The Sewing Room

Sunshine12

Must be really good if it one a Which award. x

trixietoes

Just thought I'd pop in to get some inspiration on what to make next on my new machine. I have a new obsession of buying fabric online... must stop!

My list of to do's are:

Car mat for my friends little boys birthday (not til Sept so plenty of time).
2 x covered note books and matching coloured pencil caddy.
A Summer dress for me - ahhhh (never attempted clothes before)
Tailored trousers for me - aahhhh
Another knitting needle roll for my friend complete with bag for her wool.
More fabric baskets
Finish making the cushion covers for the lounge and bedroom - now I have mastered zips
Ice scraper mits (to get ahead on Christmas presents)

There are lots of other things too I want to make but I need to prioritise lol.

flea72

babyboysmommy wrote: »

Thank you. I'm fairly sure the Janome is the machine for me.

I've been looking for classes. My local Adult Education centre does a dressmaking level 1 & 2 course, is it worth taking something like that? My mum can teach me the basics but I can't help but wonder if I'd benefit from taking a class as well. Or can I learn as easily from books/web sites? I want to use it for craft type things, doll making & fancy dress costumes for DS. Many thanks

yes, you can teach yourself from books/websites, but the hands-on instruction you get at classes, means you learn the proper way to do things from the get go, and you dont get into sloppy habits (they also teach you alot of shortcuts tho)

but be prepared at classes, for the teachers to be old school. They want everything you make to be precision perfect, as they dont see the point in letting you bumble through just to get an end result. i lost count of the number of times i had to unpick seams and re-sew - also whereas with my self-taught methods, as long as it looks ok on the outside, i dont really care, but the teachers expect both sides of your sewing to be presentable - basting being a pet hate of mine, id rather just lob in alot of pins, and remove as they get the near the plate (or if lucky sew over without breaking the needle lol)

Tbh i think its easier to start out with classes if you are new to sewing - for me, alot of the time it felt like they were teaching granny to suck eggs, as id been sewing for so many years, and more or less knew what to do - the lessons just refined my skills

F

Sunshine12

Sorry to ask another question but Im really struggling to cut fabric out at exact dimensions. Im not sure if Im missing something but Im finding it really difficult to measure out a piece of fabric and end up with straight lines :eek:

(Im using a tape measure and a ruler/chalk but my pieces seem to be all wonky and not exact lengths they should be? Maybe Im just useless at it but wondered how everyone manages to get their fabric so perfectly cut? (or is it just practice?)

23rdspiral

Sunshine12 wrote: »

Sorry to ask another question but Im really struggling to cut fabric out at exact dimensions. Im not sure if Im missing something but Im finding it really difficult to measure out a piece of fabric and end up with straight lines :eek:

(Im using a tape measure and a ruler/chalk but my pieces seem to be all wonky and not exact lengths they should be? Maybe Im just useless at it but wondered how everyone manages to get their fabric so perfectly cut? (or is it just practice?)

i'm far from perfect, but i sometimes cut a cardboard template and then draw around that - especially if i know i'm going to make a few of the same items.

Also, i use a rotary cutter - my mum laughs at that so much - but i picked up the idea from a patchwork book as you can roll it against the metal ruler and your line is straight.

if anyone has other tips i'd love to hear them.

Crafty_JuJu

Happy Valentines Day Everyone :smileyheaI've posted the gift I made my hubby on my blog I've just been busy re-upholstering the kitchen chairs today, not much in the way of sewing needed today as I used my father-in-laws powerful staple gun I got the fabric from someone on 'Freecycle', my chairs look brand new again & cost nothing to do

tracylou9 - ur hungry caterpilla book is ace, what a great idea with a great book, I love it :T

trixietoes - Good Luck with your list of things to make, can't wait to see your pictures when there done

karmacookie

I've just been looking at the Lidl leaflet, they will be selling sewing machines for £59.99 from 25th Feb.

flea72

Sunshine12 wrote: »

Sorry to ask another question but Im really struggling to cut fabric out at exact dimensions. Im not sure if Im missing something but Im finding it really difficult to measure out a piece of fabric and end up with straight lines :eek:

(Im using a tape measure and a ruler/chalk but my pieces seem to be all wonky and not exact lengths they should be? Maybe Im just useless at it but wondered how everyone manages to get their fabric so perfectly cut? (or is it just practice?)

#

go to the edge of the fabric and find a single thread, and pull it out (you will have to remove the selvedge if the fabric has them)- this will then show you the grain of the fabric, and you can use this as your starting point

metal rulers work best, and also dont apply too much pressure to the fabric, as otherwise you stretch the fabric as you mark/cut

also, how long are the pieces you are measuring? if longer than your ruler, then using a longer ruler or length of wood will help. also rotary cutters are easier to use for obtaining a straight edge, rather than tailors chalk and scissors

F

Kandipandi

Sunshine12 wrote: »

Sorry to ask another question but Im really struggling to cut fabric out at exact dimensions. Im not sure if Im missing something but Im finding it really difficult to measure out a piece of fabric and end up with straight lines :eek:

(Im using a tape measure and a ruler/chalk but my pieces seem to be all wonky and not exact lengths they should be? Maybe Im just useless at it but wondered how everyone manages to get their fabric so perfectly cut? (or is it just practice?)

I generally mark mine out on paper first and then pin it to the material and cut around the pattern I drew. Its much easier to draw straight lines on paper than on cloth.

Sunshine12

I thought Id post a piccie of my first ever project (small make up bag) since I got my machine yesterday. Its pretty awful I know but Ive only used a machine once in my life so am not too disheartened yet!!! I dont have any nice material yet so chopped up one of my boyfriends shirts and a pair of his trousers. Dont want to use good material until Ive practised a bit (also didnt use the right coloured thread as havent got everything I need yet!)

I dont know how to reduce the size of the photos so apologies!!! (if anyone knows can you tell me!). Thanks for all the tips re cutting. Im going to start using paper or cardboard to make it easier for me. x