Straightening the Grain of the Fabric

Straightening the grain of your fabric is part of the process of preparing your fabric to get that professional look you want. It is absolutely essential prior to cutting your fashion fabric.  In fact, both the pattern and fabric may both need attention before you do the final layout, and the success of your finished garment depends on how you prepared your fabric. 

In order to understand why you should straighten the grain of the fabric, I think you should know a little about how fabrics are made or constructed.

One of the oldest methods of making fabrics is by interlacing two sets of threads together in a process known as weaving. One set of threads is stretched on a frame (loom) and is called the warp or lengthwise threads. 

The other set is inserted so that they go over and under the warp threads to form a fabric. Since these threads travel back and forth from one side to the other, they are called crosswise or filling threads. 

As the filling threads go back and forth, they go around the warp threads on the edges and form a self-edge, or what is called the selvage.  This selvage edge is woven and smooth and it does not stretch or ravel.

During the manufacturing process, the fabric may have been pulled off-grain, so that grain lines are no longer perfect right angles.  A garment made with an off-grain fabric will not hang correctly, so re-alignment must be done before cutting. 

In clothing design and construction, the threads are referred to as grain.  Grains indicate the direction of the thread.  The warp threads are known as the lengthwise grain and usually run lengthwise on the body, from shoulder to hemline.  The lengthwise grain has very little give or stretch. 

The filling threads are called crosswise or around the body. The crosswise grain has more flexibility, drapes differently and gives a fuller look to the garment.  As a rule, the crosswise grain is only used vertically to achieve a certain design effect, as in border print placement. 

Every woven fabric such as cotton, silk, linen, or wool, consists of crosswise threads worked under and over the more sturdy lengthwise threads.

Then, there is another direction of fabric often referred to as the bias.  Bias is the exact diagonal of a square of fabric.  Now, the bias stretches the most, and a garment that is cut out on a bias usually drapes softly.  It also tends to be unstable at the hemline. 

Designers make use of the way the lengthwise, crosswise, or bias grain stretches or holds its shape and the way it hangs on the body.  If the garment is designed to have the grain go in a certain direction, then it will not hang the same or look the same if the grain direction is changed when you cut out the fabric. For this reason, all garment pattern pieces are marked with arrows indicating the direction of the grain. 

The placement of the grain on your body is very important in fitting clothes.  If you see a bulge or wrinkle when you wear your garment, it usually means the grain needs to be raised or lowered at that point.  

The curves in your body will cause the fabric to stretch tightly or hang loosely in the wrong places, and means that the grain has been pushed or pulled out of line.  

When side seams do not hang properly over your hips, abdomen, or buttocks and you are constantly pulling or tugging at the side of your garment, it could mean that the grain is not in the correct position.  

So, the four most important things you want to remember are:  

• The grain, or threads, of a fabric greatly influence the way your garment hangs or drapes.
• The lengthwise grain threads are firm and do not stretch.
• The crosswise threads may stretch slightly. 
• The bias of a fabric stretches easily. 

How to Straighten the Grain of Your Fabric

Straighten the Fabric Grain 3

You can choose from several methods of straightening the grain of your fabric, depending on how much your fabric is off-grain.  

Your fabric is on-grain when the crosswise and lengthwise threads are at perfect right angles to each other.  If your fabric does not match the ends and selvages according to your pattern Cutting Guide when you begin to fold the fabric, it may be off-grain. 

You will want to check the grain after the ends have been evened by aligning a large corner of the fabric with the corner of your cutting board or table.  If the corners do not match, straightening the grain of your fabric is not only in order, but is an absolute must. 

The first step you want to take with your fabric so that it can be folded evenly is to check for grain alignment, or what we call straightening the end.  Depending on the type of fabric you have, you can choose from three different methods: 

• Tearing is the fastest, but appropriate only for firmly woven fabrics like muslin or cotton, but can still cause the fabric to stretch.  If you use the same method on other fabric types, you may cause it to snag or stretch more than you want and create more problems. 
• Drawing a thread method is slower, but the most suitable for loosely woven, soft, or stretchy fabrics.  
• Cutting on a prominent line that you can easily follow is a quick, simple method for any fabric that has a strong woven linear design like linen. 

With either method, you can test the accuracy by pulling a thread from one selvage edge to the other selvage edge. If the thread ends or breaks off anywhere other than the opposite edge of your fabric, you should locate the point where the where the threads are lowest and start the process again from the lowest point.

If you notice that after straightening the edge or aligning the grain, your fabric does not match the ends and selvages according to your pattern Cutting Guide when you begin to fold the fabric, it may only be slightly off-grain.    

If the fabric is only slightly off-grain, the solution is to steam press the fabric to gently urge the threads into proper alignment before you go any further.  Fold your fabric, right sides together, in half lengthwise and pin about every five inches along the selvages and ends.  

You may also need to pin your fabric to the ironing board just to keep it square as you press.  Make firm strokes with a good steam iron from the selvages toward the fold.

Keep in mind that not every off-grain fabric can be corrected; especially if the fabric has been treated in some way with a water repellent or permanent press finish, or a bonded backing.  You will have to decide how the off-grain fabric will effect the finished look and fit of the garment you are spending your time and labor to sew.

Find out how your finished garment will look when you straighten the grain of your fabric, and get other helpful tips to sewing your own professional-looking garment.

Straightening the grain of your fabric should be done first!

• Steam iron that has the ability to produce high-pressure blasts of hot, dry steam, to press and shape fabric, and set stitches at all stages of construction.
• Ironing board, well padded and smoothly covered in 100% cotton cover, absorbs moisture from the steam iron.
• Tailor’s ham is a tightly stuffed wool pillow shaped like a ham for pressing shaped areas and curved seams.  It’s used in pressing and shaping parts of a garment that need to have shape or curves built into them, which are mostly the bust and hip areas.
• Seam roll, or sleeve roll, is a tightly stuffed wool pillow shaped like a roll for pressing seam allowances open and pressing seams in narrow areas. It allows you to lightly press the stitching line of the seam without applying pressure along the edges of the seam allowance.
• Clapper is a wooden pounding block that forces steam into the garment by beating steam into the fabric to flatten seams, sharp creases and facing edges without an over-pressed look. Or, when bulky or synthetic fabrics require extra steam and pressure.
• Wooden point press is a board with a sharply pointed end, used for pressing corners and very sharp points on lapels, collars and waistbands, and pressing straight seams open.
• Press cloths, a thin piece see-through material for protecting the right side of the fabric during pressing.

Pressing is different from ironing.  When most of us iron, we use a back and forth motion, moving the iron over the fabric.  In pressing, the iron is lowered to the place to be pressed, then raised off the fabric, and moved to the next area.

 

Home Sewing 1

 

Ironing board covers should be 100% cotton because the all cotton fabric absorbs the moisture so that the fashion fabric will dry quickly.  The traditional ironing covers with the reflective surface, actually reflects the steam, and may cause burn damage to some fabrics and slows down the drying process when you’re shaping with steam.

First, be sure you know the fabric content to determine the proper heat setting for the iron, then follow the techniques below as you sew your garment pieces together.

Press curved areas such as darts, hiplines, bustlines and collars over the tailor’s ham from the wrong side with the point of the dart smoothed flat over the end of the ham to shape their curve.  Horizontal darts should be pressed down, and vertical darts should be pressed toward the center of the garment.

Curved seams sometimes need to be clipped slightly along the edges so they can be pressed open without puckering.  Do not clip any closer to the seam than absolutely necessary to press the seam flat.  Be careful not to cut pass the stitched seam.

Darts in heavy or bulky fabric will be less bulky if you slash, and then press open. Be careful not to slash so close to the point that the fabric will pull apart.

Press seams open over sleeve or seam roll from the wrong side with the tip of the iron along the stitching line to prevent the seam edges from marking or showing through on the right side.

Follow the grain line in the fabric when pressing by moving the iron in the same direction as the lengthwise yarns of the fabric.  Pressing across the grain or on the bias can stretch the garment piece out of shape.

Following the above guidelines will help you achieve professional-looking results in your sewing.  So, instead of a homemade looking garment, proper pressing will give you professional results and a garment you’ll be proud to say, “I sewed it myself.”

Thelma Horton has a degree in Home Economics, and has taught hundreds of high school students and adults how to sew for the very first time. She has also sewn prom & wedding dresses, tailored suits and coats and altered ready-to-wear for her clients.  To help others learn how to sew, she offers free tips and techniques on her learn how to sew website and authors two e-books, ”Sew-It Like a Pro” and “Hem-It Yourself, Hem Finishes.”

 

For a limited time you can download

“Sew-It Like a Pro”

And 2 FREE Bonus Books

for the incredibly low price of $27 and have it downloaded to your computer in seconds!

But my favorite summer pastime was sewing because I first learned to sew the summer I was 10 and can remember the navy linen drawstring dress that was one of the first things I made.  It was also a wonderful way to beat the noonday heat and humidity in air conditioned comfort.

Now that school is out for the summer, this is a great time to teach sewing to kids and teens.  Most parents are looking for productive, inexpensive and safe activities for their children.  What better way for your kids and teens to spend some of their summertime than sewing their own summer clothes and preparing their wardrobe for fall?

Project Runway has directly influenced the home sewing industry-increasing the sales of patterns, fabrics and sewing machines substantially. Sewing can make you rich and famous, if you’re talented enough — just look at designers Vera Wang, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors.

Sewing is an important skill for both boys and girls to learn and sewing classes will teach them basic sewing techniques they will use throughout their life and inspire their creativity to try move challenging sewing projects.Over the next few weeks your child has a wonderful opportunity to expand their knowledge to learn new skills as they make projects beneficial to them, their family and home.

There are lots of resources for helping your kids learn to sew, there are even classes you can take together so you can learn side by side. Fortunately fabric stores, sewing schools, sewing machine companies, and national organizations such as 4-H are stepping up to the plate and filling an important ‘niche’ by providing a skill that has been vanishing from many schools.

More and more fabric retailers (big name chains and independent stores alike) are offering year-round classes and summer sewing camps for kids. Sewing machine companies have a vested interest in teaching children to sew, after all, today’s kids are tomorrow’s customers.  Sewing clubs on high school and college campuses are flourishing, and there are even summer sewing camps and after-school classes for kids as young as 5.

The Home Sewing Association, is a nonprofit organization that also provides a link on their website to find a sewing educator in your local area.

Classes are hands-on, project-oriented in a creative, laid back and supportive atmosphere where students are strongly encouraged to work at their own pace. Other sources are virtual sewing circles on the Internet, online video classes, sewing-oriented message boards, blogs, and chat rooms in which strangers exchange tips on the best hem styles and where to find inexpensive fabric.

Sewing also teaches students about different kinds of fabrics, seams, and reactions to fabrics. Cool and comfortable, natural fibers are perfect for summer sewing projects.  Airy and breezy cottons, linen types, hand-dyed batiks, Swiss batistes, brightly colored tropical prints with vibrant coordinating solids all bring to mind those visions of barefoot living and seaside cabana suppers. Cotton batiste is an elegant fabric that is in great demand for blouses and heirloom hand sewing projects, especially for smocking.  There are many types of cotton available in fabric stores and online.  Cotton voile is a sheer fabric with a crisp feel. Cooling white and blue fabric contrasts, and the bright reds, yellows, and oranges evoke the lazy, hazy days of summer.

Costs for classes and lessons are well within your budget.  They range from $20 – $40 an hour, or $150 – $175 for a workshop session. Some include a shopping spree to assist you in selecting the fabric, pattern, and supplies while others charge an additional fee to cover the cost of fabric and other items that will be used.  Ask for specifics and if there are any additional cost for materials with the class.

Instead of spending all of your vacation outside, include sewing as a summer pastime.  Kick off your summer sewing season as you learn new skills that will last a lifetime.  Sew for creative summer fun, learning how to sew your own clothes.You will learn a lot about sewing, fabric and will be positively charged about creating your own designs after class ends.

Thelma Horton has a degree in Home Economics, and has taught hundreds of high school students and adults how to sew for the very first time. She has also sewn prom & wedding dresses, tailored suits and coats and altered ready-to-wear for her clients.  To help others learn how to sew, she offers free tips and techniques on her website sew-it-yourself.com and authors two e-books, “Sew-It Like a Pro” and “Hem-It Yourself, Hem Finishes.”

For a limited time you can download

“Sew-It Like a Pro”

And 2 FREE Bonus Books

for the incredibly low price of $27 and have it downloaded to your computer in seconds!

From a business perspective, however, if you want to learn something new, the boss wants you to report on the profits.  In other words, if they pay $20.00 for you to take a class, how soon will it be before you make a profit, $25.00? When will you make money or save money as a result of spending the extra money?  What is the return on investment, ROI for short?

If you apply the same rules of business to your desire tolearn how to sew, when would you make a profit from this new skill? How many opportunities would you have to earn or save money? Can you expect a large return on your investment?

One of the first things you can do, when you learn how to sew is save on alteration and clothing repair costs.  But, there is a bigger picture here.  You can also open a business and earn money when you learn how to sew.  In other words, you can sell what you sew.  Take a look at the short list below for starters:

Learn How to Sew to:

• Start your own sewing and quilting business
• Sew fashionable clothes>Seamstress, Tailor, Dressmaker
• Sew wedding dresses or special events>Specialty shops
• Sewing business  Pick Up and Deliver
• Fashion Designer>Boutiques
• Costume Designer
• Monogram shirts, towels>Monogrammer
• Sew curtains, drapes, bedding, pillows>Home Decorator
• Sew baby clothes, blankets
• Sew dog or pet clothes
• Sew doll clothes, make stuffed animals
• Teach others to sew>Sewing books, classes, schools
• Alter ready-to-wear>Alterationist
• Mending and repair specialists
• Recycle old clothes, fabrics, socks
• Quilting
• Crafts, gifts

When developed, I can think of no other skill that opens the door to so many specialized and profitable career opportunities than the sewing industry.  And, you can do it all from your home: the home sewing business or an online sewing business

Millions of people are looking for a home-based low-cost, start-up business that will turn a profit.

Can you see from the list of opportunities above that you can recover your initial investment over and over again? In other words, you have made an investment that lasts for a lifetime.  The ultimate ROI…the maximum ROI!

Take a chance …Learn how to sew.  It can take you into areas that you’ve never even dreamed of…

My ebook, “Sew-It Like a Pro” reveals a step-by-step, how-to detail guide to help you learn how to sew.  Then, you too, can earn money sewing at home.

For a limited time you can download

“Sew-It Like a Pro”

And 2 FREE Bonus Books

for the incredibly low price of $27 and have it downloaded to your computer in seconds!

The buttons were apparently dyed to match the suit fabric, and if you looked at the jacket and vest from a distance, you could not tell the buttons were even there.  In your mind, you know the buttons are there to close the front of the jacket, but they blend in so well, they’re not noticeable.

Sometimes that works out great for a black or brown suit; this suit was cream, with more of a gold tone, and it needed a little something to make it stand out. You know what I mean, don’t you?  Something to make you notice it was there.

Learning how to sew on buttons is not just for replacing loose or lost buttons.  Learning how to sew on buttons is also vital to changing the overall appearance of an entire outfit. And, if you look at it from a business perspective, it can be very profitable when the skill is developed.

The cost to service the client can be a little pricey for some.  The total cost for supplies and service is $176.40 plus tax.  The break down is below:

The new buttons:
$15.50  14- 5/8” for the vest and pants, 1.10/ea.
+9.00     6 -7/8″ for the jacket, 1.50/ea.
+2.00    1 spool matching thread

Total        $26.40

Service cost:
$75.00 – 1 hour consultation shopping for buttons, expert advice
+ 75.00 - 1 hour remove old buttons and replace with new buttons

Total         $150.00

As you can see, learning how to sew on buttons alone, can be a very profitable business.

However, if the person invested in a class to learn how to sew on buttons, he would save $75.00, then, later use the skill to replace the buttons on another suit himself, he would save $150.00.

Which would you do: invest the time and money upfront to learn how to sew on a button or continue paying someone to replace them for you?

Thelma Horton has a degree in Home Economics, and has taught hundreds of high school students and adults how to sew for the very first time. She has also sewn prom & wedding dresses, tailored suits and coats and altered ready-to-wear for her clients.  To help others learn how to sew, she offers valuable sewing tips and techniques on her learn how to sew website and authors two e-books, “Sew-It Like a Pro” and “Hem-It Yourself, Hem Finishes.”

For a limited time you can download

“Sew-It Like a Pro”

And 2 FREE Bonus Books

for the incredibly low price of $27 and have it downloaded to your computer in seconds!

If you see a dress with a designer label such as,  Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger, Gwen Stephani, Michael Kors, you associate these names with high quality, professional garments. Right?

The same applies to you.  A custom sew in label gives your garment a polished and professional look.  Isn’t that what you want?  You want people to notice your work. Right?

You can also do what the designers do.  When your one-of-a-kind product is complete, put your own brand name on them before selling it.  Oops, I mean, wearing it.

If you are going to put time into sewing your own clothes, then you must have your own custom sew in labels to identify your awesome work.  In the clothing world, custom sewing labels are everything. These labels help in putting some premium on the clothes in order to bring about some sort of branding and equity.

Your custom sew in labels can be applied or attached in several ways.  The easiest method is to use your newly acquired sewing skills and stitch them on by hand or by sewing machine.  Be careful, do not let your sewing marks show on the outside.  Or, you could also glue custom sewing labels to the fabric with the help of a special adhesive that does not wear off from washing or ironing. Lastly, you could have custom sewin labels made of plastic that require heat to adhere to your clothes.  Whichever method you choose to use, the process only takes a few minutes to attach, so there is no reason not to have a custom sew in label in your clothes.

Now, this is where you get to put your own brand on your work. Make it stand out; from the inside out.  Anyone can have custom sew in labels to enhance the look of your product.

Look for a good source or manufacturer, reliable and cost effective.  Check out online stores that provide customized services for designing, manufacturing and printing clothing labels. Printed custom sew in labels offer you the personal look your garment needs, and are made to suit varying tastes and concepts in logo design and artwork.  Most companies will allow you to create your own custom labels that include your name, address and logo.

Order custom sew in  labels for your creations, so that people will notice as you walk around with pride knowing that they know you sewed-it yourself.

In additon to ordering labels, get step-by-step instructions to sew your own clothes with a copy of my ebook, “Sew-It Like a Pro.”

For a limited time you can download

“Sew-It Like a Pro”

And 2 FREE Bonus Books

for the incredibly low price of $27 and have it downloaded to your computer in seconds!

There are many brands of sewing machines out there and everyone boasts different features. Some sewing machines appeal to quilters, others want you to embroider everything including the toilet seat and the shower curtain. Searching for the right sewing machine is going to take some time.

Shopping for a new sewing machine can make your head spin. The girls on my boards discuss which sewing machine is best every time someone needs a new one. We all know the name brands but I am not going to suggest one, that decision is yours. It’s a personal one and an important one. I will, however give you a few basic questions you should ask yourself.

1. What type of sewing do you plan to do?
- clothing
- crafts
- repairs and alterations
- home decorating

2. Where will you sew?
- sewing room
- kitchen table
- integrated into other family living area

3. How will your sewing machine be stored?
- in its own cabinet
- in a closet hiding behind the coats
- leave it out to sew every spare moment

4. Consider your budget and buying habits? How long will you keep this sewing machine?
- 6 months
- a few years
- forever and a day

When you answer these questions, you are on your way to making the right decision. Obviously if you are going to sew from the kitchen table, you don’t want a sewing machine with lots of accessories or add-ons that will take up too much room. If you are doing repairs and alterations, you don’t want a sewing machine that duplicates the quilting stitch. If you have small children around, your sewing machine needs to be tucked away safely. Just a few things to think about.

Research is the name of the game here. Check out the latest consumer reports. Visit the forum discussions on sew-whats-new.com and see what the girls are using. They will gladly tell you what works and what doesn’t. Another source is the well known sewing magazines. Sew News and Threads do comparison studies all the time.

If you are lucky enough to have local dealers, pay them all a visit. Test drive all their machines and ask lots and lots of questions. Take fabric with you that you use and test out things like stitch length, reverse and some of the different presser feet. Find out about lessons. Lots of dealers will give you a few free lessons to get you acquainted with your sewing machine. Above all, take your time. I cannot stress this enough. Don’t let anyone rush you thru the process. Leave the kids at home so you have no distractions. While you are in the shop asking questions, you can see how the staff relate to customers and if they have the answers to all your questions. If they seem impatient or brusque, imagine how they might be after the sale. If they are not helpful now at the prospect of a sale, they probably won’t be later if you need help.

On the other hand, a strong sales pitch can also steer you in the wrong direction. Paying for a top of the line model doesn’t mean you are getting the sewing machineyou will be happiest with. You must resist the urge for that impulse buy. Go home and talk to someone who sews. Find out their experiences and listen to what they have to say. Again, take your time with this decision.

If you have visited all the dealers, and test driven their sewing machines visit them all again. Visit again when you are rested and can make a clear decision. Go back and take a second look at those sewing machines. You are looking at them with new eyes now. Maybe there are a few things you never noticed the first time that stand out now. What about that foot pedal, is it comfortable? Do you want the even feed feature? Does the sewing machine run smoothly and quietly? Are there more programmes than you will ever use? If so, make a mental note and you can scale down your possible choices. This second visit will tell you more than you expect.

Ask about the warranty that comes with each sewing machine. Be sure you know who is responsible for standing behind it, your dealer or the manufacturer. Are repairs made locally or will you have to pack everything up and send it away.

Be very sure you understand what is included with the sewing machine. Which feet, how many bobbins and what about a manual. The manual is very important. You will refer to the manual time after time so it should be a good reference guide to all the accessories and stitch designs along with any other functions. The manual should be full of pictures and diagrams for the basic sewing as well as clear directions. If your manual isn’t helpful, do you want to go searching out the answers every time you have a problem. I wish I had a penny for every time someone has emailed me with a problem that their manual doesn’t answer.

Be sure you get your sales agreement in writing and keep your copy in a safe place. Nothing less will do.

The bottom line is you must do some work before you ever sew your first stitch. If you make the effort and educate yourself, the rewards of a great sewing machineare yours.

Mary Wilkins has three grown children and six perfect grandchildren. Completely self taught, she has been sewing, and crafting for over 30 years. Her website http://www.sew-whats-new.com has been recognized in many sewing magazines and newsletters alike.

by Alison Cole

As there is a myriad of sewing machines in the market,it is always better to compare sewing machines before purchasing one.  Comparison of sewing machines will enable the customers in finding the sewing machine that fit their needs, besides; it will help consumers in saving considerable amount of money.

To make sure that you are getting the best possible deal, it is advisable to compare sewing machines based on their price and performance. Normally, the price range of sewing machine falls between $20 and $1000. Referring reviews posted by other consumers and comparing the prices of sewing machines will help the consumers in making a right decision while purchasing sewing machines.

Today, there are several websites that offer simple guidelines to consumers in purchasing a quality sewing machine. Epinions.com, smarter.com, sortprice.com, bizrate.com, mysimon.com, and shopping.yahoo.com are some of the websites that allow visitors to compare prices of sewing machines.

For comparison of products, websites provide you with a list of sewing machines of different make and model. From the list provided, select a particular sewing machine you wish to compare. The website will provide you with a chart comparing the selected machine with the others available in the market.

Websites compare sewing machines available in the market based on factors such as type, price, performance, threading, and brand of sewing machine. The result of comparison is posted on the websites to provide the public an overview of sewing machines. Apart from listing prices and features of sewing machines, they provide product rating and review forms for customers.

Certain websites provide comparison chart that shows feature by feature comparison of sewing machines. Consumersearch.com is one such website that carries out feature by feature comparison of sewing machines. Besides websites, there are magazines that perform comparison study of various sewing machines.

Sewing Machines provides detailed information on Sewing Machines, Industrial Sewing Machines, Embroidery Sewing Machines, Antique Sewing Machines and more.  Sewing Machines is affiliated with Portable Steam Cleaners.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole

Sewing Machine Manufacturers

Baby Lock

Bernina USA

Elna USA

Husqvarna Viking

Janome

Kenmore

Necchi

Pfaff

Singer

White

Anyone who owns a sewing machine knows that buying a cabinet for it can save space in your home. Though some cabinets cost more than others, the space saved and the usefulness of the cabinet outweighs the cost of any cabinet. The following steps will help with your sewing machine selection.

Difficulty: Easy

Steps

Step One: Know your budget. Sewing machine cabinets can get pretty expensive when you get into the more detailed ones so know what you’re willing to spend for what you need.

Step Two: Check online and in consumer magazines for reviews of various cabinets. Narrow down your choices.

Step Three: Examine the space available. Know how much space you have set aside for one in your home. Take measurements so you don’t buy something too large.

Step Four: Make an options list. This list includes everything you’d like your sewing cabinet to have. The following is a list of possible options available: ironing space, locking wheels, large work space, piano hinges for extra strength, holders for patterns, organizers for thread spool holders, storage bins, drop-leaf cutting surface, rolling cart for serger or second machine, shelves, locking doors and color.

Step Five: Decide which options best suit you. Some options may be frivolous, so try to think conventional.

Step Six: Purchase your cabinet. Save your receipt and all packing materials in case you need to return the item.

Overall Tips & Warnings

Some sewing cabinets are much larger than others so be sure to measure the space you’ve set aside within your home.

Another thing to consider is whether or not you plan on moving your sewing cabinet often. If you need to move the cabinet often be sure to consider the weight of the cabinets so you have enough wheel support and will be able to move it easily.

Knowing your budget is very important because you could easily go over without realizing it.


Find this article at: http://www.ehow.com/how_2002880_select-sewing-cabinet.html

Why, you ask?  One, because sewing allows you to relax from the everyday pressures of life; and second, because it enhances your self esteem when you demonstrate your creativity.

The Home Sewing Association says that studies have shown that engaging in an activity like sewing reduces your overall heart and blood rates and promotes relaxation.  Their belief is that sewing involves the muscles and the mind, promoting healthier body synergy, and that because sewing has been so successful at promoting relaxation among women who sew that it may be better than therapy.

The study further suggests that when you are engaged in a repetitive task and creating something, like you are with sewing, it has a relaxing effect.

Another study was done to determine if sewing could help you face and overcome a life-altering and sometimes fatal disease like breast cancer. One person stated that sewing was not a priority initially, but later found that sewing was her escape from the drama of cancer as it affected her life.   According to the study, sewing can decrease your heart rate and aid in relaxation.

A doctor (Ph.D) at New York Medical Center stated that if our bodies were not allowed to rest from everyday pressures, then we are placing ourselves at risk for heart disease or other illnesses.   He believes that creative activities and hobbies, like sewing, can help people focus on something productive and get away from their worries for a while.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, unfortunately estimates 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer among women, and 2,030 cases among men in the United States during 2007.

Recently, an article in Entrepreneur Magazine states that sewing related businesses are on the rise nationwide. They have identified businesses in Lafayette and San Francisco, California; Austin, Texas; and New York City that offer a variety of sewing related products and services that are pushing some first year sales projections beyond expectations.

With sickness and disease on the rise, and studies indicating that sewing is an activity that reduces your overall heart and blood rates and promotes relaxation, wouldn’t it be great if we really promoted sewing to create a healthier body synergy to reduce medical problems?

And, it looks like starting a sewing-related business is a profitable source of income, while helping others reduce stress, heart disease or other illnesses.

If sewing offers so many benefits, it’s a good thing that sewing is surfacing again. For some of us, it never diminished.  And, if you want to learn how to sew to help reduce your stress, express your creativity or start a sewing business, purchase a copy of my popular sewing ebook immediately, “Sew-It Like a Pro.”

They are calling it a sewing trend.  For most of us sewing is more than a movement, it’s a custom…tailor-made… tradition.

For a limited time you can download

“Sew-It Like a Pro”

And 2 FREE Bonus Books

for the incredibly low price of $27 and have it downloaded to your computer in seconds!