The Guys Guide To Sewing Machines

 by cammel8
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


 
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Step 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)

mooster says: Jan 13, 2013. 8:06 PM
Well, you had me going about the sewn fingers, but just in case anyone isn't paying attention, the Singer who is associated with early sewing machines was and American, Isaac Singer, and he wasn't born until 1811. He didn't invent the sewing machine, but made some improvements and was successful at mass producing and marketing. Btw, I belong to a quilting forum, where there are quite a few men among the almost 78,000 members.There's no guessing how many, but they appear frequently. The point needs to be made that many of these guys are artists who create beautiful as well as utilitarian items with sewing machines. It's time for all of us to quit using gender bias to limit human potential.
AnimattersInc says: Apr 14, 2012. 2:52 PM
I too man up at the sewing machine with pride (in fact I found this 'ible while researching what machine I need to buy - time to get a decent one).

The sew man of men in my opinion (a little preferentially biased but still): Look at this --> http://vimeo.com/13978777
thelame1 says: May 17, 2010. 12:21 AM
Knew of a male celebrity who knitted and he was approached by a big burly biker dude who asked if he was knitting.  When he timidly said yes the got looked at him and said yeah well I do needle point. Have a basic Brother model machine myself. I haven't used it yet. My daughter has and it worked fine. Still haven't been able to figure out how to load the bobbin in mine yet. Despite several read of the instructions. Guess I'll have to get my daughter to show me when I get the fabric I want for the costume I need. I'm sure it will be done with a lot of sighing about the old man not knowing anything. 
Phil B says: Mar 13, 2009. 7:51 PM
My wife has always done a lot of sewing for herself and for other people. Often someone brings her a machine the owner cannot make work properly. Cleaning and oiling are always good first steps. A wad of compacted lint under the bobbin plate can make a mess. But, most often the larger problem is an imbalance between the tension on the bobbin thread and the tension on the needle thread. Once the tension settings are correct, the machine usually works perfectly. Naturally, the machine's timing cannot be out of adjustment, either. (The timing puts the bobbin in the right part of its rotation when the needle goes down through the plate covering the bobbin.)
porcupinemamma in reply to Phil BOct 2, 2009. 10:52 PM
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh eeeeeeeeeeekk Don't touch the tension unless you are really mechanically gifted like ! Repeat after me. "Thy shall NOT touch the tension."
p0g068 says: Aug 20, 2009. 2:41 AM
thanks dude, nice Instructable!, I have a couple of sewing projects for my kids in school, just one more question what do you think about buying a used machine for a novice like me? are breakdowns easy to solve ? or do you think I am better off with a new one , how do you feel about brands!, thanks again. ... oh and about that man card. (for whoever is wandering, if you have something hanging in between your legs you are a man and thats that, if you doubt it you or your sister can come and do an oral check on mine any time)
porcupinemamma in reply to p0g068Oct 2, 2009. 10:49 PM
The high school I went to had sewing classes for both girls and boys (back in 1976) The machines were used all day and after school. All the machines were Husqavarna, and I don't ever recall a repair person hanging about. My last machine was a basic zig zag straight stich Singer (circa 1976) I loved it, but after about 20 years it had some "issues" so I now have some generic brand that is "So -So" (no pun intended.LOL) If I had the cost of a Husquevarna in my budget, I'd choose that. BTW, my husband knows how to knit and I think it's cool
jhines0042 says: Sep 14, 2009. 7:44 AM
I just acquired a new (to me) sewing machine. It is a Singer Sewing machine from 1902, model 31-15. It is cast iron, weighs 26 pounds and have a 3 HP motor (it is an industrial) and I believe it could sew through my hand if I weren't careful. Yes, I'm a guy and yes I sew. This "new" machine is for sewing leather goods.
BillyK12 says: May 19, 2009. 1:53 PM
I'm getting my mom to teach me how to sew today. I'm a guy just incase you didn't notice
figsruin says: Mar 27, 2009. 2:01 PM
I grew up a fat kid and couldn't find clothes that fit or i liked, so i started sewing. Once i grew up i found it was an invaluable tool. My favorite is after someone is done laughing and calling me a sissy for knowing how to sew they usually ask me if i can fix this or that. Who's laughing now.
Bongmaster says: Mar 15, 2009. 9:26 AM
i grabbed a handheld sewing machine thing from a 1£-shop in carlisle, they never had them again after that so i was lucky there.
it was kinda like this one http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Stitch-Portable-Sewing-Machine/dp/B000G1G7XM
simple but does the job :)
vatak says: Mar 14, 2009. 6:16 PM
That is awesome man. Hey, where did you get that desktop pic?
cammel8 (author) in reply to vatakMar 14, 2009. 8:53 PM
I got it in a desktop pic pack I got ....it had thousands of pics. actually that is only one of my desktops. I have a program that rolls my desktop so i have like twenty then every ten minutes it changes the desktop pic.
HeWantsRevenge says: Mar 14, 2009. 12:35 PM
awesome...hand sewing large projects suck
ve2vfd says: Mar 13, 2009. 6:43 PM
Shhh don't tell anyone but I also have my own sewing machine :) Reason is I sometimes need to fix clothes and I am just too darn lazy to use a needle and thread for anything more than sewing a button back on.
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