The Sewing Room

avstar

Well done on all your wonderful purchases, I'm really trying hard not to look at fabric websites (altho I did buy 2 metres of jersey from ebay yesterday)

Justamum

Forgot to add about the thread knotting, it's best not to have too long a piece - about 20" is long enough. If you hold the end between your finger and thumb, the thread should be just longer than to your elbow.

Florenceem

Keiss_21 wrote: »

Ooh, my order from Jackies Fabrics has arrived...they are all wonderful!!! Can't wait to get back to sewing again next week :j.

I ordered from there as well - not here yet.

abby1234519

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com

Its full of cute little things to make!

Also, the boyfriend is buying me a sewing machine. I'm a novice, haven't sewn in years so don't know what sewing machine to get. I don't want it to be expensive, any ideas for a good reliable starter that doesn't cost the earth

susan42

Hi rufus, i been practicing straight lines again -_

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^^---____ bit like that lol

I will keep practising though. I bought a sheet in the charity shop to have a go.

Next I m going to try the repo adhesive some one mentioned.

Love the things on the link abby ty for sharing

willow_loulou

Thank you for all my replies, I had no idea about the direction the thread came off the reel! Thank you Ill try that and the unwinding tip too.

rufusdog52

Susan, best way to practice straight lines is to cut a long strip of fabric then fold it in half long ways and then practice sewing a "hem" or "seam" along the edge. You should have lines marked on your machine (most do have) so you can get the hem or seam so far away from the edge. You can also move the needle over on most machines (if they do a zig zag stitch) so you can then use the edge of the machines foot to get a straight line by keeping it on the edge of the fabric. Try both ways. It is more than likely you would need to do a seam or a hem before you need to sew a straight line across a piece of fabric. I think all of us would have trouble doing that without a guide line to follow.

The more you use the machine the more you will get used to it xx

Savvy_sewing

Only managed 3 lavender hearts the other day.! No sewing yesterday at all!. Maybe I will get the chance later.
DGD did her first sewing this week, on her little machine. She wanted to make a sleeping bag for her dolls in the dolls house. So she sewed up three sides on a scrap of fabric, and all I did was sew the ends off, as its a chain stitch machine so if you pull the end it just unravels!. For 4 years of age thats brilliant i think!. Biggest of Mooloo took a photo of it on her mobile phone to show to her MIL who bought the machine for DGD. Yesterday she practiced sewing on a scrap of fabric, (she started messing around and was sewing up one of my stockings before I could stop her!!! eek).
Least she is not afraid of the machine!.

rufusdog52

Thats brilliant Mooloo, I love it when the kids have a go. My eldest daughter was never interested in any kinds of craft work. Then when I had YD I thought may be she would and she started out liking craft work, more painting and drawing than sewing though but now shes a full blown teenager she has lost interest altogether. Its lovely when the grandchildren come round and they sit and sew with me. I hope they keep it up when they get older. Two of my great nieces have started sewing bits a pieces so its still in the family, but I dont see them very often so dont really have anything to do with what they are doing.

Keiss_21

Wow, that's amazing mooloo...mind you, my granny had me using her machine before I was 5 I was making my own clothes by the time I was 8, on the same machine (a Singer)!!

I too started with making things for my doll. I was spoilt though, as granny always made me a dress for my birthday (November). It was just in time for the Christmas parties, then she would make a matching one for my doll for Christmas, it was really special She died before I was 7, so I didn't have her for long, but her legacy has been immense. She started me off sewing and knitting, as well as doing other crafts, so I have a lot to thank her for. :A

Not sure if I'll get any sewing done tooday, still too much other stuff to do.

My Derwent Inktense pencils came this morning :jThat's the last of my Xmas money spent! They are incredible, you can draw directly onto fabric, then use water to spread the ink, which once dry becomes permanent!!

I came across them thanks to Linda Kemshall on her DMTV videos (subscription from DH as an xmas pressie :A). She used them to add a 3D effect on some flower applique she was doing...absolutely amazing!! Can't wait to have a go with them I love the videos, lots of different techniques that you can watch time and time again, so many wonderful ideas!

Off to get some paid work done this morning, then get all the decs down this afternoon....maybe get some cleaning done too...well, maybe not :rotfl: