The Sewing Room

avstar

Oh Georgiabay that looks fab!

Thanks for the overlocker recommendations, I'd really like to get one as most of the clothes I want to make are jersey and I'm just using zigzag stitch on my basic sewing machine. I was under the impression over lockers were really expensive but £189 for a good one is do-able...if I get saving :rotfl:

Ta also for the craft seller link - I've taken out the 5 issue subscription for a fiver, must remember to cancel it.

I've got my eye on a few dressmaking patterns but no-where seems to have a sale on and at £8 a go they're not cheap :eek: Gonna hang on for a sale, I usually go to sewessential for patterns but does anyone know of anywhere else? or any sales please?

rufusdog52

That looks lovely Georgia and much better than before xx

Savvy_sewing

EEk, my jackies fabrics was posted out to my old address! For some reason my googlecheckout sent it to the default. I saw the billing address and didtn realise that it had the posting address as a different address. That will teach me.
I hope that the current person will have sent it back to them, (not there as yet though!). Or else I am introuble and will have wasted my money!
I have emailed the estate agents just now to see if they can tell me if there is anyone in the property etc that I could contact to see.

I have managed to make another 3 purses this morning while DGD was in Nursery. So its beginning to work. Take her to school and come back and sit at the sewing machine and too hell with the housework until later.
In the evenings I am handsewing some small patches together infront of the TV. So I am making an effort to sew everyday one way or another.
I cancelled my DD to the SEW magazine as every month the pattern is always a dress by the same designer. Who needs 12 evening/cocktail style dresses in a year?
I am getting other magazines that cover several crafts that have more inspiration to me now.

Love the Dress Georgiebay. I really should be doing more to my clothes to update them, as I have told myself that I am not going to buy myself anynew clothes this year. (and try not to buy any Charity Shop ones either!). As I have masses of clothes. Infact I need to be ruthless and make a new/ capsule wardrobe for the kind of life I lead now, that is not partygoing, or office orientated suits!. In the summer I have plenty of dresses, but in the winter I am limited. Time to get my thinking cap on.

Savvy_sewing

avstar wrote: »

Oh Georgiabay that looks fab!

Thanks for the overlocker recommendations, I'd really like to get one as most of the clothes I want to make are jersey and I'm just using zigzag stitch on my basic sewing machine. I was under the impression over lockers were really expensive but £189 for a good one is do-able...if I get saving :rotfl:

Ta also for the craft seller link - I've taken out the 5 issue subscription for a fiver, must remember to cancel it.

I've got my eye on a few dressmaking patterns but no-where seems to have a sale on and at £8 a go they're not cheap :eek: Gonna hang on for a sale, I usually go to sewessential for patterns but does anyone know of anywhere else? or any sales please?

I quite enjoy my craftseller magazine at the moment, but not sure its one I will have for a long period of time. I feel it will run out of steam as a monthly. ? But I wish I could command the prices they are suggesting for the makes.
Re the overlocker, I think its the best thing I ever bought really. I also have a book, SEW U Home Stretch, that is based on working with jersey etc on an overlocker. Its part of the Built by Wendy sewing quides. It includes 3 full simplicity patterns which are for a crewneck, raglan, and dress/skirt patterns. From which you can make most things. Also a section on Recycling.
I dont know what the price would be at the moment on Amazon. I will take a look and see.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sew-Home-Stretch-Wendy-Mullin/dp/0316118370/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326383228&sr=1-4

[Deleted User]

beachlou wrote: »

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right place to post or whether I should start a new thread but I've just started to sew clothes for my little boy and I have managed to get a bit of a fabric stash and I have my machine ready but I need all the other basics. So, what do I need and where's the best place to shop for them?

I had a little sewing kit with my machine but I think it's quite cheap and I'd like things that would last, so what do you use regularly?

Thanks in advance

This is what I use

For the machine maintenance Oil and a little brush to clean out fluff from machine

For the machine
Extra bobbins foif only a few are supplied.
Selection of different size machine needles (depending on what sort of materials you want to sew)
Large reel of white thread - I use Coates. Other colours you can gradually accumulate.

Measuring and Marking
Tape measure with a tailors end and a little measuring tool
http://www.sewingcrafts.co.uk/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=prodshow&ref=MEASURING+GAUGE.( This only comes in imperial measurements but I use inches for sewing -shows my age)
(some people like a hem gauge but I prefer tape measure)
Dressmakers chalk and a ruler for marking out. I also have pens and pencils but I use the chalk most frequently.
For making curtains a yardstick.

Cutting
Large pair of dressmaking shears for cutting out. I think mine are Fiskars and I have had them for years.
Scissors for trimming and cutting small items
Small pair of scissors for snipping threads and trimming corners etc. (some people would prefer to use snips but I use these for embroidery too)
I also have a rotary cutter and board but I do not use it a great deal because of the sort of things I make.



Hand Sewing
Needles in different sizes (I like betweens but choose a needle that you are happy with)
Thimble
Tacking thread - this is much better than odd bits of thread because it is soft and doesn't mark delicate facrics and you can pull it out easily which saves a lot of time.


Pins (I like the glass headed pins because I can see them easily) and magnet to pick up the ones I drop! I keep them in a tin but a pincushion is good too.


Many people like a seam ripper but I never use mine - I just use scissors.

Sure other people will be able to give you some of their favourites and you don't need to buy everything all at once. Many of my things came as presents.

Violetta_2

Just did a search on Craftseller to see if there was any info re what it's like & found it here 3 issues for £1

Trow

Or 5 for £5 http://www.buysubscriptions.com/category/craftseller?offer=jsbfb12 if you want a longer sub.

avstar

Mooloo wrote: »

I quite enjoy my craftseller magazine at the moment, but not sure its one I will have for a long period of time. I feel it will run out of steam as a monthly. ? But I wish I could command the prices they are suggesting for the makes.
Re the overlocker, I think its the best thing I ever bought really. I also have a book, SEW U Home Stretch, that is based on working with jersey etc on an overlocker. Its part of the Built by Wendy sewing quides. It includes 3 full simplicity patterns which are for a crewneck, raglan, and dress/skirt patterns. From which you can make most things. Also a section on Recycling.
I dont know what the price would be at the moment on Amazon. I will take a look and see.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sew-Home-Stretch-Wendy-Mullin/dp/0316118370/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326383228&sr=1-4

Thanks Mooloo, I'm gonna try and swoop on magazines when there's a cheapie subscription deal, cos as you say they do start to become a bit samey after a while.

I love Burda mag for clothes but its expensive and tracing the pattern pieces and adding seam allownaces is a pain in the backside :rotfl:

Thanks for the book recommendation, sewing with knits really is a whole different kettle of fish from cotton.

rufusdog52

Hi everyone. I went in the charity shop to look for fabric and couldnt find any but as I was leaving I found a bag containing this lot. It cost £3.50 and will give me plenty to do in the evenings.

Justamum

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Hi everyone. I went in the charity shop to look for fabric and couldnt find any but as I was leaving I found a bag containing this lot. It cost £3.50 and will give me plenty to do in the evenings.

Wow, you lucky, lucky thing! There's a fortune in embroidery threads there. Knowing our local CS, if they had something like that in they would be charging more than they would cost new.