A Sewing Quiz! CLOSED.

Originally, I thought this would be a fun activity for Sewing Buddies to do together, but the more I mulled it over, the more I wanted to open it up to everyone! So, for your Monday evening enjoyment, a QUIZ. Sewing Buddies: you have extra incentive to participate–read on for details!

I should let you know: I am a raging nerd. This is likely no surprise to the vast majority of you. As a nerd, I love to challenge myself. Jeopardy? Huge competitive sport in my house. Trivial Pursuit? We actually have family rules and individual handicaps (like: my mother and I are no longer allowed to be on the same team–too many sore losers, I say). So a quiz a la Pioneer Woman? I am all kinds of down with that.

To Enter & Win

The rules are pretty simple: first response with all the correct answers wins! To open it up to as many folks as possible, I’m actually choosing THREE winners (again, similar to how the Pioneer Woman does her quizzes): first response with ALL the correct answers wins; first PAIR of Sewing Buddies who BOTH give all correct answers wins (Buddies must each answer individually; I’ll keep track of who belongs with whom); and one response will be randomly selected from ALL responses for a wild card win. If you’re keeping track, that makes FOUR winners total. (And: This is not a math quiz.)

Answers should be left in the comments.  Please, only ONE entry per contestant.  You will be able to see your own answers, but everyone else’s will be hidden from view until after the quiz is completed and the winners announced (keeps it more interesting, you know).  Quiz is open until Tuesday evening at 7 pm EST; winners will be announced Wednesday here on the blog.

The Prizes

I may have mentioned my book.  It comes out in a scant four weeks (jubilee!), and I am anxiously awaiting a shipment of copies from the warehouse as we speak.  These are my baby, and I won’t be handing them out all willy-nilly.  Gracious, no.  But I WILL bestow them upon the worthy, which is to say, upon winners!

The first response with all correct answers wins a copy of Stitch by Stitch. The randomly selected response with all correct answers wins a grab bag of fat quarters from my very own stash–8 fat quarters in all.  The Sewing Buddy pair who both answer correctly first will each win BOTH–one copy of the book plus a bundle of fat quarters.  Woot!  Go, Sewing Buddies!

OK, y’all.  This is going to be seriously fun.  Ready?  Go!

The Questions

  1. Tim Gunn, the marvelous man who most of us know through Project Runway, is most famous for what phrase, frequently uttered to contestants on the show whose designs are struggling?
  2. The picture below is of what TYPE of sewing machine (not brand, but type)?
  3. Name the Big 4 sewing pattern companies (y’know, the ones that are available at the big box stores, not independent pattern brands).
  4. Most of us buy fabric off a bolt, where the fabric has been folded in half before being rolled on the cardboard.  What is the OTHER main way fabric is available, ie NOT double-rolled on a bolt?
  5. In a quilt, there are usually three layers: the patchwork layer, the backing, and the layer in the middle that provides the loft.  What is that middle layer called?
  6. What animal body part(s) do archaeologists recognize as the earliest hand sewing needles?  Name any and all you can think of.
  7. What is the standard seam allowance measurement in American sewing?
  8. What rule of thumb tells you when it’s time to change your sewing machine needle?
  9. On a sewing machine, what is the name of the machine part that holds the fabric down against the feed dogs?
  10. Name one way to prevent the edge of fabric from unraveling.
  11. True or False:  Basting stitches are your longest straight stitch, and are temporary stitches used to hold a sewing project together before the permanent stitches are put in place.
  12. Who is credited as the inventor of the modern sewing machine?
  13. What type of stitch is pictured below?
  14. True or False:  Bias tape is a heat-activated adhesive used to hold a hem in place while stitching.  It is removed either by laundering or with a spray bottle of water.
  15. The project below, an example of a traditional pattern called Grandma’s Flower Garden, was created using what patchwork technique?

Good luck, everyone!

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  • Shannon
    August 2, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    1. Make it work.
    2. Treadle Sewing Machine (Handcrank – Singer)
    3. Vogue, Butterick, Mcall’s
    4. By the yard.
    5. Batting
    6. bone, antler, ivory
    7. 5/8″
    8. New needle for new project
    9. Presser foot
    10. Cut with pinking shears or sew seam with zig zag stitch.
    11. True
    12. Thomas Saint
    13. Whipstitch
    14. False
    15. English Paper Piecing Technique

  • Dusty
    August 2, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    •”Make it work”
    •treadle
    •McCall’s, Butterick, Simplicity, Vogue
    •in the flat
    •batting
    •porcupine quills
    •5/8″
    •when you start a new project
    •presser foot or pressure foot
    •cut on the bias, cut with pinking shears, overlock
    •true
    •Elias Howe
    •Whipstitch
    •false
    •paper piecing

  • mommymae
    August 2, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    1. make it work

    2. cabinet machine
    3. butterick, mccalls, vogue, simplicity
    4. Most of us buy fabric off a bolt, where the fabric has been folded in half before being rolled on the cardboard. What is the OTHER main way fabric is available, ie NOT double-rolled on a bolt?
    5. batting
    6. bones
    7. 5/8″
    8. when you change material weight or a needle a project
    9. foot
    10. serging
    11. true
    12.isaac singer
    13. whipstitch
    14. false
    15. paper piecing hexagons

    Good luck, everyone!

  • Michael Moebes, Esq.
    August 2, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Um…false. All of them.

  • Cathy A
    August 2, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    1. “Make it work.”
    2. Treadle Machine
    3. Simplicity, McCalls, Butterick & Vogue
    4. On a tube
    5. Batting (Isn’t it wadding if you’re British?)
    6. Bone, ivory–tusks
    7. 5/8″ seam is standard in garment sewing. 1/4″ is standard in quilting
    8. With each new project or about every 4 hours of sewing
    9. Presser foot
    10. Pinking w/pinking shears
    11. True
    12. Thomas Saint for the earliest, but Elias Howe for the modern sewing machine.
    13. Whipstitch
    14. False
    15. English Paper Piecing

    I don’t know if I got them all, but it was fun!

  • Missy Harding
    August 2, 2010 at 8:43 pm

    1. “make it work”
    2.Treadle Machine
    3.Butterick, Simplicity, McCall, Kwik Sew
    4.tall round tubes
    5.batting
    6.bones, tuck, antler
    7. 1/4 inch
    8. after every project
    9.pressure foot
    10.overcast stitch
    11.T
    12. Isaac Singer
    13. whipstich
    14. F
    15. Paper piecing

  • KZ
    August 2, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    1. Make it Work
    2. Treadle
    3. Vogue, Buttericks, Simplicity, McCalls
    4. On the roll
    5. Batting
    6. Rib Cage, Legs
    7. 5/8″
    8. with every project or 8-10 hours of sewing
    9. presser foot
    10. Serging/overlocking
    11.True
    12. Elisas Howe
    13. Overcast Stitch
    14. False
    15. Paper Piecing

  • Susan
    August 2, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    1. “Make it work”
    2. Treadle
    3. Simplicity, Butterick, McCall’s, Vogue
    4. Fat quarter?
    5. Batting
    6. Small horns, Porcupine quills,
    7. 5/8″
    8. I was taught to change it everytime I start a new project, but it’s more like whenever it breaks or I switch to a different weight material!
    9. Presser foot
    10. Serge along edge
    11. True
    12. Allen Wilson
    13. Whipstitch!
    14. False
    15. Paper piecing

  • April Forshee
    August 2, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    1.Make it work
    2.treadle machine
    3.burda, simplicity, mccalls, butterick, vogue
    4.From a rot…tube about 46” long
    5.batting
    6.bone & horns
    7.5/8 inch
    8.skipped stitches
    9.presser foot
    10.serging
    11.true
    12.elias howe
    13.whipstitch
    14.false
    15.hexagon or honeycomb patchwork

  • Theresa
    August 2, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    1. Make it work
    2. tredle
    3. Simplicity, McCalls, Butterick, Vogue
    4. Rolled on the tube
    5. batting
    6. claws/nails, wittled bone
    7. 5/8″
    8. Every time you begin a new project
    9. presser foot
    10. stitch the edge of the fabric with a zig zag stitch
    11. true
    12.Elias Howe
    13. Whipstitch!
    14. False
    15. bias binding

  • so we added chickens
    August 2, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    1. Make it work!”
    2. Treadle sewing machine
    3. Vogue patterns, McCalls patterns, Butterick, Simplicity (as well as Kwik Sew, and Simplicity’s other line, New Look)
    4. Full width on a roll
    5. Batting or Wadding, depending on continent
    6. porcupine quills, whale bone
    7. 5/8th inch
    8. when you can hear the needle “punch” the fabric or the point won’t scratch your fingernail (perhaps not the standard rule of thumb)
    9. the foot
    10. serge the edge or zig zag the edge
    11. true
    12. thomas Saint
    13. whipstitch
    14. false
    15. english paper piecing

  • blair barrows
    August 2, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    1) “Make it work”
    2) tabletop
    3) Vogue, Butterick, Simplicity, McCalls
    4)roll
    5) batting
    6) arm, leg, foot, toe, finger, rib
    7) 5/8
    8) large holes in fabric where the stitching is
    9) pressor foot
    10) serge it
    11) true
    12) Martha stewart
    13) whipstitch
    14) false
    15) hunnycomb

    hope your still taking these! just got home from vacation!!

  • Stephanie G
    August 2, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    #1 Make it work!
    #2 treadle machine
    #3 Butterick, McCalls, Simplicity, Vogue
    #4 Loose Fabric
    #5 Batting Layer
    #6 antlers and ivory tusks
    #7 5/8”
    #8 when you hear the popping sound when the needle hits the fabric
    #9 Presser Foot
    #10 Using Pinking shears
    #11 False: Basting stitches keep the fabric from stretching out while sewing or used to gather
    #12 Elias Howe
    #13 a Whipstitch ☺
    #14 False : it’s a bias cut fabric used for binding and other projects
    #15 Hexagon Technique

  • Amanda
    August 2, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    1. Make it work
    2. Treadle sewing machine
    3. Vogue, McCalls, Butterick, Simplicity
    4. On a roll, not folded in half.
    5. Batting
    6. Bones
    7. 5/8 inch
    8. When you start a new project
    9. Presser foot
    10. Finish with a zig zag stitch
    11. True
    12. Elias Howe
    13. Whip stitch
    14. False
    15. Honeycomb patchwork

  • Colleen
    August 3, 2010 at 12:21 am

    1. Make it work
    2. treadle
    3. Vogue, Butterick, Simplicity and McCalls
    4. not folded on a roll
    5. batting
    6. teeth and bones
    7. 1/4 inch
    8. skipped stitches
    9. presser foot
    10. cut using a pinking shears
    11. true
    12. Isaac Singer
    13. whipstitch 🙂
    14. false
    15.hexagons
    Thank you for the quiz. I just got my sewing buddy email today.

  • SewLindaAnn
    August 3, 2010 at 9:46 am

    Make it Work, Treadle, Simplicity, McCalls, Butterick, Vogue,Pre-cuts, Batting, animal bones, 1/2″, New Project, Presser Foot, Zig Zag stitch, True, Elias Howe*, Whip Stitch, False, English Paper Piecing

    *This was really interesting. I spent a lot of time reading a lot of info. on the history of the machines and was amazed at how much money he’s credited with receiving in his lifetime. It was also interesting to learn about the patent wars and what worked and didn’t. Thanks for the “quiz” it made me really read and learn more about my sewing passion.

  • Renee
    August 3, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    1. Make it work!
    2. treadle sewing …I own two of them and have sewed on them!
    3. McCalls, Simplicity, Vogue, Butterick
    4.Pre-cuts
    5. Batting
    6. bones, horns, antlers
    7. 5/8″
    8. when it starts to skip stitches
    9. Presser foot
    10. serging, pinking shears,
    11. True
    12. Elias Howe
    13. Whipstitch…or course
    14. False….that would be hem tape
    15. English paper piecing

  • Jennifer W.
    August 3, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    Probably too late to win, but I’ll try anyway!!!

    1. Make it work
    2.treadle
    3. Vogue, Simplicity, Butterick, McCalls
    4. precut pieces/panels
    5. batting
    6. porcupine quills
    7. for quilting… 1/4 inch
    8. a new needle for a new project (cripes!)
    9. presser foot
    10. serging the ends of the fabric
    11. True
    12.Singer
    13. Whipstitch!!!
    14. false
    15. hexagon paper piecing

    FUN!!!

  • Tweets that mention A Sewing Quiz! ENTER NOW. — Whipstitch -- Topsy.com
    August 3, 2010 at 3:05 pm

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Whipstitch, Whipstitch. Whipstitch said: Still taking entries in the Sewing Quiz–so much fun! http://tinyurl.com/2enq9lb […]

  • Kay Stephenson
    August 3, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    1. Make it work
    2. Treadle
    3. Butterick, Simplicity, McCalls, Vogue
    4. Roll
    5. Batting
    6. Bone, Antler and Ivory (tusks)
    7. 5/8 inch
    8. After each project or every four hours
    9. Presser foot
    10. Overlock with a serger
    11. True
    12. Isaac Singer
    13. Whipstitch
    14. False
    15. Paper piecing

  • Ryan Walsh
    August 3, 2010 at 4:09 pm

    1. “Make it work!”
    2. Treadle
    3. Butterick, McCalls, Vogue, Simplicity
    4. Precuts (ie. Charm Packs, Rolls, Flat Fold FQ stacks, etc.)
    5. Batting
    6. Bones
    7. 1/4 inch
    8. A new needle with each new project
    9. Presser Foot
    10. Use a serger to finish the edges
    11. TRUE
    12. Isaac Merritt Singer
    13. Slant Hemming Stitch
    14. FALSE
    15. English Paper Piecing

  • Tiffany Santos
    August 3, 2010 at 5:41 pm

    1. Make it work
    2. Treadle
    3. Vogue, Simplicity, Butterick, and McCalls
    4. Large rolls, IE HomeDecor fabric
    5. Batting
    6. Antlers and bone
    7. Quarter inch
    8. When it starts making the sound and having to use more force to get through the fabric because it is dull
    9. the foot
    10. hemming
    11. True
    12. Thomas Saint
    13. Hemming stitch
    14. False
    15. hexagon quilting

  • Becka
    August 3, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    1. make it work
    2. treadle
    3. simplicity, vogue, butterick, mcCalls
    4. a roll or tube
    5. batting
    6. bones, porcupine quills
    7. 5/8 inch
    8. after every project
    9. presser foot
    10. cut with pinking shears
    11. true
    12. Singer
    13 whip stitch or overcast
    14. false
    15. english paper piecing