Machine attachments can help you sew in a straight line

Dear Julia: I love to sew, but I have a hard time sewing a perfectly straight line. I think my garments would look more polished if I could overcome this. When I see that my hemline is a little wonky, it drives me nuts! Do you have any tips to help me? Brenda D.

Hi Brenda: I know what you mean — you put all that time and effort into constructing something, and then all you can see is that one flaw, which probably, in reality, no one else notices. But I hear ya! There are a few things you can do to help.

Without purchasing any new tools or equipment, the easiest thing to do is place a line of tape to the right of your needle on the throat plate to use as a guide. Painter’s tape would work well here because it is colorful and you can peel it off easily. There should already be measurements marked on your throat plate; just line up your tape with the one that is called for in the project you are working on.

There also are accessories you can purchase for your sewing machine that will help get that perfectly straight line that you want. A seam guide attachment allows you to create a uniform seam width. You attach it to your throat plate and then remove it when you’re done. Crafts Capitol has a magnetic one, which makes it easy to attach and remove.

To get a straight stitch line, it also is important to be able to control your fabric, and the easiest way to control your fabric is to make sure you have a flat sewing surface. If you are like many of us sewers, you probably have a freearm sewing machine simply resting on a table, but this doesn’t give you a flat sewing surface. And when you don’t have a flat sewing surface, your fabric is always pulling away from the needle.

In order to better control your fabric, you can purchase an extension table. It’s not as elaborate as it sounds: It’s not an actual table; it’s a flat plastic surface that slides onto the free arm of your machine, raising your sewing surface so that it is level with your throat plate. They usually have adjustable legs so you can get it to the exact height needed for your machine. Look for one that is compatible with your sewing machine model. You also can purchase an actual table or cabinet with a recessed surface to set your free-arm machine on.

Readers, do you have any other tips to offer Brenda?

Dear Julia: A reader asked about sources of contrasting fabrics in a recent column. Contrasting fabrics are common in interior design, especially chintzes. So design shops that sell fabrics from major manufacturers like Waverly are a good source. But I find lovely selections of good-quality cotton fabrics in contrasting designs at crafts stores like Hobby Lobby, for very reasonable prices. She could make the dress shown, of highquality materials with outstanding designs, at a quite reasonable cost. Fran W., Albuquerque

Hi Fran: Those are great suggestions! Thanks for sharing. Send questions to Julia Cameron, c/o King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or SewSimpleColumn@ gmail.com.