The Sewing Room

Savvy_sewing

Avastar, my mum used to make felt eyes. Back stitched all around with very small stitches, before she bought safety eyes.
Lets face it when we were little there was less health and safety, so they came in later. However the worst a child can do with a felt eye is suck it to death!. (the eye not the child!).
Or Embroider them with thicker strands of threads.Use Satin stitch, or french knots for the centre of the eyes?
hope that helps.
Thanks for the complements on the dress. yes she loves it. I think I will be sorting out the sizing, and making a few in heavier weight fabrics for the winter. Cordrouy, denim, that sort of think. In fact I may be able to recycle some of the legs of jeans for that.
I have so many pairs of jeans to turn into bags, about 20 pairs I think, so the tops make the bags, and the legs can be used for the clothes.

avstar

Thanks Mooloo, I've got some black felt and also white embroidery thread so will try something with those.

Gawd when I think about the stuff we used to play with as children its a wonder we ever survived :eek:
Favourite was sliding down the stairs right from the top in my baby sisters bath tub...all my mum ever said was "stop that racket" never 'stop it it's dangerous' :rotfl:

kingfisherblue

Well, I've finally managed to sort out a permanant space for my sewing machine. I've moved furniture around, and now have a small desk in my bedroom, next to my computer desk. There's enough space next to that for me to put in a narrow chest of drawers to keep some fabric in

So tonight, I've had a bit of a sort out. I've managed to cut out an owl door stop, but I need some interfacing for the applique.

I've also cut out a bag and its lining and straps. I've stitched most of it together, but stopped the machine at 10pm, as next door's bedroom is on the other side of the wall and I don't know what time they go to bed. It's cut from a curtain, which I know sounds odd, but someone gave it to me. It's a lovely deep red, with a deeper red pattern of flowers. My friend asked me to make her a bag, and I think she'll like the colours and the pattern.

I've also been given a number of scraps of fabric, all about twlve inches long and four inches wide. they're reasonably shiny, all the same pattern, but various different colours. They also have a flash of stitching in a long flat diamond shape in sparkly thread - again different colours. My friend is a nursery nurse and wants me to make a 'feely bag'. She offered to buy some sparkly fabric, but I think I'll stitch these lengths together and see if I can make a bag from this. It means that she isn't paying out for anything, and that the scraps are used up.

Well, that's all I've done for a couple of weeks. The sorting of my room and moving of furniture turned into a major operation, the kids are off school, and I've been sorting out a joint Rainbows/Brownies meeting for Monday, so I've been reasonably busy. I don't think I'll get a chance to sew tomorrow, but maybe I can complete the bag over the weekend

dxm

Is there anything special that I need to know for sewing with invisible thread? I bought some today and my sewing macine really didn't like it. I used the invisible thread in both the spool and the needle. The spool seemed to feed properly but the thread to the needle kept jamming and breaking. Any help would be appreciated.

Justamum

dxm wrote: »

Is there anything special that I need to know for sewing with invisible thread? I bought some today and my sewing macine really didn't like it. I used the invisible thread in both the spool and the needle. The spool seemed to feed properly but the thread to the needle kept jamming and breaking. Any help would be appreciated.

I found this http://www.ehow.com/way_5752395_tips-sewing-invisible-thread.html

I don't know if it's any good. I must admit I've never used invisible thread so can't give any personal advice.

There's a video here http://www.ehow.com/video_7753802_use-invisible-sewing-thread.html?utm_source=dgmodule&utm_medium=1&campaign=momme1

Savvy_sewing

I have only ever used it hand sewing! I hate the stuff. But thats just me being finicky I think.
No more sewing since Tuesday. But hope to get a bit of organising and some done today. Even if its only the hand sewing of patchwork pieces.

diable

dxm wrote: »

Is there anything special that I need to know for sewing with invisible thread?

Don't drop it as you'll never find it

Only kidding, as mentioned you are better off hand stitching.

pennib

Invisible thread has a mind of it's own....I never use it!

Here is some sewing that I have been upto, or rather, an itsy, bitsy embroidery.

There is a close up on my h+page.;)

Savvy_sewing

I have finished a gathered skirt for DGD, and been adding more hexagons to my patchwork over the weekend.
I have drawn out the pattern for a coat for DGD1, and then traced off a pattern for a ddress and panteloons for her as well. But not got the right fabric to hand for the dress so it may be making the coat first. (Except I had wanted the dress for holiday in just over 2 weeks time). We will see if I can get my son to go in the loft for me. I cant afford to buy anything else. I have spent so much on fabric this year. Rediculous amount of money to be honest. Fear that if I actually had kept my record of spending I would be horrified.
Time to get on.

dxm

Thank you all for your tips and comments on invisible thread. I managed it in the end by reducing the tension a bit, sewing very slowly, and checking after every few inches that the top thread was still running freely. The ends were really hard to see when I was tidying up too. It's not something I'll be using often!