03:04:02.231-04:00I prefere the machine, never had a good hand with ...I prefere the machine, never had a good hand with the needle! <br />Love the Elna-picture! We sell Elna at work, so its funny to see an old ad for it! ;)Miss Lindy Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17078565029057146006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-1640844751516319062011-07-06T21:57:00.810-04:002011-07-06T21:57:00.810-04:00I sew both by hand and machine. More hand sewing ...I sew both by hand and machine. More hand sewing goes into finer garments or tailored garments. I generally sew zippers in by hand.Micksmom2https://www.blogger.com/profile/14457500103317616242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-2265403286124908452011-07-06T17:01:31.232-04:002011-07-06T17:01:31.232-04:00Mostly machine. I like to throw everything in the ...Mostly machine. I like to throw everything in the washing machine so the main concern has to be washableness (if that's a word). Also sewing for children means it has to be sturdy.<br /><br />Second the call for a guest column from your friend if he'll do it!Louizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05691100508790921779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-82694407086628396052011-07-06T16:13:44.457-04:002011-07-06T16:13:44.457-04:00Mostly machine for me with some hand sewing. I pre...Mostly machine for me with some hand sewing. I prefer the way jacket and coat linings sit when I sew them in by hand. I do my hems by hand and I secure facings by hand. How ever, I do believe I would enjoy doing special little extra things by hand if I knew how.Vickihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873902018168238165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-63691178797462219392011-07-06T16:02:15.989-04:002011-07-06T16:02:15.989-04:00I do both. It all depends on the project....
I al...I do both. It all depends on the project....<br /><br />I also find hand sewing meditative. Not everyone does, of course! (each to their own....)Jean Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-63020668485760321302011-07-06T11:46:45.741-04:002011-07-06T11:46:45.741-04:00I used to only sew by machine but a friend taught ...I used to only sew by machine but a friend taught me that basting makes this so so much easier. I know do both and enjoy it. I find hand sewing relaxing.Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17287346360239233620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-25594578350840469002011-07-06T08:26:49.260-04:002011-07-06T08:26:49.260-04:00It really depends on the project. The last dress I...It really depends on the project. The last dress I worked on was a made with heavily sequined & embroidered tuelle so I spent ages basting it to organza & the dress lining. All the hems were hand-picked & I really only used the machine for the side seams & for putting a casing on the seam allowances (those sequins are itchy!). But one of my next projects will be a simple sateen sundress & I expect that I will use my machine every step of the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-72815787122290623592011-07-05T23:10:11.089-04:002011-07-05T23:10:11.089-04:00I definitely swing both ways on hand and machine s...I definitely swing both ways on hand and machine sewing.dawn snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-582799514135954752011-07-05T22:21:00.045-04:002011-07-05T22:21:00.045-04:00I find hand sewing relaxing and you can do it whil...I find hand sewing relaxing and you can do it while watching TV. It kind of annoys my family if I try to sew on my machine while they are watching something ;) I feel like I have better control for some things too. For example, I have never had any luck catching the facing of a waistband with top-stitching on the waistband. Many patterns ask for it and it always looks horrible when I attempt it. So I usually sew the facing down by hand. I use to sew the facing to the zipper by hand until I saw three tutorials in a row on how to do it by machine and I must say it gives a professional result -- though a little dismayed at a previous poster calling it a hatchet job method :-/<br /><br />My mum taught me to hand baste for more accurate machine sewing results. I guess old habits die hard.Jane Elisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01426106915403668153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-78939508288038550342011-07-05T22:03:35.963-04:002011-07-05T22:03:35.963-04:00When I first started sewing, I did everything by h...When I first started sewing, I did everything by hand because I didn't have access to a machine. Hours and hours of backstitching later, I bought the absolute cheapest machine I could find and have been using it happily for the last seven years. I try to avoid hand sewing now, but mostly because the lighting in my apartment is terrible. I save it for princess seams and sleeves, mostly.Octihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17402406449310927765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-49683549376335516302011-07-05T21:07:22.001-04:002011-07-05T21:07:22.001-04:00I love hand sewing. Can't really afford a gre...I love hand sewing. Can't really afford a great machine, but my hands do fine work.Solangehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11602452519397717693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-50898353085548124352011-07-05T18:22:05.945-04:002011-07-05T18:22:05.945-04:00I am a teacher of machine sewing.
I am also a desi...I am a teacher of machine sewing.<br />I am also a designer of children's clothing - those are all made by hand.<br />Hand sewing gives you total control - no mistakes! It is relaxing, and really does not take more time.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12495007979096707413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-37821568136465081732011-07-05T18:10:58.766-04:002011-07-05T18:10:58.766-04:00Hand sewing is my meditation...machine my thrill! ...Hand sewing is my meditation...machine my thrill! <br />I much prefer hand sewing for its therapeutic qualities but mainly because I can and am good at it. Saying that though, my Xmas present was a brand new Bernina which is slowly taking over the banal jobs that are usually put to the bottom of the sewing pile.Rosalienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-1941563250223521952011-07-05T16:51:09.480-04:002011-07-05T16:51:09.480-04:00I tend to sew the long seams by machine and save t...I tend to sew the long seams by machine and save the handwork for the finishing details. Not only do I enjoy sewing by hand, but there really are some techniques that can only be accomplished by hand. I've hemmed the armhole openings of dresses for my baby girl, and I use straight bands of fabric to face round neck openings.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15435905516833920462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-84340576780791714372011-07-05T16:30:24.970-04:002011-07-05T16:30:24.970-04:00I prefer to combine hand sewing and machine stitch...I prefer to combine hand sewing and machine stitching, with an emphasis on hand work. I don't do it because I want to be slow for the sake of being slow, but because I have more control and get better results.<br /><br />I'm not surprised that a sample maker would use a machine for virtually everything. The garment ultimately will be made by sewers in a factory using machines. Hand sewing would drive up the price.atelierflounoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-5192517964766697822011-07-05T16:20:54.550-04:002011-07-05T16:20:54.550-04:00I agree with Threadless 27: why can't you mach...I agree with Threadless 27: why can't you machine wash handsewn items? If it's a decent backstitch or other sturdy stitch, I don't see how it's any less strong than what a machine could do. John Henry FTW!<br /><br />And Deborah Raymond, it's interesting that you mention Little House on the Prairie because I just re-read These Happy Golden Years, the second to last book in the series, in which Ma gets a sewing machine in time to help Laura make her trousseau (there's a lot of sewing in this book). The machine was indeed a godsend for making sheets and other things with mile-long seams. When Laura proposes the idea, Ma says," Our grandmothers would turn in their graves, but after all, these are modern times." (Of course she also says"...such beautiful stitching. The best of seamstresses could not possibly equal it by hand." Which distressed me a little, but then mew technologies always prompt fevered rhetoric.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-83072975388613784102011-07-05T16:15:08.139-04:002011-07-05T16:15:08.139-04:00I hand-sew all of my projects. Because I travel a...I hand-sew all of my projects. Because I travel a lot and cannot take a machine wherever I go. But it also became a little passion of mine. My last big project was a coat, which I love. The fact that it's completly handsewn feels like a little hidden luxurious extra to me.<br />I wash these garments like all other clothes, depending on the fabric, not the seams and I've never had any problems. Also, I can't say that hand sewn garments are less sturdy, it depends on the technique that is used. People often ask me how long it takes to hand-sew something. But actually now, with practice, I don't need much more time compared to when I was using a machine.<br />A personal benefit is that I am forced to sew more thoughtful and I can't rush my work, like I sometimes did when I was machine sewing. I am rather impatient at times and this paces and relaxes me.Vivinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-64092939803444615962011-07-05T15:21:49.917-04:002011-07-05T15:21:49.917-04:00I do both. I cannot get the hang of the blind hem...I do both. I cannot get the hang of the blind hem foot on either of my machines, but I can do a pretty mean blind hem by hand. Because of my blog reading, I've actually taken up sewing in zippers by hand once in a while, though I've also fallen in love with the invisible zipper.<br /><br />I hand sew on ALL buttons, but that is because nothing cheeses me off more than a button that is sewn on by machine. One little loose thread and there you are, in a rush, with mismatched thread, trying to tack it back on so you can get to work and not flash anyone.<br /><br />I'm a cross sticher and bead freak too, so I guess that goes into my enjoyment of handsewing.<br /><br />As a bad girl sewer, I have my machine set up in the living room because my sewing room is too lonely. I watch a lot of movies and tv shows while I sew, so most of my garments have memories attached to them. For instance, the dress I'm wearing today was nearly finished while I watched "Pirhana" last weekend. I keep seeing people getting their face eaten off, but that's the memory attached to this dress now.<br /><br />BTW - my word verification for this was "sperm". Who thinks of this stuff?Jennifer Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-51008238718466290052011-07-05T15:20:10.441-04:002011-07-05T15:20:10.441-04:00I've done both, will do both, but if a machine...I've done both, will do both, but if a machine will do it nicely, I give permission. <br />Hemming and mending...to be honest, sometimes it's just easier to hand sew. For instance, I just altered hemlines on 5 pair of my husband's slacks, sewed on 5 assorted buttons, and resewed a ripped soccer jersey seam. These were all quicker to do by hand; just filling the bobbins would take time.Marjorytnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-58226532803928881992011-07-05T14:45:01.261-04:002011-07-05T14:45:01.261-04:00Anything I can sew by machine, I will gladly do so...Anything I can sew by machine, I will gladly do so. My only limit is my kinda not great machine (tho' for the past month, I've been borrowing my mom's newer, fancier machine, which is amazing & does things my junker can't! love this).<br /><br />For me, sewing isn't about the process, it's about the end result. I love to design new outfits & envision what they'll turn out like & how I'll wear them. Sewing is a means to an end. The machine is the fastest route to my goal. If there are things the machine can't do, I'll sew by hand, but I don't really get off on the physical act of sewing. It's merely a necessary task to me.Trystan L. Basshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08397943306522024963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-6126578424523747532011-07-05T14:35:29.231-04:002011-07-05T14:35:29.231-04:00I fully agree with your comment. "To be a ver...I fully agree with your comment. "To be a versatile seamstress, you really do need to have an arsenal of skills ready to go at any given moment." That is the "school of sewing" philosophy that I was taught in and continue to learn in! I feel that once you put that philosophy into place in the foundation of your sewing skills, it only makes you FREE to be more creative IN sewing. It then goes away from "(Wo)man vs. machine" to "Woman uses machine as one of the tools of her aresenal of versatile AND varied sewing skills to sew whatever she wants, and express her full creative style in the clothing she sews. It won't matter what the garment is and sometimes does not matter how longs or short a time it takes to make it, the versatile seamstress is the woman who wins the victory in THAT battle- ALL THE TIME! THANKS Gertie for the comment! Be well!Tailorchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05312274412435556493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3259455441759015869.post-22969691658525766942011-07-05T14:34:15.333-04:002011-07-05T14:34:15.333-04:00I tend to do a bit of both, but I do have a soft s...I tend to do a bit of both, but I do have a soft spot for a vintage sewing machine (or ten! If you haven't seen my 'Confessions of a sewing machine junkie' posts, go see for yourself ;) heh)<br /><br />I never knew you could sew on buttons with a machine! what a clever trick! I might go give this a go when I can finally get back to sewing and finish off some projects.<br /><br />When I do alterations however I do mostly do it by hand, especially when altering my boyfriends suit jackets so they fit perfectly snug but with just enough room for movement!<br />xxxLady Jardin - Vintage Views of the South Coasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01464389005844139295noreply@blogger.com