Sewing machines have helped do away with the inconvenience of needles and thimbles and many other such frustrating tools that were used in conventional hand sewing. Thus, these machines have automated the process of stitching and saved loads of time. Since the time of its invention, the sewing machine has undergone ample changes for the better.
Sewing machines can be of different types depending on what fabric they will work on or their efficiency and environment. For instance, sewing machines that are designed for household purposes need to be handled by one person. These sewing machines would use a single stitch type to sew individual items. Industrial sewing machines are far more diversified. They can handle lots of different fabrics and are designed for varying tasks. Thus, they have different size, appearance, and cost and are also larger and faster in comparison to home sewing machines. Let us learn more about how to maintain sewing machines.
Sewing Machine Maintenance Tips
There are routine measures that you should undertake for the proper care of your machines. Also before starting, you need to make sure that you unplug your machine if they are electrical or computerized models.
Clean up – After finishing your projects, you must make sure to remove lint from the machines. Also, clean the fabric and thread from crevices and cracks and clean all the areas that can be opened. You can use a brush for such purposes.
Oil – You should use sewing machine oil that prevents rust and helps in smooth functioning. After application, use scrap fabric to soak up an excess of oil that runs out. Wait for some more time and repeat the process to make sure that there isn’t an excess of oil.
Check for wear and tear – You should take care of any loose or worn screws. Also, inspect the electrical wires for any signs of damage. Make sure that the connections are all firm and secure.
A lot of sewing machine problems can be avoided with simple adjustments. For instance, replacing a damaged or slightly bent needle or adjusting the tension can make a huge difference in your stitches.
Sewing Machine Repair Help Hiring Tips
While choosing a professional for hire to repair your sewing machine, you need to consider the following:
One with experience – You should choose a technician who has plenty of experience with dealing your model. Some professionals are better at working with the older mechanical models, while some would be experienced at handling the newer computerized models.
Estimated cost – Always make sure to ask for the cost so that there is no hassle at the end. A $100 should be enough if you do not need to change machine parts. The cost would generally depend on the problem and the availability of parts.
House calls – You should try to get a house call because some of the machines may be extremely difficult to move. And if you absolutely need to move the machine, try to get the original packaging materials or get it properly packaged before trying to move it.
Don’t know how to make your plain denim look chic? Just add some quirky embroidered patches on them and you are good to go. Embroidered patches are very much in the trend and why would they not be? Apart from being cool, they are also extremely versatile. You can put these patches on uniforms, hoodies, denim, hats, overalls, and on any clothing of your choice.
If you have decided that you want your own customized patches, then here are four simple steps in which you can get them made the right way:
Decide the correct size– The size of the patch depends on what you are planning to put the embroidered patch on. When it comes to measuring the size of the embroidered patch, you need to decide the height and the width of the patches. If you are planning to put it on your denim or your hat, then a small-sized one, roughly around 2 to 4 inches, would be an ideal choice. Whereas, if you want it for a backpatch then you will have to go for a much bigger size, like something between 8 to 12 inches.
Choose a shape– Once you know what size patch you want to make, you can decide the shape of the patch. Some of the most basic shapes that you can go for are squares, circles, and ovals. If you want to go for any of these basic shapes, then you have the luxury of buying premade patches, where you simply need to create the design and the details you want to see in the patch.
Be clear on the concept– Most of the times, the designs of the patches are brand logos, symbols, or a message that conveys an event or a cause. So, it is vital that before you go ahead and design a patch, you are clear on what you want the patch to convey. You can use photographs or text to convey the design of your embroidered patch to the designer.
Finalize the design– Less is more when it comes to the designs that you select for your embroidered patch. If you go overboard and add too many things in the patch then it might end up looking chaotic. So, stick to one idea and turn it into a simple design. It is best to have a rough sketch of what you want the design to look like so that the designer knows what you are looking for. If you are getting an embroidered patch for personal use, then you can use your favorite quotes, movie characters, or a sketch you drew yourself.
Do your homework and be clear on what you want. Once you have a vision for how you want them to look, everything else will fall in place. Be up to date with the trending designs and shapes, so that you can take inspiration from them to make your own tailormade embroidered patch.
Embroidered patches pronounce versatility. You can use them on clothing and hoodies to market your brand logo or you can simply add these patches on your denim and make your denim look edgy and quirky. Designing an embroidered patch might get overwhelming if it is your first time and you do not know how to get going. While it is a common knowledge that you need to decide the size, shape, and the design of the patches, here are four other undervalued factors to consider, while creating the perfect embroidered patch:
Choose the backing wisely– You can choose from different types of backing for your patch. One of the most popular backings is plastic. Plastic backing ensures that the shape of your patch is retained by adding stiffness. If you want to try something different, then you can consider going for a magnetic backing, in which the back of the patch is a magnet. Adhesive backings are another popular type of backing, but they don’t last long, especially if you plan to machine-wash your clothes. If you want the patches to stay for long, then consider sewing them or going for the heat-seal backing.
Determine the embroidery percentage– The percentage of embroidery on the patch decides the price of the patch. The higher the percentage of embroidery, the higher the price. Typically, an embroidered patch has around 75% of embroidery. If you go with 75% of embroidery, then the rest of the patch will be the colored background of the design.
Decide the right border– Along with deciding the shape of the patches, you must also pick a border for your patches. If you choose any of the basic shapes like an oval or a circle, then you can consider going for the most common border type, called the merrowed border. The merrowed border, also known as an overlock border, is a border that wraps the thread around the entire fabric of the patch. This type of border looks aesthetically appealing and it adds to the durability of the patch. Note that the merrowed border cannot be used if your patch has pointed edges or it has an irregular shape.
Go crazy with the colors– You are spoilt for choice when it comes to the color of the embroidery. You can choose the colors for your embroidered patch from the hundreds of threads that are available in the market. Try to go for designs that use flat colors instead of different hues or color gradients, as it is difficult to get the color gradients embroidered.
The most intriguing thing is that you don’t necessarily need to put these embroidered patches on your clothes. Today, many people don’t mind getting customized embroidered patches just to add to their collection. So, instead of sticking to the latest trending designs, experiment with the sizes and the shapes and come up with your own unique customized embroidered patches.