Yes Im A Guy and yes I know how to sew. My Mom taught me when I was a kid. Most guys think that a sewing machine is made for a woman but in actuality it is just a tool just like anything else.
You are not less manly because you know how to sew. My uncle went to Vietnam and, in his words "killed many a gook" and he knows how to sew...as a matter of fact, the army taught him as part of his basic training so he could sew socks or anything else in the field... or Im guessing maybe an arm back on or what ever.
Did you know that the first sewing machine was designed because in the 16th century a king tired of his minions complaining about having to sew peoples fingers together (as punishment for stealing) by hand, commissioned a group of people to design a machine to do the task automatically so that he could streamline the process and get less complaints as well. One of those people were Edward Singer and he went on to design what we now know as the first Singer Sewing Machine. So in actuality you are using a mid evil torture device to sew stuff. Doesn't that make you feel more manly?
Is it true? Of course not but if people tell you you are a sissy cause you know how to sew they are too stupid to know it isn't true!!! So tell them that story and they will not only be impressed by the machine but in the fact that you are so well learned about torture devices that they wont want to mess with you anyway.
Not to mention it if they think about it most tailors are men, and most of your top designers are men... Ralph Loren, Tommy Hilfinger, David T. Abercrombie, Ezra Fitch, Levi Strauss. Most of the clothes men wear were designed by men.
How the hell they think those guys do it? By hand? I dont think so!!!
So here we go... the Big bad scary sewing machine in all its glory... ok maybe not but by the time your done it will at least be another tool in an arsenal of tools to help you on this great site we call instructables.com
You are not less manly because you know how to sew. My uncle went to Vietnam and, in his words "killed many a gook" and he knows how to sew...as a matter of fact, the army taught him as part of his basic training so he could sew socks or anything else in the field... or Im guessing maybe an arm back on or what ever.
Did you know that the first sewing machine was designed because in the 16th century a king tired of his minions complaining about having to sew peoples fingers together (as punishment for stealing) by hand, commissioned a group of people to design a machine to do the task automatically so that he could streamline the process and get less complaints as well. One of those people were Edward Singer and he went on to design what we now know as the first Singer Sewing Machine. So in actuality you are using a mid evil torture device to sew stuff. Doesn't that make you feel more manly?
Is it true? Of course not but if people tell you you are a sissy cause you know how to sew they are too stupid to know it isn't true!!! So tell them that story and they will not only be impressed by the machine but in the fact that you are so well learned about torture devices that they wont want to mess with you anyway.
Not to mention it if they think about it most tailors are men, and most of your top designers are men... Ralph Loren, Tommy Hilfinger, David T. Abercrombie, Ezra Fitch, Levi Strauss. Most of the clothes men wear were designed by men.
How the hell they think those guys do it? By hand? I dont think so!!!
So here we go... the Big bad scary sewing machine in all its glory... ok maybe not but by the time your done it will at least be another tool in an arsenal of tools to help you on this great site we call instructables.com
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Signing UpStep 1: Finding the Bobbin
Ok, so the hardest part of using a sewing machine is the threading of it. once it is threaded the machine pretty much runs itself.
In a sewing machine you have two pieces of thread knotting themselves on every stitch you make in some way or another. One is located under the fabric and one is located above it.
As the machine runs a piece inside the machine loops the two threads together and then pulls them tight. It continues doing this at a speed you cant even see. when you think about it it is really an interesting and amazing machine.
Anyway the first thing we will need to do is locate the bobbin. Most of the time the bobbin is still in the machine from last time but if not your looking for a piece that looks like a wire spool in miniature form. (Picture 1)
Ok, first thing is first, set up the machine so that the needle is on your left and all of the controls are on your right.
So now where is the bobbin? It Should be located under a plate by where the needle is. (My picture needs to be spun so the actual pictures bottom is on the left, sorry.)(Picture 2)
In a sewing machine you have two pieces of thread knotting themselves on every stitch you make in some way or another. One is located under the fabric and one is located above it.
As the machine runs a piece inside the machine loops the two threads together and then pulls them tight. It continues doing this at a speed you cant even see. when you think about it it is really an interesting and amazing machine.
Anyway the first thing we will need to do is locate the bobbin. Most of the time the bobbin is still in the machine from last time but if not your looking for a piece that looks like a wire spool in miniature form. (Picture 1)
Ok, first thing is first, set up the machine so that the needle is on your left and all of the controls are on your right.
So now where is the bobbin? It Should be located under a plate by where the needle is. (My picture needs to be spun so the actual pictures bottom is on the left, sorry.)(Picture 2)
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The sew man of men in my opinion (a little preferentially biased but still): Look at this --> http://vimeo.com/13978777
it was kinda like this one http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Stitch-Portable-Sewing-Machine/dp/B000G1G7XM
simple but does the job :)