Sewing, the craft, fabrics, patterns, problems

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Knitting is my thing but I do wish that I could make clothes and sew properly. I did learn patchwork quilting which I do from time to time. New Years resolution is to get some proper sewing lessons.

Go for it purplepixie, I can see you being creative, such a talanted artistic person. Can I suggest tilly and the buttons, she is the one who got so many started on sewing during lockdown. Her books are marvellous, I bought them for a teenage dgc

www.tillyandthebuttons.com/p/learn-to-sew.html

All I have made is a couple of dozen of cotton hankies for me, used part of my stash of fat quarters. Got 2 from each FQ. Washed and ironed, they became soft after washing and now put into a drawer.

Oh, my daughter bought me a Tilly and the Buttons book for Christmas. Really good explanations with photos for each stage of sewing. I've used her patterns before. Only trouble with the ones in the book are that lots of sections are printed over each other and a bit confusing, so I go over the ones I need with felt tip pen to make it a bit clearer. Otherwise they are the best patterns I've used. A bit more expensive the some, but so worth it for the quality and instructions.

I am not in sewing mojo right now but want to pass on something useful

Beyondthepinkdoor on youtube has just posted a very comprehensive sew along on the lynn caftan and if anything gets my mojo back it will be this.

I have the pattern plus fabrics and first step is copying, then cutting, then sewing. If we have another unbearably hot summer, I know I will be glad. I have two long caftans, closet core charlie but the lynn is shorter and with proper roomy sleeves so will be fine for going to the shops

I will be making two and will reduce my stash by two lengths

An interesting kaftan pattern is The Assembly Line D110 minimalist kaftan dress, It has interesting in seam pockets. I have made a couple,

I hope my sewing machine’s still working! I only use it once in a blue moon - it’s a little Elna I’ve had for ever. Although I prefer knitting I’ve rashly decided to make a sewn item for Knit for Nowt - one that’s much requested by therapists and which they’re short of - so wish me luck!
A trip to John Lewis found all the fabric - I’m just waiting for black felt, ordered online.
Once I’ve got the hang of the instructions - I dare say they’ll seem clearer once I’ve started - it might well prove quicker to make than my usual knitted offerings. 🤞

There’s no pattern as such, just dimensions of the various pieces, so I’m glad I hung on to the centimetre-squares pattern paper I bought so long ago, I can’t even remember what it was for.

Could someone please explain what PULL 3 means on the threads card on Anchor needlepoint tapestry kit? Thanks

Sally I have never tried tapestry but wonder if it might be like cross stitch, where the embroidery silks are 8 threads together, but you extract just 1, 2 or 3 depending on the instructions?
I saw your posting a few days ago & hoped someone in the know would have replied. Maybe try posting your question on the cross stitch thread, possibly someone there might know. Failing that You Tube perhaps?
Good Luck

Coming late to this lovely thread but I’ll be picking up on some of the good advice. I used to sew but it’s been a long while and it seems so much has changed!

While I’m getting to grips with it again I wonder if anyone has ever done a pattern drafting/cutting course?

Yay, my sewing mojo came back, good and proper. I seem to have unconscious seasons for all my crafts

This time it came from being determined to use stash, I did the declutter and physically got rid of canvas etc, quite a lot tbh. Whatever I have now in stash is wanted and I actually catalogued every item, a scrap of fabric with details in a small ring file. Some goes back to 2004 at least but is pretty good stuff and I had details and price paid on everything, it was all prewashed before the original stashing

The last three weeks, dungarees for me, in a warm cream twill. Dd wanted some so dungarees for her too in a denim with a tiny bit of stretch. I had those fabrics from croft mill, ages ago, denim price was £28 for the 3 metres. Both were toiles, practice pieces for fit etc. I made them well and they are fantastic. Pattern I used was merchant and mills harlene plus the gunmetal fasteners

Today I finished a second dress toile, first one was a poor fit, too small and bust darts pointing far too high. I copied the pattern a size bigger, lowered the complicated bust dart by 1", added 1/2" to allow for a rounded back (age!!) and shortened the length by 3". It has very lovely curved darts in the shoulders and this time I took extra care. Drew them first then sown over.

I used a 3m length of cheap pale pink linen that I bought from ebay a very long time ago. I added good quality jade rib neckband and cuffs to the 3/4 sleeves and I am overwhelmingly happy. It is no longer a toile, it is good enough to wear with tights for autumn onwards and I will soon be making the exact same dress in a fine wool that I have stashed away. I don`t even need to buy rib, I have plenty good quality in my stash

Sidelined my dil in Glasgow has done a beginner/intermediate sewing course, which included fitting

I think this afternoon I will be cutting out the M and M ellsworth shirt. I have a fabric that loooks like double gauze but is single gauze, again very old, very suitable for a toile. It is a nice fabric so I am hoping that the garment fits me well. There are no darts.

I have also catalogued all my patterns, not counted but hundreds I think. Many are pdf but I can buy the AO sized big prints for just a few £. I use business card files, do a little line drawing and sparse details including fabric needed. Eg dresses are all put in one file, makes it very easy to compare

Another bit of stash is used up, probably 4m of cream warm-textured cotton twill. I made harlene dungarees a couple of weeks ago and used the rest to make Jennifer Lauren pippi pinafore. I had dithered about pippi for a long time but youtube videos convinced me

JL patterns are beautifully drafted and fit closely, so I changed up to 18, to give me enough room to slip it on and off and I finished it yesterday. A big thumbs up, It is lovely and very useful for autumn/winter. Last month I made her aisling blouse and that convinced me

So much so that I have ordered another length of fabric, to make another. From higgs and higgs, a pink stripe, linen/cotton with a good weight of 220. There is nothing in my large stash that would have been suitable

Dashwood fabrics. Minerva

code for 30% off is DASHWOOD40

extra 10% for craft club members

I bought 2 lengths this morning, love dashwood quality

I do make use of sales and have re-filled my stash, some at massively cheaper prices for very good quality, just out of the present season

I want to get back into sewing and build up a stash of fabrics. I have a query:
If you see a fabric you like, can't instantly think of what to make with it, but decide to get it anyway - How many metres would you buy?
Any advice would be appreciated.

However much you buy, you will always be at least a quarter of a metre short for whatever you want to make. I speak from experience.

karmalady I love to read about your sewing adventures - would you consider showing us photos of some of your 'makes' ? I have no idea what some of them are from your descriptions and end up googling. But sometimes I'm not sure if I am looking at what you are describing 😄

style arc
portsea top is half price this weekend

plus this months freebie is still free, even if buying portsea

I just bought simpson and portsea for a total of £5.86 absolute bargain, I bought the pdf multi size with AO

freebies re simpson top or sonny pants

pisces, I buy 1.5 m if making a top with short sleeves and a loose design. I am size 14-16. All the lengths depend on width

2m if a loose shirt top with bishop sleeves

I can make a shift type dress with long sleeves for 2m

To be certain I buy 2.5 to 3 m for a dress. Fabrics all shrink particularly cottons, linens and viscose. Viscose can loose 10 inches if I buy 3m. There are ways of getting the most when cutting out, it involves jiggery pokery and more work but is worth the time. Works like a jig saw

I overlock each end and then give it the roughest wash that I may accidentally use. Never too hot though and may even tumble on delicate, just so I get shrinkage over with. I keep a record and sample in my stash folders and also staple a little note on the actual fabric with an idea for a future make

I`ll be making portsea in a 14, there is a lot of ease, it would need a thin french terry, which I have in stash. Ideal for layering. Might be a project for next week, means that I can use my itch to stitch hepburn tops

I am wanting a really nice, easy to wear dress that I can layer with cardigan and tights for winter

I have the merchant and mills ellis and hattie pattern, I did a toile ages ago and it fits although I did use fabric that was too thick and as it was a toile in unloved fabric, I dumped the dress

I have decided to make the ellis dress with hattie pockets. You get a decent idea by looking at the reviews at the bottom

thefoldline.com/product/the-ellis-hattie/

The sleeves are elbow length and I like that a cardigan will slide easily over the arms

I have been hunting for a bright cheerful babycord print in 21 wale and of good quality. I found a john louden print 145cm wide and have ordered 3m, to allow for shrinkage and the nap. I have never used this seller btw so cannot review the shop

I ordered floral forest green. I have nice cardis and coloured thick tights, so it will be a cheery comfy outfit. 21 wale is a lightweight fabric and ideal for a dress.

www.remnanthousefabric.co.uk/product/floral-baby-cord-john-louden-fabric/

karmalady Thank you, that has given me a guide. I am in awe at your organisation! Which makes me realise the need to be more prepared.
I was at a craft fair last week, plenty of fabric stalls but DH was with me which curtailed my spending somewhat, not that he would have minded really.

Susie42 I have a feeling that would apply to me

Pisceslady, lol, I had to curb my spending last week and avoided a craft fair not far away. I am so weak willed wrt my best hobby

I need a long sleeved nightie and have pulled some tencel/modal from my stash, I have already made two in the past with short sleeves, tencel modal is so very nice for sleepwear. Luckily this is a tnt (tried and tested) pattern so all I need do is lengthen the sleeves and get on with it

www.lovenotions.com/product/ladies-tranquil-nightwear-collection

I put my cutting out stuff away last night before realising that I needed this, so I need to set up again this morning

I have been busy, mostly getting the winter sewing packs prepared ie various projects all cut out and boxed, fabric plus pattern in a pack. I did also order some more fabrics and they are now all overlocked, washed and catalogued in my stash records, including where they are stashed. I have clothes like charlie kaftan in mind for next summer, this time in lightweight viscoses

Thankfully I still see spaces and have a whole empty hamper so am definitely getting through stash, albeit 2 steps forward and 1 back

Cleaning machines, very very important. I did my overlocker and my 380 bernina last night, also changed the needles. I use computer-cleaning ends on my vac cleaner, always important to suck fluff out, not blow in. Cotton wool buds used carefully can help a lot too. One drop of oil on the bobbin case. I sometimes clean and oil the bernina moving parts which hold the needle assembly, I need to unscrew to get in there, not needed as often

My overlocker is a babylock evolve, a supreme workhorse, bought in 2008. I unscrewed the foorplate and got in there as well as the bits in the well, again vac and cotton buds. This machine does not need oiling but cleaning yesterday was a bit more in depth ie laying on its back, unscrewing the base and getting in there too, with the vac. I must say that the fluff was all superficial and inside is clean

Neither machine has ever been serviced and are running very sweetly. Last week I needed to replace the overlocker bulb and got a brighter led

I have a vintage bernina record downstairs in a horn cub plus cabinet, it is on a lifter. A very heavy machine and all solid mechanical, 1970s. That is the machine for my backup and I don`t use it often but it needs to run every so often to make sure that it does not seize up. It sits in the corner of my living room with a cover over and plants on top. They used to use this type in schools as it is so robust

My 380 bernina sits on horn hide-away mark 1

The brighter led bulbs for machines are much better aren’t they? My brother was testing them out and kindly gave me one.

Oh yes beechnut, they definitely are better. I replaced a bulb with led on my vintage bernina and it is hugely better. Also they don`t get hot

I finished that nightie, it was a quick sew, a bit tricky as the modal was slippery and heavy. The worst bit was at the ends of the sleeves, joining the two thick bits together on the seam. The overlocker mashed it up so I pre-sewed the second one on the sewing machine, just for a cm. The first join would not have passed the sewing bee but who cares, a bit of hand sewing afterwards helped

I found some older modal binding for this nightie, from the last one I made and decided to make as much binding as I could from the extra newer fabric. I have many metres now, enough for a lifetime of nighties. I cannot see me ever making any other style. For starters there are hardly any to choose from, apart from frilly vintage types. I made a couple of pretty silk nighties from a butterick pattern in the past, suitable for summer but hardly used.

I have just one more winter sewing pack to finish, just darts to mark and pin and that is it, apart from a little more tidying in my sewing room