The Sewing Room

Kandipandi · 20 May 2010 at 7:19PM

genieuk wrote: »

I love your makes kandi, the colours are nice and fresh. Just wandering if it is easier to sew the union jack flat first then have a heart template, draw round that. Right sides together etc and stitch. Thats probably what you do already, I know i would be faffing for ages trying to line ribbons up etc.

I prefer to cut out the heart and add the ribbons to that, that way i don't waste any precious ribbons and lace (very MSE).;)

23rdspiral · 20 May 2010 at 8:20PM

thanks for the impromptu tutorial Kandipandi! and the link to the mobile phone charm thingys no wonder i couldnt find them i was searching for 'mini key ring' ect. thanks!!

tete - um, all those lovely craft blogs are rather distracting arent they?!?

tina - a couple of people have approached me recently through flickr looking to do swaps outside of the interest groups i'm already in. So i dont know them, but one has a nice blogger blog and is based in devon. would it be appropriate for me to point them to your blog? do say, it's fine if not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

well, i'm ploughing on with my hexies - made 30 or so in the last few evenings, but my left thumb was starting to get sore! so a change of pace was needed today (not at work today), and i had a totally uncontrolable urge to make a 'mini quilt'!

i just grabbed some scraps and started machine piecing. so mini, i made two this afternoon! one for me and one for my oh as 'mug rugs'. i made his first so it's not as good, but he wont be able to tell! I've just got the handstitched binding on mine left to do, so that's me sorted for this evening. (oh my poor left thumb

)

genieuk · 20 May 2010 at 8:27PM

Kandipandi wrote: »

I prefer to cut out the heart and add the ribbons to that, that way i don't waste any precious ribbons and lace (very MSE).;)

Even better idea.

rosalie-lavender · 21 May 2010 at 6:55AM

PootleFlump wrote: »

Brilliant thanks!! Do you know if I should make double or single fold for putting round armholes and necklines?

I usually cut single fold. I don't usually bother to press mine either but it probably is easier to sew on if it is pressed first.

I do occasionally do a double binding but I do mine differently to theirs. I cut a strip twice as wide as needed for a single binding, fold it in half and the sew the two cut edges to the edge I am binding (together as if they were one piece.) Then I fold the binding over the raw edges I have just sewn and stitch the folded edge to the reverse of whatever I am making. This gives a nice neat edge but it is twice the thickness and also has to be accurately cut because once it is sewn on there is less scope for altering the width if you decide it is too wide or uneven. This website shows what I know of as a double binding and gives good instructions.

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2008/08/tutorial-binding-your-quilt.html

If you are binding an armhole or neckline try and cut the strips as long as possible to save having joins showing. Try the dress on first before you bind it if you are leaving sleeves out. If the dress has been cut to have sleeves in it might be cut slightly looser than a sleeveless dress would be round the armhole area. It is a lot easier to make alterations before you put the binding on, binding is quite time consuming so best to alter things first than end up taking a binding off again. Another tip I have learnt is to put the start point at the underarm then if you do want to make a small alteration you only have to take a bit of the binding undone not take it all off.

Once you have mastered binding it is a really useful thing to be able to do. I bind a lot of my necklines and armholes instead of facings. You can also cut contrasting bindings to add interest to something. Once you have learnt to cut a bias strip you also have the first step of making the strips for piping and for rouleaux loops.

dizzytina · 21 May 2010 at 7:18AM

23rdspiral wrote: »

thanks for the impromptu tutorial Kandipandi! and the link to the mobile phone charm thingys no wonder i couldnt find them i was searching for 'mini key ring' ect. thanks!!

tete - um, all those lovely craft blogs are rather distracting arent they?!?

tina - a couple of people have approached me recently through flickr looking to do swaps outside of the interest groups i'm already in. So i dont know them, but one has a nice blogger blog and is based in devon. would it be appropriate for me to point them to your blog? do say, it's fine if not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

well, i'm ploughing on with my hexies - made 30 or so in the last few evenings, but my left thumb was starting to get sore! so a change of pace was needed today (not at work today), and i had a totally uncontrolable urge to make a 'mini quilt'!

i just grabbed some scraps and started machine piecing. so mini, i made two this afternoon! one for me and one for my oh as 'mug rugs'. i made his first so it's not as good, but he wont be able to tell! I've just got the handstitched binding on mine left to do, so that's me sorted for this evening. (oh my poor left thumb )

Spiral hope your thumb is a bit better. Its absolutely fine for you to let anyone you want know about the swap on my blog and give them the opportunity to join in:D The more the merrier!!!.

Kandi thanks for the advice on the beading i have never tried jewellery making but its on my list. There just seems to be so many different types of wire and little pieces that i need an idiots guide to what each one is for and what you do with them. The ones you do are beautiful so i'd love to give it a whirl.

Georgiabay · 21 May 2010 at 9:34AM

Witchwoopiggy - I meant to ask you before; what does a piggy have that needs washing? I thought the bedding would be shavings or something but I can just see him (or her) wearing a little t shirt with their picture on the front!

Dinah93 · 21 May 2010 at 9:41AM

New skirt to post today. Finished it about a week ago, but only just got around to posting some pictures. It's a bit big, but also a bit short, so I don't really mind that it sits quite low on my hips. I lost the pattern for this one very early on, so I just worked through it logically, and I'm chuffed with the end result. I even added a red ribbon into the seam to provide a bit of interest at the waistband.

It's not quite as shiny as the pictures suggest, but it is metallic. My legs really are that white though!

Sorry the pics are so huge, they just won't resize!

witchwoopiggy · 21 May 2010 at 10:02AM

Georgiabay wrote: »

Aw that's cute witchwoopiggy.

Now I've got my sewing machine back I've made this bag today :

It's made from a reversible long sleeved t shirt and has a small pocket inside. The flower is a yo yo with the stem and leaves in reverse applique. The material was easy to sew, especially round the curves because when I turned the edges in they stretched round instead of having to be clipped to fit. It was a bit trial and error as I didn't have a pattern but it's turned out OK(ish).

ooo very nice, I love the colour, and the flower :T:T

Kandipandi wrote: »

Been obsessing with union jacks again and came up with these, the blue cotton was previously a mans shirt (washed of course):

i have always loved your purces

and the little love heart is just so cute :T:T

Georgiabay wrote: »

Witchwoopiggy - I meant to ask you before; what does a piggy have that needs washing? I thought the bedding would be shavings or something but I can just see him (or her) wearing a little t shirt with their picture on the front!

they all have vet bed to keep them dry, as they are all long haired

and then theres the other bits such as beds, tunnels, they are spoilt rotton:o :rotfl::rotfl:

Dinah I love your skirt :T:T and my legs are that white too :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

well I was up till 2am finishing a Piggy Pocket, details of which are on my blog and there is also a Dumbledore modeling it for me :smileyhea hope you all have a good day