Would love to see pics of your CNCs. I have the electronics for one and am doing the assembly today to test out with tinyG. Doing the first one in MDF.
My fabrication experience so far is in the âsoft artsâ - textiles of all kinds. I professionally digitize embroidery designs for computerized embroidery machines, so I am used to a vector based software for that. I also have a Brother Scan N Cut and a Silhouetter Cameo (one of which is going to have to find a new home when the Glowforge comes - Iâm out of room). I canât wait to use the glowforge to take the sewing and embroidery to the next level - laser cut and engraved fabrics, acrylic templates for my sewing patterns,e tc.
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I need to learn the basics of sewing. Iâve never done anything more complicated than fixing a button⌠with a giant knot of thread! Can you recommend any books or links to get me started? I guess my mid-term goal is being able to make a garment from a pattern, and a long-term goal is designing a garment and the patterns needed to make it.
We do own a decent Brother sewing machine already.
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I am 100% self taught - it can be done! The first step is getting to know your machine - read the manual, thread it - practice a few times. Definitely start with projects less likely to frustrate you - many people start with fleece because it is comfy and easily available but it is actually tough to sew with because it stretches so much. Woven fabrics like flannel or quilting cotton are a great place to start. Flannel pajama pants are a great first garment, or for something even easier, a pillowcase. Try to master something like that before tackling a project with sleeves or stretchy knit fabrics. I tend to pick a project and then look up videos on YouTube, but Craftsy has some very good classes taught in a more methodical way. I much prefer patterns from indie designers over the âbig 3â tissue paper patterns that you will find in your local big box sewing store. The patterns that you buy online and tape together are more of a pain to prep your pattern, but the instructions and fit are so much better that it is worth the hassle. Sewing is obviously my passion, so questions are always welcome.
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This is beautiful. Bravo.
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My mom started all five of her boys sewing by asking us to help pin and cut the patterns she would sew. She was a great seamstress and had worked in a dress factory for 10 years. She had a commercial machine that just ripped through sewing in no time at all. One summer she got some jammer swim shorts patterns and we all got to pick out fabric. If we wanted, we could do the sewing. Thatâs how I learned. In later years she would call me in to help her thread the machine and needle.
Did lots of sewing for Holloween costumes through the years.
I bought my own machine when I was 30 for my own Christmas gift. I bought a kit at the fabric store for making Christmas boxers and it was very easy to follow. Thatâs what I would suggest. I brought it to my parentsâ house at Christmas and mom guided me through it.
What really got me sewing was watching Eleanor Burnsâs Quilt in a Day videos. It was amazing what she could do with planning and organization. I had a few parishioners who quilted and they were very helpful.
Many of the local fabric stores have classes. I know of a group of ladies who go on a sewing retreat every year. They spend a week sewing and praying. Itâs pretty inspiring.
A couple things that helped me: pin and press the fabric as you sew. It makes a world of difference. Arrange your area so you have lots of room to lay everything out to cut and piece together. Find a mentor whom you can work with. Theyâd be thrilled to be asked.
And happy Cakeday to @feltiefun.
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Commercial âsurgersâ are so fast at top speed they literally throw the fabric off the table.
I worked in a sportswear factory where they ran dozens of them. I was a mechanic for them. Sharpening the trimming knives on them is where I learned how to sharpen blades.
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I wanted a bathrobe. I was probably nine or ten. My mom, not wanting to spend money on something I would outgrow within the year, bought me a pattern and a roll of fabric. She showed me how to thread the sewing machine, and (at least as important) showed me how to use a seam-ripper.
I bought myself a little sewing machine in college to repair my snowboarding gear and patch my jeans.
When I moved into my current place, my girlfriend and I decided that we needed curtains for the two sets of steel & glass french doors to the patio. The doors all open inwards, and we didnât want to mount the huge curtain rods that would be necessary⌠not to mention that nice curtain are painfully expensive for what they are.
I suggested that we make our own, and she looked at me like I was a crazy person. That is how I found out that she had never learned to sew, or use a sewing machine, and so she never considered the possibility of making our own custom coverings. As far as she was concerned, we would have to buy something, even though there we could not find what we were really looking for (neither fashion nor function).
I took her to the fabric store, where we picked out some beautiful Adventure Time fabric for the bedroom doors, and some wonderful Super Mario fabric for the living room doors. I made four rectangle pieces, one for each door. I sewed pockets across the tops to trap some neodymium magnets, hemmed the edges, and added a blockout layer on the back.
They work great, are easy to slide out of the way when we want the windows, donât hamper operation of the doors, and when we move there will be no damage to repair or hardware to remove.
note - (and i donât know if this is still the case) the military used to teach recruits to sew, both for normal repairs and for attaching insignias and patches and stuff. But since the idea of âsewingâ apparently threatened the masculinity of male soldiers, they used the term âjoiningâ.
Terminology should not be an issue, but for those of you with young boys* who want to teach them to sew, it is a linguistic trick that could still be used.
*(or old boys!)
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A small sewing kit was standard issue in basic training boot camp. (Navy 1972)[quote=âjbv, post:128, topic:796â]
painfully expensive for what they are
[/quote]
No kidding! Knowing several upholsterers and furniture manufacturers I had access to reasonably priced quality upholstery fabrics.
Thick enough that a backer wasnât needed to block light, but if the curtains hang in the sun, the backing (cheap) is sacrificial to keep UV from killing the expensive fabric.
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My grandma was over one time. I was sewing some kind of harness for the cat, having just seen Ben Hur. It was Sunday. She said that I couldnât sew on Sunday, it was work. She said that for every stitch I sewed on Sunday, Iâd have to spend time in Purgatory ripping them out with my nose.
After grandma left, I told mom about this. She laughed and said, ignore your grandma. She has some weird ideas. Everyone knows that you get to use the seam ripper.
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I LOVED that story. Hilarious. 
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Chuckle! Cute story! 
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Iâve been between jobs lately (normal life for a freelancer) and for the first time in a long time Iâve had a chance to use my X-Carve to do some inlay wall art pieces. Iâm SO ready to throw the stupid thing into the garbage. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY GLOWFORGE!!!
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And now I miss my Amiga 1200.
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Werenât they fantastic!
Certainly. I made an image of my 1200 drive and use it today in UAE. Works (almost) perfectly. And itâs nice to give it an 040 processor. I think my real one was an 020. I pretty much only use it to play Advanced Laser Chess with my son. I kept my original hard drive just in case. I also have a backup of the image. 
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