Sewing Machine

I too am an Elna fan gracesmum. The best discovery was when I found the superoverlock stitch (no15 on mine) - it saves oodles of time. I always made my own clothes when I was a housewife and young mum - then didn't have time when I went back to work. Now in retirement I use it a lot for soft furnishings and alterations etc, but haven't been inspired to make clothes again - don't know why. Probably too many disappointing results - my fault. A decorators table makes a good cutting out surface and what a good idea to use a tea trolley - I'm just about to reorganise my little workroom!

Thanks for the tip grrrranny

I find that practising on an off cut is the only way I can get the right stitch for anything. If I dive in and start on the garment the stitch is bound to be wrong. I tend to overestimate how stretchy I need the stitch to be but doing practice runs on the off cuts helps. I have also bought some leather needles but don't know if I will ever have the confidence to change the turn backs on a leather jacket I quite like apart from that feature. In the past I have glued leather if it needed to be altered but don't think it would work for sleeves very well. Has anyone machined (on domestic machine) leather?

Hey *when I had a look at the link and have just ordered the white voile panels with the white satin top border for my bedroom they are so cheap compared to others that I have seen Thanks for the link.

Hi grrrranny that heavy jersey is one of the materials I bought and is very good quality. I'm making a midi tube skirt with it when I've mastered stretch stitches.

Thank you for the link when. It came up with the bi-stretch material which looks ideal for trousers and possibly tops as well. The heavy jersey would be great for dresses if I ever wore them now. Certainly the prices are good as well so I shall be giving them a go.

I used to sew a lot but hadnt done any for nearly 30 years. Last year enrolled on dressmaking course at my local college. It's wonderful, teaching on using machines and a friendly group of people. Haven't yet made anything I can actually wear but live in hope. Recently bought a new sewing machine, the old one was 35 years old. Am now busy making a very small sewing room in a tiny spare room. Will keep me busy whilst still not very mobile.

grrrranny here's the link to Fabric World. I see they have changed from using couriers to Royal Mail, but otherwise the prices are the same as when I ordered my materials. They are quick to deliver and the quality is good.

www.fabric-world.com/Dressmaking-Fabric-Bi-Stretch-Bi-Stretch-c133_134_297.html

I have an old New Home machine and thought it was past it but took it to place found on line and for about £50 it is back in better condition than ever. Being on the short side, I always have to turn up trousers, jeans etc. and it is amazing how just whipping a seam up the side of a skirt, dress or anything really can make something fit rather than just dangle. when where did you find the online material - there are no fabric shops around now and JL is expensive - MK was having a major refit when I was there about a month ago and habidashery was stuck in a little corner - I tend now to get stuff from vintage (2nd hand) shops and use the material to make something else. Very much agree with the unpicking something to use as a pattern if you really like the style and fit.

I still do quite a bit of sewing, Bez. Have a look at www.sewessential.co.uk - they have a good range of patterns. I would just be a bit careful about sizes - I find New Look patterns very easy to follow but the sizes are a bit behind the times ie a size 14 is still a 38 inch hip.

Something that I often do with skirts/trousers that are a good fit but worn out is to unpick them and use them as a pattern.

Oh yes, merlot - I've got an OH like that!

I bought the tea trolley in a charity shop so DH did one of his 'strengthening' jobs on it. Not quite an RSJ but you get my drift!

I almost bought a Janome last time - the Pfaff is German made and so was my previous Singer - that was a wonderful machine - nearly cried when I had to replace that.
No one has mentioned any good pattern makes / suppliern and I thought I would get loads of advice.

That's a very good idea, merlot! I don't think we've got enough space, but it's certainly worth thinking about.

I keep my Jones on an old fashioned tea trolley so I don't have far to lift it on to the dining room table. The bottom shelf is a good place for my sewing box. I can then wheel it all back into the alcove where it lives - behind a wine rack.

I've been trying to remember how we got mine home as my parents didn't have a car!

Yes - mine's very heavy too! When I bought it I brought it home on the bus and then had to walk up a very steep hill to our then house - in the middle of a heatwave. Took me a long time......

GillieB I got my Singer for my 21st too, I'm now 66 and it still works, but only rarely as it takes both hands and a huge intake of breath to lift it!

I've still got the Jones machine I bought about 40 years ago - I used to make curtains, cushion covers etc. but haven't used it properly for years, just occasionally to put a new zip in trousers or do minor alterations.
When my GDs were born I anticipated being asked to sew all sorts - but DD isn't a big fan of home-made anything!

Bez my 'English' sewing machine turned out to be Japanese, although it has a German name! I bought it as an own brand which was actually a Janome, but because the factory had stockpiled Frister and Rossman machines, they asked me if I would accept one with that name on it - they are all the same machine! Anyway, I don't mind what it's called - it's excellent.

I still have the Jones sewing machine which my parents bought me for my 21st birthday (I am now 64). When we moved here nearly thirty years ago we had it overhauled, and it is still going strong. I used to make my own clothes and used it all the time for clothes for the children. A friend from Derby used to get the most wonderful velour and terry towelling off the market - it made fantastic shorts, trousers, dresses, etc.

Nowadays I mostly use the sewing machine for curtains, cushion covers, etc. - it was very expensive when it was bought (£50), but has been worth every penny.

I had to replace my trusty Singer about 10 years ago and I bought a Pfaff. I think they are now the only machines made in Europe. I think that is such a shame when we did have a thriving industry for so long. The one feature this Pfaff has which I think is great is a second sort of foot which sits on top of the fabric being stitched and works in conjunction with the feeder plate beneath the layers of fabric - this stops any slippage of the layers as they are being sewn.
I too used to make all clothes for myself and daughter and of course household stuff.
One day when buying fabric DS asked would I make him something ( knitting didn't count!) so we chose a shirt pattern with cowboys envpbroidered on the yoke etc. all made carefully and when he came to put it on I had done the buttonholes on the girls' side!!! Never lived that down and he was SO cross.
How do those who make clothes find patterns are now - I hate those multisize jobs. Any good brands and suppliers you know apart from JL ?

Annobel I nearly bought my machine from a Macclesfield shop that was recommended on here, but in the end I got it online for much less, with freebies of scissors and all the thread I might use in a lifetime, so I missed out on the free tutorial. However, I've now discovered hundreds of YouTube lessons for anything you might think of, and they are easy to follow as most sewing machines are alike.

When mum went into a care home we cleared out the glory hole cupboard where she had kept stuff for years and discovered her old Jones sewing machine (virtually identical to a Singer) that she taught me to use when I was about 11. We even found the instruction book where my father had written notes in the margin to simplify some of the very formal instructions. The sight of his handwriting brought a lump to my throat. My DH gave it an overhaul as bits had siezed up and now it is working perfectly. I haven't started any projects yet as I am up to my neck in decorating and gardening but I thought it would be a lovely winter hobby. I'm looking forward to making new cushion covers and hopefully new curtains for our bedroom. A friend of mine is a very experienced seamstress and she still uses her old Singer so I'll know who to go to for tips.

When I bought my Bernina all those years ago, the shop put on a course on Saturday mornings to show us how to use the machines without wrecking them.