The Sewing Room

pennib

Mooloo; That sounds like a good plan with the curtains and I agree about sourcing an old sheet/duvet to make a mock dress Bobbykins as it will be more the same drap etc than lining.

Spicyprawn' Your little bag is really pretty, and by hand as well, goodness me.

Justamum

spicyprawn wrote: »

Never thought of it that way, were their trousers the same? I was thinking later on of adapting it to a bag with handle maybe

I don't think they did it on their trousers.

I think it would be lovely as a big bag.

Justamum

Mooloo wrote: »

A toile is also a good way of finding out if the darts are actually in the correct place for you.

I did dressmaking at school, so I can follow a pattern with no problem. Unfortunately they never told us how to alter patterns or even explained that it might actually ever be necessary! I made a dress once years ago but the darts were in the wrong place - it was only a few years later that I learned that patterns are made for a B cup and I've always had a D and sometimes an E! I gave up making clothes after so many fitting failures and wasted fabric. I've got books on pattern alteration, but so far haven't got round to making myself clothes again. I really wish they'd done more than teach us to sew at school, because I'd love to be able to make my DD's prom dress, but I think we'll resort to buying one. I'll start making myself clothes again when I've got rid of my various UFOs.

I have no idea what I should make though as I have no fashion sense - I have two pairs of jeans, and half a dozen t-shirts. In summer I wear those, then in winter I top it all off with a jumper. I haven't bought myself any clothes in years, and get panicky when I'm faced with the clothes in M&S (I don't go in any other clothes shops as I don't ever feel the urge) so I just walk past the women's section to the children's without even glancing!

Bobbykins

Justamum wrote: »

I did dressmaking at school, so I can follow a pattern with no problem. Unfortunately they never told us how to alter patterns or even explained that it might actually ever be necessary! I made a dress once years ago but the darts were in the wrong place - it was only a few years later that I learned that patterns are made for a B cup Oh dear, I didn't know that - I'm much bigger than that :eek:

....... I really wish they'd done more than teach us to sew at school,

I'm exactly the same Justamum, and now I know the bit about the cup size I'm even more worried about the sizing on this dress I'm attempting :eek::eek:.

Am off to the Charity Shop this morning in search of an old sheet or something. I can see me having several attempts at this so think I'd best try and buy a few.

You know, I had this vision of me in this lovely dress I was going to make from this supposedly "easy" pattern and it was that which was spurring me on to have a go...... Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear I'm not looking forward to this at all....................

pennib

I'm sure you will get the lovely dress you want. Thing is don't panic, take your time, measure twice cut once and I'm sure it will be OK. And deep breathes....go!

rufusdog52

spicyprawn wrote: »

Hi all just thought I would let you know that after a week of hand stitching I have finally finished a pouch bag! I am actually really pleased with it which surprised me, as I was sewing it by hand and it was inside out I was really nervous. I do want to make another one using the flex frame this time. I do enjoy hand sewing but sometimes I think about how much quicker it could be on a machine hehe

my pouch http://www.flickr.com/photos/71117320@N04/?hide_photostream_welcome=1

tutorial from this fab blog http://ayumills.blogspot.com/2010/01/tutorial-puffy-pouch.html

Happy sewing

Thats a pretty bag, I love the flowery fabric xx

rufusdog52

Florence, again I agree with Mooloo re the curtains. Once they are unpicked it shouldnt take long to add the borders. I do this all the time on my cushions etc to make a pretty piece of fabric go further. Add a piece to two sides at a time, like either add a panel to the top then the bottom first and trim so they all the same size, then you can add the two side panels, or do it the other way round and add the side panels first and them the top and bottom. Both ways give a different look. You could even have different fabrics for the two sets of panels if you can get contrasting colours.

My eldest daughter still brings her sewing round for me to do for her and the family as she cant sew a button on either, and it was not down to me not trying to teach her, she just wasnt in the slightest bit interested in sewing. I am trying to get her three children interested in it though and so far they all seem to like it even though the two eldest are boys. My youngest daughter again isnt interested in sewing at all. Its such a shame as I would love to have someone I could pass on my tips etc to. My son's fiance has got a sewing machine, son bought it for her year before last for Christmas but again she is always talking about I wish I could this and that but never finds the time to ask how to do it.

Florenceem

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Florence, again I agree with Mooloo re the curtains. Once they are unpicked it shouldnt take long to add the borders. I do this all the time on my cushions etc to make a pretty piece of fabric go further. Add a piece to two sides at a time, like either add a panel to the top then the bottom first and trim so they all the same size, then you can add the two side panels, or do it the other way round and add the side panels first and them the top and bottom. Both ways give a different look. You could even have different fabrics for the two sets of panels if you can get contrasting colours.

My eldest daughter still brings her sewing round for me to do for her and the family as she cant sew a button on either, and it was not down to me not trying to teach her, she just wasnt in the slightest bit interested in sewing. I am trying to get her three children interested in it though and so far they all seem to like it even though the two eldest are boys. My youngest daughter again isnt interested in sewing at all. Its such a shame as I would love to have someone I could pass on my tips etc to. My son's fiance has got a sewing machine, son bought it for her year before last for Christmas but again she is always talking about I wish I could this and that but never finds the time to ask how to do it.

Thanks for the advice. Just not looking forward to the job. When I sew something - it stays sewn - the unpicking is not going to be easy! I remember that the fabric was a sort of chenille type - beige background with a pale salmon pink raised velour design. It frayed easily too. I think it was about £30 a metre.

rufusdog52

May be you could just cut the tape off the top then and cut close to the hem etc, you should still be able to save quite a big bit of fabric x

rufusdog52

Are there still any sewers living down near Isle of Sheppey? I remember before someone telling me of a shop in Sheerness called Peabees. We have been to Sheerness regularly and still cant find the shop lol. Went again yesterday and walked round for hours but nothing.