Dry Cleaning Clothes

Clothes that are dry cleaned last longer. 

Handing Sewing Motion

Early sewing machines tried to mimic the action of hand sewing, an approach which had limited effectiveness in terms of the results of machine sewing. The difficulties with the earliest sewing machines included size, weight and difficulty in setting up the machine for sewing projects. The first sewing machine that did not try to replicate hand sewing action came about in 1833 in America, designed by Quaker inventor Walter Hunt.
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What is Silamide?

A twisted pre-waxed nylon 2-ply thread that has a tooth to it that holds as you bead. It is strong, stretches less than Nymo and is good for all beading methods, including appliqué, lazy stitch, loom weaving, bead netting, peyote, brick stitch, right angle weave, spirals, and square stitch. If you have problems with the thread separating, when you try to put it through the needle use the other end. Silamide is MADE IN THE USA, quality and color permanence are assured. It can be used for needles size 10 through 15. A little effort is needed to thread a size 15 needle however.

Zipper Fixing

The first way a zipper dies is usually by not fully zipping the two halves together.
Then the zipper separates when the slider is in the up position.
Then you get the garment for free.


Wrestle the zipper apart by whatever means won't cause permanent damage.
Then take a pair of pliers and carefully pinch the base of the slider together as shown.
Just bend it a little.
The zipper will now work perfectly.

Sewing Machine History

Before the sewing machine became available to the general public, making clothes was the chief occupation of half the human race. Sewing by hand is time-consuming and a strain on the eyes, so it is no surprise that the publisher of 'Godey's Ladies Book' said in 1856 "Next to the plough, this sewing machine is perhaps humanity's most blessed instrument".

The first truly practical machine became available in 1850 - one did not have to be an expert machinist to operate it. Well constructed, durable machines were made by a number of companies in Ontario, and soon became a leading export from Canada. By the late 1870's, an economic depression and overproduction saw these companies disappear one by one. The heyday of Ontario-made machines only lasted 35 years.

In the nineteenth century, nearly 46,000 patents were issued for some kind of mechanism to do with sewing machines. In the twentieth century, more than 4,000 different kinds of sewing machines were made. In the twenty-first century we take sewing machines for granted, although we are still amazed by all the fascinating things they can do beyond simply sewing a seam

Cretonne Applique

This type of applique was very popular with Victorian women. Cretonne fabric made it very easy to make wonderful and unique applique linens quickly.

Styles of Embroidery: Berlin Embroidery

Berlin embroidery is a style of canvas work embroidery. In the 1830's, a new processes of dyeing wools made this type of embroidery possible. The resulting embroidery produced very durable and long lasting pieces. Berlin work was used to create cushions, bags and furniture covers.