Tuesday, February 26, 2008

My New Best Friend


I have had this little goodie in my stockpile ever since I purchased David Coffin's book Shirtmaking. I have tried a few times to figure out how to use it and been totally stymied. You all know I am making that BWOF shirt for the blouse-making class. Well, I decided that flat felled seams would look great on this shirt, so today, after much running around and emotion, I decided to do some seam practice. I tried my felling foot. No luck. I tried a few other methods I had read and they all looked less than perfect. I finally decided to pull Shirtmakingoff the shelf and do a little studying. After reading the section on felled seams a couple of times (I guess I'm a slow student) it finally clicked. I tried it out a few times and was pleased with the result EVERY TIME! I love my felling foot. I will be felling all over the place now! I'm so excited, I even made a little tutorial on how to make a flat-felled seam. I hope it inspires you!

9 comments:

Sigrid said...

Thank you so much for this tutorial Nancy. I don't have such a feller foot yet, but I'm sure buying one after seeing your results.
I do have the same shirt making book, but also find it difficult to understand sometimes.

Summerset said...

What a cool toy! Definitely worth the trouble to figure it out.

Elaray said...

Thanks, Nancy! All i need is the smallest reason to buy a new sewing gadget. You have just enabled me! Your tutorial was great. I have the Shirtmaking book, but like
Sigrid, I have a hard time understanding it. I understand Coffin did the drawings for the book. I wish he would have let someone else illustrate the book.

Anonymous said...

I too have this little foot and I have never learned to use it. Since I have several pieces of shirting now might be the time to learn to use it.
I find that the Coffin book is a little hard to understand, however I also have his video so maybe I'll take both out for a look.

AllisonC said...

Very helpful tutorial. I wonder if I can get one for my machine, I could really have done with this when sewing a shirt for the DH last year. Have fun felling everything you can!

Vicki said...

I have just bought the book and haven't read it yet. I don't suppose I have one of those feet in my collection? Thanks for the tutorial.

a little sewing said...

Thank you for making this tutorial- how thoughtful. Now I feel a little more courage to give it a try!

zees5 said...

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I just got one of these and was looking for a "how to". I want to see if you put the right sides together if you can use it for a one step French Seam - I really hope so! I love French Seams. Thanks!

Nancy Winningham said...

You may get the look of a french seam, but you will still have a raw edge, and the beauty of the French seam is that it encloses the raw edge. I'd like to get another one of these feet in the wider size now..