The Sewing Room

parsniphead

Count me in too. :jI tend to lurk mostly, but it will be nice to be able to chat with like minded folks.

Plus I have so many projects half finished it may give me a kick up the bum I need.

whoopidoo

Room for a complete beginner? Just came over from the Christmas thread and can't even threadle a machine. My resolutions this year though are to learn to sew and crochet. I have no excuse, I have my Mums old machine in the cupboard under the stairs so I just need to get that checked out and then I can start learning. My MIL has given a very good book that my sister said she taught herself completely with (and she makes fabulous stuff now) so here goes eh?

jollymummy

Wendall - I got the Cath Kidston book for Christmas too and intend to have a go at the bag.
It's my birthday in January and I fancy a sewing machine for my birthday, I'm currently using an ancient Singer and I'm a bit of a novice at it all, so all advice will be much appreciated. I might start a thread about it

rosalie-lavender

sandy2 wrote: »

Hi there, I buy quite a few clothes on ebay and alter them, so I´d like to join please. At the moment I´ve got 2 dresses waiting to be ´changed´.Both of them are long. the first is for a wedding in June, so have a bit of time...it´s white(ish) with red flowers, 2 layers, top one being a sort of georgette and the lining is a nylon underskirt. Ithe dress has a V necline front and back, but the front has been a little stretched when ironed (not by me) so woild like a few thougts on sorting that out. I am going to shorten the dress for daytime wear and with the bottom bit I cut off I want to make an insert for a side seam in the dress to make it ore swirly. the whole dress is cut on the bias.
The second project that I want to do asap is a stretchy velvet sequined evening dress. simple shift style no zips etc. Nothing special, scoop neck front and back with wide shoulders. As I´m quite narrow across the shoulders I need to do something to make the ´straps´ narrower. Am toying with the idea of cutting the back neckline into a deep V... Although the dress is a long, when I try it on it goes up at the front (as I have quite a protruding bust) so might just cut the bottom off and turn it into a short cocktail type dress, or cut a bit off the bottom and add like a fishtail in navy chiffon to keep the dress as a full length one. The other thing wit this dress is it doesn´´t have facings on the neck or round the armholes, just a turned hem.
Any thoughts, ideas, tips on these projests would be gratly appreciated
Sandy

I'm in too, how nice to see a sewing thread.

My initial thoughts on the above are

First dress, one way of sorting out the stretched V could be to get a piece of narrow seam tape-if you use cotton boil it first in case it shrinks with washing. Put the tape on the underside of the neckline and ease the excess in evenly along the length. Then either hand stitch or top stitch it to the neckline making sure the tape doesn't show on the right side. You could also use a piece cut off the selvedge of the cut off bit so the colour matches. A triangular godet would be nice added to the side seams from the oddment. I would cut it longer than you want and then level it up at the hem after you have sewn it in.

Second dress, I think the fact that it hasn't got any facings will make it easier to alter because you haven't got to take them off first. It is hard to say the best way to alter it without seeing it. If you make a v back bear in mind if you want to make the straps narrower you will probably have to alter the front neck a little to keep a smooth line. It will also not stop the straps being too far over on the shoulder (if they are.) If that is the case you may need to take a bit off the straps at at the armhole side. Has it got a seam up the back? If it has you might be able to unpick it and pin it to see how the v will work before you commit to it. The best bet for the hem might be to do what you say and level it off into a cocktail length so that you can cut it longer at the front.

Alcmene

I love quilting, my nest quilt is going to be for me, I want to make a muppet quilt.

sandy2_2

Thanks for your thoughts RosalieL, Couldn´t remember the word godet when I needed it.
Sandy

zombiecazz

I'll join in too.
I want to make some mini tartan skirts for my DD to over the top of her leggins. I bought a pair of tartan trousers and a tartan nightie from a charity shop today £7.00 all together and enough material to make at least 3 amybe 4 skirts.

SavingSu

A sewing thread - a big me too! I mainly hand stitch so have started some quilts but not finished them yet. I'd like to branch out - I've made a few bags and am considering using a sewing machine to make this easier or seeing if my Mam's old one still works. I'd love to work up to clothes so will follow along with interest.

wendall

jollymummy wrote: »

Wendall - I got the Cath Kidston book for Christmas too and intend to have a go at the bag.
It's my birthday in January and I fancy a sewing machine for my birthday, I'm currently using an ancient Singer and I'm a bit of a novice at it all, so all advice will be much appreciated. I might start a thread about it

My machine is ancient i got it on Freecycle but it does do button holes etc on, we will have to compare pictures when we have done our bags, i bet mine is more wonky than yours :rotfl:

xxlaurissaxx

whoopidoo wrote: »

Room for a complete beginner? Just came over from the Christmas thread and can't even threadle a machine. My resolutions this year though are to learn to sew and crochet. I have no excuse, I have my Mums old machine in the cupboard under the stairs so I just need to get that checked out and then I can start learning. My MIL has given a very good book that my sister said she taught herself completely with (and she makes fabulous stuff now) so here goes eh?

Me too I got a singer sewing machine for Christmas but dont have a scooby how to sew. Its my new years resoloution to learn and make things.
What book is it that your sister taught herself with? xx