Patterns, Techniques, Articles, Blogs, and other resources to learn how to sew
Rian from Presser Foot shares her needle chart that shows which type of sewing machine and hand sewing needle to use with different types and weights of fabric. She keeps a copy next to her sewing machine so it’s right where she needs it. Get the needle chart.
[tags]sewing, machine, hand, needle, chart[/tags]
I am just smitten with this felt gingerbread house bag. This would make such a sweet special Christmas accessory for a kid. It’s a free pattern at Benzie Design, designed by Gracie from Hello Gracie Makes. It’s packed with adorable gingerbread house details, like swirls and stripes and scallops adoring the doors and windows.
And while all those details might seem like this would be a complicated pattern, it’s actually not. The bag itself is made from felt, which makes finishes edges unnecessary. (All of those scalloped edges are just cut from felt, no edge finishing required.) The strap is super simple, made from rope with knotted ends. And all those details are made with some basic hand embroidery stitches. Sparkle felt makes it extra cute.
The striped scallop roof is actually the top flap of the bag. A magnetic snap makes it a secure closure. The rope straps are attached through felt loops at the side of the bag.
They rate this project as an intermediate level, and it should take about 6 hours to make start to finish. That’s doable for a Saturday project or a couple of evenings. Full color photos step you through the entire process.
The project includes a shopping list for all of your supplies. They’ve got a shop so you can order all of them from Benzie if you like and get exactly the supplies used in the project. I noticed it includes a pair of scallop shears, which makes cutting all the scalloped edges for the roof and around the door a breeze.
Finished dimensions of the little felt gingerbread bag are approximately 6 ½” wide x 7 ½” tall. That’s the perfect size to hold a small book, a small toy, or a notepad and some cute pens.
Go to Benzie Design to get the tutorial and free pattern for the felt gingerbread house bag.
I have 2 different sergers recently purchased. They are used and only have 1 needle in each serger. My Singer serger (14u13) manual says to use Singer cat. no. 2053 #10,#11, #12, #14. The other serger is a SergeMate 5040L. Can I use the same needles in this machine as the Singer Serger? Thank you so much for you help. Confused, Terri
Terri, I’m not sure. I’d call your local Singer dealer and ask them. –Anne
Yes, I have the Companion Sergemate 5040. It can use the same needles that you use in your sewing machine. It can use Singer needles, universal needles. It was made by Tacony at the same time that they were making Babylock. Just remember to thread it right to left and to replace the sewing needle or needles. This serger has a very long life if treated right.
i have tacony made bl 5030 sergemate and looking for owner instruction manuals this unit purchased 3-3-90 to my mother who never get around to using it ,still in box but no manuals, please helpme find this information so I can use it to make throws, blankets and to cut down some of our clothes thanks for any help on this ,
I have companion 5040L serger machine the needel I used is either universal or overlock needles, it used to work properly ,now it started to berek the needel frequently the left needle. How can I fix the problem?