White 1550 - Basic Sewing Techniques; Basting and Staystitching; Direction Changes and Seam Fastening

Basting
Machine basting
is very
useful for
join
ing seams
for trial
fittings,
marking
construction
guidelines, and
basting
pleats
and hems.
Use
longest
stitch
possible,
setting
stitch
length at 4.
Loosen
tension
on
upper
thread.
Choose
thread
color
to
contrast
with your
fabric so it
can
be
easily seen.
Basting
stitches
can be
removed easily
by
clipping
upper thread,
then
pulling
out
lower
thread.
Staystitching
Staystitching
prevents
stretching
and
acts
as a
guideline for
clipping and
joining
curved edges.
Staystitch
any
edge
that
might
stretch
during
handl
ing
before
the final
stitching.
Staystitch
on
a
single
layer of
fabric;
always
stitching in the
direction
of
the
grain.
Place stitching 1/8”
away
from
seamline
in the seam
allowance.
Use
12
stitches per
inch for
most
fabrics.
Changing
Sewing
Directions
1. Stop
the machine,
and
turn
the
hand
wheel
toward you to
bring
the
needle down into
the
fabric.
Raise
the presser foot.
2.
Pivot the
fabric around
the needle to
change
direction as
desired.
3.
Lower the presser foot
and
continue
the
sewing.
Fastening
Seams
1.
For
fastening the ends
of seams,
press down
the reversing
button and
sew
several reverse
stitches.
2. To
remove the fabric, raise
the presser
foot
and draw the
fabric away from
you.
23
3.
Sever
threads
on thread cutter at the
rear of presser
bar or with
a
pair of
scissors.
Leave
about 15 cm
(6
inches)
o4
thread hanging from the
needle eye.
-