The Basics of Sewing Felt on a Sewing Machine
When it comes to making things out of fabric, felt is one of the most versatile and easy to work with. It can also look a lot better than other fabrics, especially when it’s done right. If you want to get the most out of your felt projects, it’s important to learn the basics of how to sew felt with a sewing machine.
A sewing machine is the simplest and quickest way to sew felt. Typically, the fabrics you would use on a sewing machine for felt items are called walking foot machines. These use a needle that has a special feed system that helps move the felt fabric in the same direction as the foot moves it. This helps to ensure that when you’re sewing, the stitch pattern follows the fabric in a straight line.
For basic projects, the best needle for felt projects is one with a sharp point size between 8 and 14. The threads you use with felt should be made to specifically work with felt fabrics. Usually, this means that you should use a polyester thread, as it helps to reduce friction and makes the resulting stitches more durable.
When it comes to presser feet, the most common type to use when sewing felt is a straight-stitch foot. This type of foot features a flat base plate which can help to evenly distribute the fabric as it’s being sewn. It’s likely that a straight-stitch foot will come with whatever walking-foot machine you buy, but if not, it’s worth investing in one.
Before you start to sew, it’s important to use the proper settings on your sewing machine. The best settings for sewing felt are a stitch length between 2 – 4 millimetres, a medium-heavy thread tension and a setting that produces a straight stitch.
It’s also essential to ‘tuck’ or ‘hem’ the perimeter of the felt before you start to sew it. This will help to prevent the fraying of the edges and give your garment or item a nice, finished look. To prevent the felt fabric from bunching up or becoming misshapen during the sewing process, you should always use a quilter’s basting spray. This will help to hold the fabrics in place while they are being sewn.
Pressing Felt with a Sewing Machine
In addition to machine-sewing felt, you can also press tack and knit or quilt the fabrics. To do this, you’ll need to invest in an extra attachment for your sewing machine called an essential board or a quilting board. This board provides a flat surface that you can use to press your fabric whilst it is being sewn.
If you are planning on quilting or 2 fabric pieces together, you may also want to invest in a special quilt foot. This type of foot works with a needle to make sure that the two pieces of fabric are kept in the same place while they are being sewn.
To make sure that the end results of your felt projects are perfect, it’s important to take regular measurements of the fabrics. There are special tools available to help you with this, such as rulers, seam guides and seam rippers. These tools will help you to make sure that all the seams are even and that the fabric pieces match up correctly.
Adjusting Sewing Machine Tensions
One important factor when it comes to sewing felt on a sewing machine is the stitch tension. You need to make sure that the tension is adjusted correctly for the type of fabric you are working with. If the tension is too loose, the stitches may not be secure enough and may become loosened or unraveled. On the other hand, if the tension is too tight, the stitches might be too tight and there could be puckering or wrinkling on the fabrics.
To adjust the tensions on your sewing machine, you should consult the machine’s manual. This will usually provide instructions on how to adjust the tension, as well as advice on the best tension settings for particular fabrics. It might take a bit of trial and error to get the right tension settings for your machine; however, once you find the right settings, it’s easier to repeat them in the future.
Sewing Tips
Sewing felt with a sewing machine isn’t that difficult, but it does take practice to get it right. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started:
- Always use a walking foot machine to sew felt
- Chose a needle size between 8 and 14
- Use a straight-stitch foot
- Set the stitch length to between 2 and 4 millimetres
- Use a medium-heavy thread tension
- Tuck or hem the perimeter of the felt before you start to sew
- Use a quilters basting spray to prevent bunching up of the fabric
- Check the tension settings before you start to avoid puckering or wrinkling
- Take regular measurements to ensure accuracy
Advanced Sewing Techniques
Once you have mastered the basics of sewing felt, there are a number of advanced techniques you can explore. It’s always worth experimenting with different stitches, thread widths and needles to get the look and feel you are after.
Some advanced techniques include blanket stitching, buttonhole stitching, inserting zippers, sewing on patches and making appliqués. These techniques can add a unique touch to your creations and help them stand out from the crowd.
Another way to give your pieces a bit of individuality is to use different fabrics and textures. Try combining different fabrics to create a unique design. For example, you could combine felt with chiffon or velvet to give your item a luxurious look.
Yarns and Embellishments
In addition to using fabric to embellish your creations, there are a variety of other yarns and threads that can be used. You can buy specialty threads that sparkle and shine, or you can use special embroidery designs to make your felt items stand out.
You can also use beads and sequins to add colour and texture to your felt pieces. These embellishments are relatively easy to sew on and they can give a unique and eye-catching look to any item.
Finally, if you want to add dimension to your pieces, you can use a cording foot. This tool will help you to sew on cording, tassels and even fringes. This can give your creations an interesting texture and can add a special, one-of-a-kind touch to them.
Safety and Cleaning
When sewing felt on a sewing machine, it’s important to ensure that you’re following safety guidelines. Remember to always unplug the machine when cleaning it and ensure that the power switch is turned off when you are not using it.
It’s also important to regularly clean and oil the sewing machine to ensure its longevity. This should be done after each use, as the lint and dust that accumulates can cause tension problems and affect the machine’s performance. It’s important to read the manual that comes with your machine and to make sure that you are following its instructions when cleaning.
Supplies
To get the best results when sewing felt on a sewing machine, you will need to make sure that you have the right supplies. This includes the right type of fabric, a quality sewing machine, the right thread, sharp needles and a variety of sewing tools. If you have all of these supplies, you should be able to make a range of beautiful felt projects with ease.
