The Sewing Room

flossie217

MrsBunny wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

Can someone help me? I have decided to start quilting and I have found, what looks like an 'easy', pattern/tutorial online and I now need to sorce my fabric.

The pattern uses jelly rolls, and as I have only been introduced to them today I need help on where to buy them? Are there any good websites with good p&p rates that you use? I am looking at making a 'spring' quilt so I am looking for a whites/cream jelly roll and a pastel colour roll too. I quite like the moda 'flora' collection but i am open to other brands as well. Your experiances and help will be much appricated. :-) Jo xx

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/carogojo/_i.html?rt=nc&_sid=147268040&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=1
I have been looking at this shop on ebay today. They have the Moda Floral you have in mind. The prices are the most reasonable I have seen and the p&p isn't bad either. I haven't bought from them however so I can't give an opinion on their service.
The Jelly Roll you like is very pretty and would make a lovely quilt.
I fancy the Moda Dogwood Trail Layer Cake but I haven't got the money
at the moment.

Savvy_sewing

I better use up all the fabrics that are crowding my work room before I start to buy any packs or jelly rolls!.
Lovely fabrics though.
Today I havent had much time at the sewing so all I have done is to gather together the things I need to make another handbag out of a mini skirt, and some other cottons that I have lurking.

Tamster150

Florenceem wrote: »

I sew but have never made a quilt. I want to make a lap quilt for a present. I have a rotary cutter/large cutting mat and a quilter's ruler. I know - why have I got a quilter's ruler but don't quilt! I saw it and thought - that will be handy! Anyway - help and advice please - how big is a lap quilt - are they easy to do and how much fabric will I need?

You wouldnt need much for a lap quilt - if you think of 4 fat quarters is a metre, your blanket would probably only need to be a couple of square metres.

There are tons of free patterns out there, they should give the requirements. Try moda bakeshop or crazymomquilts. I like to seach in google images rather than main part.

Most of the jelly roll patterns are designed for 40 X 2.5 inch strips the width of the fabric. I used fat quarters so had to cut 80 strips. I think from memory you get around 6/7 strips from a fat quarter, but it was a while ago so could be wrong.

My quilts have nearly all been from the same book so far have a look you know where
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Tamster150

ah Mooloo I nearly forgot ...

Did you cancel your sew mag subscription yet??? The latest pattern is a sew-lisette pattern which are meant to be great to sew, and it looks like next months is also from the same range. There is a sew-lisette blog with a forum for pattern queries/issues.

I have stopped buying sew hip as the patterns are either repeats of similar projects or aimed at teenagers with limited skills but I picked up Sew instead this month.

rufusdog52

I had an email from my favourite fabric store near me this morning saying the lady was having a sale. I thought brilliant as OH was off today so was getting ready to ask him to take me over there when I read on and saw it doesnt start until tomorrow and hes back at work by then. Luckily my SIL wants to go and have a look too so she is going to take me over there tomorrow. Glad I have saved up some money.

medsdemon

Bobbykins wrote: »

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....................

Don't worry too much. Just remember how much adjusting that a designer does to get their clothing just right. Once you've got it perfect for YOU you will be able to make a perfect fitting dress everytime from that pattern that you would never find in a shop. I'm a bit like you and am just waiting for my new pattern to arrive before beginning. I bought the Collette book and it has lots of helpful pieces about toiles and pattern altering ( it also has some lovely patterns in it too)

Bobbykins

Thanks for the encouragement Medsdemon.

Just reporting in to say I cut out the bodice for the dress yesterday. I had taken a rough measurement of the paper pattern, allowed for the seams and reckoned it would just about fit, with a bit of "easing" in the seams. Hahaha, I must have got my maths wrong somewhere. I cut it and basted it together and :eek::eek::eek:. I know it was based on a "b" cup, and I know I am [STRIKE]hugely[/STRIKE] err, slightly better endowed than that, but I reckon I'll have to add about 5 inches to the front!!! It's a good job I got plenty of that cheap fabric.:rotfl::rotfl:

Actually, I've realised its even more of a bargain that I thought as it's 60 inches wide , 100% cotton, at only £1/metre.

I have been studying the link that Justamum gave me on how to alter the pattern and I think I've got my head round it. Won't be able to tackle that until next week though as I have commitments now until Monday, so will try not to have nightmares thinking about it between now and then.

ETA, medsdemon, I meant to ask, what is the Collette book? Can you recommend it? I was thinking of buying the "Fit for real people" book if I decide to continue with attempting to dress-make but am not sure just yet - will be awaiting the outcome of the current experiment first!

spicyprawn

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

I had an email from my favourite fabric store near me this morning saying the lady was having a sale. I thought brilliant as OH was off today so was getting ready to ask him to take me over there when I read on and saw it doesnt start until tomorrow and hes back at work by then. Luckily my SIL wants to go and have a look too so she is going to take me over there tomorrow. Glad I have saved up some money.

HI, did you find lots of bits? My fabric stores do not have websites unfortunately so a drive into the city on the off chance they might have a sale isn't really very mse but I am really tempted anyway

I have just been living off my scrap pieces so far!



Do any of you lovelies have a recommendation of a sewing book for children? Hand sewing in particular? My daughter will be 9 next month and I was hoping to buy a sewing book soon and then get all the bits and pieces she needs through out the book.

rufusdog52

spicyprawn wrote: »

HI, did you find lots of bits? My fabric stores do not have websites unfortunately so a drive into the city on the off chance they might have a sale isn't really very mse but I am really tempted anyway

I have just been living off my scrap pieces so far!



Do any of you lovelies have a recommendation of a sewing book for children? Hand sewing in particular? My daughter will be 9 next month and I was hoping to buy a sewing book soon and then get all the bits and pieces she needs through out the book.

Hi Spicey

Yes I had a lovely time, got there early so shop wasnt too packed. I chose four fabrics and got a metre of each, then three fat quarters to go with them. Came to about £23 altogether but I had put some money by to treat myself out of my Christmas money. I was pleased as her fat quarters are usually about £2.50 each.

After we left that shop my SIL took me back to hers as she said my BRO had sent off for a mystery box of fabrics from a seller on Ebay. She was hoping for quilting fabrics but the box was mostly full of slinky kind like for tops. She asked if I would like some bits and gave me enough to make three tops I think, might be four. Plus she gave me some other smaller bits that might come in handy may be for lining bags or something and a piece of thicker stripey cotton for bag making.

I will try to get a photo taken and put it on my blog in a bit before I take it all upstairs.

Savvy_sewing

Tamster150 wrote: »

ah Mooloo I nearly forgot ...

Did you cancel your sew mag subscription yet??? The latest pattern is a sew-lisette pattern which are meant to be great to sew, and it looks like next months is also from the same range. There is a sew-lisette blog with a forum for pattern queries/issues.

I have stopped buying sew hip as the patterns are either repeats of similar projects or aimed at teenagers with limited skills but I picked up Sew instead this month.

I have this months copy, but I have cancelled my DD now. Not sure if I will still have another issue due or not.
Have the Lisette pattern, of course the sizes are not the correct one for me, so I have had to send off for an order of the next size,, which still hasnt arrived. ! Quite frustrating. But there you go.
I think that over the years I have tried so many magazines, and in the end they all become very samey!