Sewing Today's Fabrics with Today's Thread

Today's blog post is brought to you from the 1960s in the form of a great little sewing booklet titled Sewing Today's Fabrics with Today's Thread.

This and a few other similar booklets were recently gifted to my by a dear friend and their contents were just so useful, I had to share.

This booklet begins with an introduction full of timeless advice for just starting a project...

Today's fabrics

"New fabrics pop into the market every season, bringing new possibilities for the home sewer. Now, for the first time, many fabrics used in ready-to-wear are available to you. The most popular of these, sweater knits, double knits, dress-weight tricots and permanent press are discussed in this booklet.

Check manufacturers' hang tags and labels since it is impossible to tell by look and feel what fibers a fabric contains. The law requires that fabrics be labeled as to fiber content; information on shrinkage, finishes and care may also be given. If there is no information on the bolt, ask a salesperson.

Choose your pattern first; check the back of the envelope for fabric suggestions and yardage. Notice that some of the newer patterns are marked "for stretchy knits only" or "for sweater knits only." These often have no darts and no ease and should be used only with sweater knits (page 6).

Today's thread and needles

J. & P. Coats DUAL DUTY PLUS is the all-purpose thread for all fabrics, from permanent press to sweater knits. DUAL DUTY PLUS is a cotton covered polyester thread which sews and irons like a cotton thread, but gives the stronger, more durable seams of a synthetic thread.

Select a needle to suit the fabric. Needles are made in different sizes, from fine to coarse, so that they can draw the thread easily through fabrics of different weights. The new ballpoint machine needle is specially made for tricots and other knits. Change your machine needle often-a burred needle can damage your fabric and thread. For hand sewing, use embroidery needles which are easy to thread because of their larger eyes.

Use the finest, sharpest pins you can find. (Risdon Mfg. Co. sells "Rainbow Pins" of extra fine wire with plastic heads.)"

The booklet also promotes Coats & Clark's Sewing Book: Newest Methods from A to Z which these lessons likely come from.

But without further ado, here is the rest for your reading pleasure.

And because you've joined me here on Patreon today (thank you for that!), this little booklet is also available as a free download so that you can save and print it if you wish to keep it!

Happy sewing!

xoxo

Mrs. Depew