Brother Embroidery Machine NV880E

 My review of The Brother Embroidery Machine NV880E

I have also upgraded my embroidery machine. I love machine embroidery and the previous one was slowly wearing out with use. 

This marvelous machine is available from Jaycott.co.uk on the following link 

Brother NV880E

The machine has many functions and is a real pleasure to use 

4.9” colour touchscreen

260 x 160 mm embroidery area

258 built-in patterns and 13 fonts

Advanced needle threader

Auto jump stitch trimmer

Colour sorting

LED pointer

Wireless connection

The wireless connection means that downloaded embroidery designs can be transferred directly to the machine from your computer without the need for a USB.

It comes with the following accessories 

Accessories Included with 880e

Embroidery foot with LED pointer

Seam ripper

Bobbin (4) (One bobbin is on machine.)

Needle set

Cleaning brush

Spool cap (large, medium, small)

Thread spool insert (mini king thread spool)

Spool net

Scissors

Set of screwdrivers

Bobbin case (no color on the screw) (on machine)

Embroidery hoop and sheet 260 x 160mm

Embroidery hoop and sheet 150 x 150mm

Embroidery hoop and sheet 100 x 100mm

Embroidery bobbin thread

Dust cover

Power supply cord

Accessory bag

Operation Manual

Quick Reference Guide

Embroidery Design Guide

I like the new designs which are built in ready for use and have used some already, but  it is also very easy to use a USB  to download your own designs 

If you need to break off sewing for a while, don't worry as when the machine is switched back on again you will be asked if you want to continue where you left off. 

Another feature I like is that the thread is automatically cut when moving on to another area so that you do not end up with a spiders  web of threads to unravel and cut.

This is an amazing machine and even if you are new to machine embroidery you will soon be producing high quality embellishments on your clothing, linen etc 

There is a good choice of accessories available from Jaycott.co.uk 

Embroidery machine accessories

You will need threads and stabilisers ,so if you are not sure exactly what you need,  and  for any other enquiries then do not hesitate to contact  Jaycott.co.uk  on 

Contact Jaycotts

Angela 

Sewangelicthreads 

#embroiderymachine

#brother

Brother Innov-is F560 Sewing Machine

 My review of the Brother Innov-is F560 Sewing machine 

I have just upgraded my sewing machine to this beauty. It is available from Jaycott.co.uk- just  click on this link for more information 

Brother Innov-is F560 

 The Innov-is F560 so simple to use even if you are new to sewing .

All the settings are displayed on an LCD colour touchscreen which I find to be an absolute dream - on my previous machine I was forever referring to the manual and I found that some functions just did not get used very often. Now I have no excuse. 

These are the basic stitches on the machine

From the touchscreen you can access all the stitches - 241 of them - and make all the adjustments you need. It is so simple. There is capacity to make a design using a combination of lettering and patterns and save them to a USB stick.

 

There is a very useful function on this machine, it has a square Feed Drive System which produces a very high quality stitch on all fabrics .

 It also allows the machine to sew all the way around a patch or pocket without having to move the fabric.  It is quite something watching your machine sewing a perfect square.

 

The handy storage tray holds additional feet and spare Bobbins 

The following accessories are included 

Zigzag foot “J” (on machine)

Monogramming foot “N”

Overcasting foot “G” 

Zipper foot “I” 

Blind stitch foot “R” 

Button fitting foot “M” 

Buttonhole foot “A” 

Needle set

Twin needle

Bobbin x 4 

Seam ripper

Cleaning brush

Eyelet punch

Screwdriver (large)

Disc-shaped screwdriver 

Horizontal spool pin

Spool cap (large) 

Spool cap (medium) x 2 

Spool cap (small)

Thread spool insert (for mini king threads) 

Spool net 

Knee lifter

Standard bobbin case

Foot controller

Accessory bag

Hard case

Grid sheet set

Operation Manual 

Quick Reference Guide

I am very impressed with the machine and how easy it is to use. I love the fact that everything is displayed on a screen , which again is easy to operate. The photograph above shows which folder contains the type of stitch you want to use ,simply tap on the icon and the folder opens to display everything inside it 

There are  five  fonts to choose from and ten  buttonholes 

Brother is the brand I always use and I highly recommend their products.

I also highly recommend Jaycotts.co.uk

 

The customer service is professional and friendly. If you are unsure of what exactly you are looking for then just contact them and help will be there.

They sell other machines from different manufacturers and at various prices so do visit the Web site and take a look 

HAPPY SEWING 

Angela

Sewangelicthreads 

#BrotherF560

#sewingmachine

#sewing 

Using my new Brother Coverstitch machine on a top made in Stretch Cotton Jersy Rib

 The Brother CV3550 Coverstitch Machine 

I am very lucky to now own a Coverstitch machine,  I have wanted one for years . They are not a necessity but are an incredible addition to a sewists collection of sewing machines.

Coverstitch machines are primarily used to create professional-looking hems to garments. They can be used for covering raw edges of a fabric,  for example in seams , they can be used for embellishments and are suitable for stretch and woven fabrics ,

Mine is from BrotherUK and I purchased it from Jaycotts.co.uk

  Brother coverstitch machine from Jaycotts.co.uk

It has many stitch options plus a feature I love is the possibility of creating multicoloured stitching using any variation of thread colours to give the effect you want 

This is a Top Coverstitch using multiple coloured threads. 

This is the reverse side of the same stitch.

It has numerous stitches in addition to the top  Coverstitch with three needles it will do a Coverstitch like this one with up to three top threads which can also be adapted to wide and narrow stitches This sample is a narrow two thread 

I found that YouTube has plenty of suggestions.

***********

Cotton Rib Stretch Jersey Top.

The best way to learn about your new machine is to use it. I self drafted a top and made it up in  this Cotton rib stretch fabric which was gifted to me from Minerva.com 

Cotton Rib fabric at Minerva.com

I made a simple design as an extra layer on cooler summer days. The front and back have little shaping but the sleeves are slightly full with a cuff which can be worn in multiple ways.

The neckline has a band. This needs to be cut with the stretch along  the length and stretched slightly when applying to the  neckline. 

Whilst we want the band to stretch, the main fabric needs to remain the same. To stop it from stretching therefore I stay stitched along the garment neck edge. 

If I could give you a hint. It is far easier to install the neckline if you stitch just one shoulder and join the other one later. 

Similarly it is easier to add sleeves before stitching the side seams. 

To finish the neckline I added a triple top Coverstitch in shades of pink and purple 

I used the same stitch on the hem. To prevent the hem from stretching out of shape I used some iron on seamtape 

I think you will agree that this very simple top will be a very useful addition to my wardrobe 

Just a touch of embellishment helps lift it from the ordinary to something special

The fabric is soft, light but has plenty of body. It lends itself to lots of different garments

Thank you Minerva.com for gifting the fabric. And thank you to Jaycotts.co.uk for sorting out this fabulous machine for me

Angela

Sewangelicthreads 

#coverstitchmachines 

#stretchfabric

#top

#SewingBlogger 

Sew House Seven Cosmos Sweater and skirt in Stretch Sweater Knit

 The Sew House Seven sweater and skirt 

A Minerva.com post 

I have a page on Minerva.com where you can find more of my posts. This is one such post so to read more on 

My posts on Minerva.com are on this link so do click on the text where you will find photos and fabric details etc

 

The pattern I used is this top and skirt combo from Sew House Seven details on my Minerva.com page 

The fabric is a glorious sweater knit,which is an absolute breeze to sew 

I took the hem up by about 8" in order to balance the loose fitting top 

The skirt needed taking in quite substantially 

I am very happy with the results so please don't forget to follow the link at the top of this post and see what else I have been making

#Sewangelicthreads 

#sewingblogger

#sewist 

#sewing

#sewhouseseven

#sweaterknit

#fabric

#knitfabric

#tutorial 

#MinervaBrandAmbassador

#minervamaker

Storage solutions , sewing room and other places.

 These are some of my storage systems both in my sewing room and the rest of my home. In pictures 

An easy way to learn how to sew - and save money

If you are anxious about learning to sew then have you thought of starting off with making dolls clothes? It's how I first learned to sew.

When I was very young I learned to sew by making dolls clothes. I feel that if you have little girls in your family you could also save a fortune as dolls clothes are very expensive Dolls clothes  are easy to make but will demonstrate perfectly how you would make an adult garment   as you use the same processes. Making dolls clothes is a great way to learn to sew for any age as the garments are small enough to be completed in one go.

Make some super smart Stay At Home wear

Let's make some lovely staying at home clothes to wear 

Maybe like me you never thought about what to wear when staying indoors for long periods of time. I know some people are wearing PJs but really I think it is better for morale to make a clear distinction between day and night. If you are wearing something which you feel good in and which is comfortable you will feel more " normal"

These are some items I have made for myself to wear and I am really happy with them.

I made a pair of trousers in a stretch fabric (another pair is cut out ready to sew)
The top I am wearing is a piece of jersey with a silver sparkle running through it.
The front top I am holding is made from the same fabric as the trousers with the addition of a scrap of fabric taken from a t-shirt I never liked.

The top on the left is made from a more cuddly knit fabric and it has a cowl neckline.

The BROTHER 3034D Overlocker

 This post is all about my Overlocker - and  rolled hems

The Brother 3034D from Jaycotts

 My overlocker is the  Brother 3034D  from Jaycotts.co.uk.  To look at it on the web site click - Brother 3034D overlocker   There are plenty of other choices and Jaycotts will  be happy to talk about and  demonstrate other models to you if you visit them or telephone them
An overlocker is used to finish most seams very neatly, it can be used as a hem, it can be used instead of a regular sewing machine to stitch stretch fabrics together. It can be in a matching thread or a contrast.

Embroidery Machines

A Jaycotts post

What else can I do with an embroidery machine other than embroider clothes?

"An embroidery machine is an investment, so what else can I use an embroidery only machine for" is something I get asked a lot and I know Jaycotts have the answer!

These are a few of the items I make on my Brother embroidery machine.
To view the range , this is the link Embroidery Machine

If at all possible it is well worth a visit to try a few and to discuss options

I have to admit that once my embroidery machine comes out, I never want to put it away, I find it addictive and before I know it I have been sat at it all day long.

So I hope that by sharing some of the things I use it for will make you realise that they are a really good investment. There are so many ways to use it and even when you think you have tried everything you could purchase the software needed to make your own designs!

Fascinating to watch, no matter how many times you have used your machine

The Brother Adjustable Bias Binding Foot

A mini blog all about this incredibly useful and easy to use foot.

The Brother adjustable Bias Binder Foot

Labeks

Bias binding foot

Hong Kong Seams 

This is my favourite foot at the moment, I love the way it makes adding a binding to an edge so incredibly simple. I have had a binder foot before, but nothing so easy to use as this one, so if you want to treat yourself I really recommend ordering one.  The Brother adjustable Bias Binder Foot   is available from Jaycotts, the current price is £24.99.

If you are making your own bindings as I normally do then ensure that the finished width is between 5 to 20 mm. Any wider and it will not fit into the foot.

Once you have made or purchased your binding simply press it in half.

Feed the tape through the guide with the folded edge to the right. Then turn the screw on the foot and align the edge of the tape with the left side of the guage. You may also want to adjust your needle position so that the stitches are as close to the edge of the binding as possible. Don't forget to tighten the screw.

When you are happy then pull an inch or so of the binding through to the back .

Explore some different Brother Sewing Machine feet and make a fab blouse

This is a Jaycotts.co.uk blog post

Starting to explore different machine feet.

Labels

Gathering foot

Scalloped edge

Monogram foot

French seam

Buttonhole foot 

mcCallPatternUk

As you know I recently started to use the Brother Innov-is 1300 .If you have not yet read my first impressions of this incredible machine then I urge you to read the blog post. Introducing the Brother Innov-is 1300

I do have rather a lot of Brother machine feet to get through so I am going to go through them all for you one or two at a time, showing them being used on a garment or other project.

The pattern I chose to make is McCalls M7657
The fabric is Plain combed cotton Lawn from MinervaCrafts
This top is tunic  style which pulls over your head. There are two sleeve options but I adapted the pattern to make the sleeves in a different style.
You will need Gutterman Sew All thread in white
You also need a new Sewing machine needle For Lawn I would choose a Fine one. This link is to a large box of machine needles which is great value but they are also sold in smaller packs.

Introducing the fabulous Brother Innov-is 1300

The Brother Innov-is 1300 from Jaycotts.co.uk

An introduction.

This is one of the most amazing domestic sewing machines I have ever used, and of course it is by my favourite brand Brother from my favourite store Jaycotts.

 The Brother Innov-is 1300 ticks all the boxes both for versatility and ease of use. It is packed with so many features that I cannot hope to go over them all in this one post, so I am going to concentrate on getting you up and running.
It is fabulous for both dressmaking and quilting having just over 8" workspace to the right of the needle, quilters will know the importance of this.

The Personal Embroidery Design Software System for your Brother Embroidery Machine

Introducing the Brother PE Design 10 software 

Just suppose that you have had your Brother Embroidery Machine for a while now and you have been downloading additional Embroidery patterns from the internet, and everything is going fine but where do you go from here?

You may want to create your own designs from a photograph or clip art, perhaps you want to add lettering to a design and create your own logo, with this software you can do all that plus add colours, change colours, change hoop size, arrange several patterns to make one design and much more 

If this appeals to you then this software is for you.

 

The software is easy to install and there are full instillation instructions in the box with step by step pictures showing each stage. You cannot go wrong.

Let's talk some more about Machine Embroidery

Talking about machine embroidery 

Labels

Machine Emboidery, embroidery stabiliser, ,Hong Kong seams, Bias binding foot, pressing, 

Machine embroidery is such a massive subject that I will be coming back to it frequently.
In this post I wanted to talk more about it because I know that some of you are still undecided if an embroidery machine is something you will use.
I will be honest and say that Embroidery machines are only as complicated as you want them to be. They come with designs built into them so you are ready to go as soon as you take it out of the box. Furthermore if you are reading this then you have enough computer knowledge to download and use designs off the internet too. You may then want to further your new passion and create your own designs using specialised software - more about that later.

In this post I am making a dress and simple unlined jacket in black cotton, but you will excuse me for not going into detail about the construction of these garments as there are plenty of instructions elsewhere on my blog and the instructions inside the pattern are excellent too. If you do want more detailed information then please let me know.