The Sewing Room

Savvy_sewing

Where abouts are you Mum2monkey? maybe you will be close enough to one of us to be able to show you bits and pieces? practise on a machine maybe. (Mind you thats me, you see I have a few machines at the moment, although I have now promised one of them to my daughter who wants to learn!).
I was lying in bed thinking of things I could make last night, when I couldnt sleep, and now this morning my mind has gone blank!.

Love the makeup brush case, and it could be a crayonroll, too.
I once made a jewellry bag on the same principle, putting in a zipped section and some looped padded roll to put rings onto. (press stud at one end).
That gives me an idea for my sons Girlfriend. If only I get the chance!.

trix-a-belle

That wrap is fab hmo! loving the english rose style fabric. I really must get more pretty patterned fabric into my stash..

An update to my job list; all the cowlcape/ponchos are done, i've started cutting squares for my patchwork cushions (might be asking for advice on this one soon) but not got anywhere near starting the dress patterns (have bought fabric though ) the wedding bits i'm helping my friend with, christmas dos & madness at work have taken over slightly.
This week i've got to hand sew the voile for the back of my mates bouquet complete with seed beads, then afix some fabric around the handle somehow to cover the plastic & knock up a few little drawstring pouches for the bridesmaids for her.

Tamster150

I have a couple of days worth to catch up with on here as a busy weekend & I am full of lurgies too (unable to phone in sick at my job - SAHM lol)

Just wanted to say it is giveaway day on sew-mama-sew, lots of bloggers have prizes up for grabs. you just leave a comment on their blogs for chance of winning

lauroar

Hello everyone

I was wondering if many of you made your own clothes, and if so where you get the patterns from? I've spent the weekend looking at sewing blogs and most of them seem to use simplicity/McCalls/vogue patterns which don't seem to be that cheap even on ebay (£5-10 for the ones I liked the look of). My mum used to make all her/my clothes but has got rid of all her pattern!!

Any suggestions as to where I should be looking? Charity shops? Or is it a case of buying a pattern I like and adapting it? I thought this might be a cost-busting move as well as injecting some originality into my wardrobe...

Any suggestions greatly accepted!!

Lauroar xx

mumto2monkeys_2

Thanks pennib. I'm in Leeds Mooloo. I think that's a bit far from you. But thank you for the very kind offer.

hmo

mumto2monkeys wrote: »

Hi all

I haven't posted on here for ages, but I have broken my silence because I really, really want to start sewing. I'd ideally like to quilt and applique. I am a total novice, and would appreciate any tips to help get me started, for example should I hand sew or get a machine? Any advice would be very helpful indeed. I have been looking through this thread and I'm in awe of some of the things you have all made.

There are no classes to help me learn around here, so I will have to go it alone.

Thanks in advance

I cannot hand sew for the life of me, but if you can then quilting and applique can be done but as has been said it will take you longer.

if you can afford to buy a machine i would go down that route to be honest you items will probably last longer and be done quicker too.

have a look on youtube there are endless videos showing you how to do just about anything.


for quilting the things i have found to be a definate are

A good cutting mat, quilters ruler and rotary cutter

make sure all your squares, triangles are what ever shape you are using are all the exact same size

sew consistantly ie 1/4 inch seam is normally used but if you prefer 1/2inch just make sure you do that on all seams

press as you sew it makes lining up seams easier and gives a much nicer finish

( i use a small ikea ironing board and a john lewis travel iron) that way the IB can sit on one end of my sewing table and i can press as i go

take your time dont be tempted to rush

hope that helps i have a couple of small quilts on my blog i made a few months ago just made from a charm pack which is 5inch squares.

hmo

Florenceem wrote: »

Love this make - do you think it could be used as a jewellery wrap? Did the wadding make it too bulky?

yes i think the wadding made it bulky and i didnt use thick wadding either.

as for a jewelry wrap instead of using the 4.5 inch deep flower fabric i would use a piece about 1 to 1.5inch deep and sew the dividing lines where you like and maybe leave one end out of the seam and put a presstub on that way you could slide rings onto a section too.

does that make sense?

trix-a-belle

lauroar wrote: »

Hello everyone

I was wondering if many of you made your own clothes, and if so where you get the patterns from? I've spent the weekend looking at sewing blogs and most of them seem to use simplicity/McCalls/vogue patterns which don't seem to be that cheap even on ebay (£5-10 for the ones I liked the look of). My mum used to make all her/my clothes but has got rid of all her pattern!!

Any suggestions as to where I should be looking? Charity shops? Or is it a case of buying a pattern I like and adapting it? I thought this might be a cost-busting move as well as injecting some originality into my wardrobe...

Any suggestions greatly accepted!!

Lauroar xx

Hi Lauroar

i've recently been downloading loads of free patterns from burda style and m-sewing, they are not quite want i'm wanting for some projects (i'm also saving them as an electronic pattern bank for the future) so i'm also doing quite abit of reading into pattern alteration so that i can tweak them as necessary if one doesn't quite fit with the view to being able to do my own pattern blocks in the future.

have a look at the sites i mention above, you will be amazed what a pile you can come up with from them & by putting in 'free sewing patterns' or 'free clothes patterns' in google.

Trix

Tamster150

lauroar wrote: »

Hello everyone

I was wondering if many of you made your own clothes, and if so where you get the patterns from? I've spent the weekend looking at sewing blogs and most of them seem to use simplicity/McCalls/vogue patterns which don't seem to be that cheap even on ebay (£5-10 for the ones I liked the look of). My mum used to make all her/my clothes but has got rid of all her pattern!!

Any suggestions as to where I should be looking? Charity shops? Or is it a case of buying a pattern I like and adapting it? I thought this might be a cost-busting move as well as injecting some originality into my wardrobe...

Any suggestions greatly accepted!!

Lauroar xx

I have a growing stash but am yet to do any dressmaking!

Most of my patterns are from CS but i also got a few when they were half price in Fabricland. I think when they go on sale though, they go on sale in all stores not just fabricland.

I also bought the pendrell blouse & lonsdale dress direct from Sewaholic in Canada because whenever she realeases a new pattern, you get free shipping on your order. Her latest pattern is a gorgous coat but too "advanced" for me considering my growing stash!

And sewing pattern review is a great website although it is difficult to navigate. If you have seen a pattern, you can look up overpeoples reviews. Good for finding out about fitting issues or dodgy directions

For modern patterns try Backstitch or Raystitch they stock brands like collette which although they cost much more than simplicity/mcalls etc. from reviews they are better quality and also have really clear instructions. (and have blogs where you can get help if needed)

My New Yrs Resolution is to attempt some clothes for myself (same as last years lol)

mary-op

Can I pick your brains please ?
I don't do a lot of sewing and it has to be done by hand as I don't have a machine. I'm thinking of getting one of those cheapy lightweight ones - it would be basic enough for what I'd want to do. Hand sewing does limit me and a little machine might make all the difference.
Has to be small and lightweight(very) as I have health problems that precent me lifting anything heavy.
I'd appreciate any suggestions as to where I might get one on-line (mobility problems prevent me going to the big shops that might sell them)
Thanks:)