Tips and tricks for kits

-       Read carefully the explanations until the end before getting started.

- For the kits with fabric : do not cut the fabric before having checked that all the pieces to cut can be included. We provide enough fabric for each kit, but without waste.

- To cut the fabrics, pin the cut patterns directly on the fabrics (sometimes double, following instructions), pin the pattern parallel to the edge of the pattern. The more pins you have, the less risks of error. Cut along the pattern.

-To sew, especially with the machine, each piece associated to another has first to be pinned down in the right position: In this case, the pins are put perpendicularly to the direction of the seaming.

-For the kits dolls and animals, always mark the eyes, the mouth, the muzzle with a pin before tracing with a marker for fabric or before starting embroidery. Respect the symmetry and the center.

-To trace the eyes with a marker, start with a small circle or oval and enlarge slowly. Do not press too hard on the tip.

-For embroideries, unlike with the marker, you can start again if you fail, but beware of not damaging the fabric when you unstitch.

-To sew the curves with the machine, go very slowly, stop every 2 points, pull up the presser foot (the needle stays in the fabric), turn the piece of work very slightly and continue this way.

lexicon

-The Droit Fil, DF (Right Thread) is symbolised by a double arrow on our pictures. It is a very important word in sewing, the right thread is the direction of the fabric (parallel to the length of the fabric when it is rolled). When you cut a fabric, the double arrow drawn on the pattern will always be parallel to the right thread, and parallel to the direction of the fabric, and parallel to the edge of the fabric.

If you find yourself with a cut part without edge, slighty pull the fabric in one direction then the other one (not diagonally), the less elastic direction will be the direction of the right thread.

 -Faufiler (to baste): To sew coarsely and temporarily with the hand prior to final execution.

 -Surfiler (to overcast): Use the zigzag stitch of a sewing machine on the edge of the fabric to prevent it from unraveling.

 -Cranter (to notch): When you sew a curve and you need to turn it back to the front, the aspect will be perfect if you notch, which means cut the excess of fabric with small scissors, cut randomly staying at 2 mm from the sewing. There are special notch scissors with a zig zag cut that will do the job alone.