The Sewing Room

Georgiabay

That's really good Hippychick, I'm sure it will be well received. I love the paddedness of the bin part, especially the roll round the top.


Loving the bags Pootle and Dizzytina.


Goingsideways, I haven't got any advice on machines but they have been discussed before if you look back in the thread.

Tamster150

goingsideways wrote: »

Hello all,

My problem is because my shoulders are huge and my waist is narrow (v shape) and I also weight-train all the shirts I buy fit on the shoulders but have loads of excess around the waist (designed for round men!) I am also a student hence the DIY.

Many thanks

This book looks like it might be of use to you, although it mentions adjusting patterns and not actual clothes but I imagine the principles to be the same.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fit-Real-People-Clothes-Pattern

I think you might just need to add some "darts", to shape the waist more.

There is a dressmaker near me that does 1-2-1 tution, she quoted me £15 for a lesson. Try looking up local dressmakers/alterations in your area and contacting them to see if they offer a similar service.

Hippychick

Thanks the roll around the top has car washer jet tubing underneath and the padded part is quilted.

PootleFlump_3

Tina, love your bags (especially the satin looking one - gorgeous!)
Hippychick that looks brill - sure she will love it.
Goingsideways - I have The Sewing Book by Alison Smith which is really good although Ill have to look at it and let you know if it has any pages that show you how to adjust shirts. If I dont get round to it today I will post tomorrow.
Tamster - I made a make up bag out of loads of swatches I had. I cant post a piccie as my photobucket not working just now (although to be honest there is nothing much to it. Just cut loads of square and stitch together like patchwork then add a zig zag topstitch along each square to finish it off nicely then put a zip in.)

Savvy_sewing

cuddles123 wrote: »

Not had a chance to use it yet - will be tomorrow now.

I paid £169 which is considerably cheaper than the Brother I was looking at.:money:

Alas I will have to forgo for a few years yet!

Savvy_sewing

goingsideways wrote: »

Thank you for your reply. Apologies I should have been clearer. I only want to tailor shirts that I have bought, I don't intend to make any- that certainly is beyond my limits!
Have been to a tailor before and remember what he did so I am just going to do it by trial and error. Will take you advice on board

Anyone else who would like to give advice about machines is welcome

You will need to make darts in the shirts to taylor them. Usually the darts will be either side of the centre, from the yoke to the base, or just before. I would probably remove the excess fabric once stitched, to avoid bulk.
The darts at the front would depend on the positioning of any pockets> So best to buy shirts that are already classed as slimfit, and take the current darts in further.
The most crucial part of doing the darts, is to makesure that they are equal distant. So I would adice, pinning the shirt on you, wear it inside out, an get help to pin it.
You would only need a very basic sewing machine to do that. Its straight stitches thats all.


Reference The chat about overlockers.I have had my overlocker for over 15 years, possibly even 18
I would not be without it.
I can make a basic bag on it, in less then 20 minutes.!
I can hem a pair of jeans that I overlock, then sew again with orange thread, in 15minutes at the most.
I have both machines set up together, all the time.

Pooky

Hippychick - what a fab idea your scrap bag holder is....I might have to have a think along those lines for my Mum.

Some lovely bags there Tina, are they all for you or are you selling/gifting them?

My sewing mojo showed it's head briefly today so I made the most of it and made some curtains and a door stop (piccies on blog). Although common sense was lacking when trying to do french seams and I did it wrong 3 times before I gave myself a good talking too and stopped being quite so blonde.

gingerandrubarb

cuddles123 wrote: »

It was the computerised Brother I was looking at, but the guy talked me out of it. He reckoned that the Toyota was better quality machine and will sew virtually any material or thickness.
He demonstrated on fleece, jersey, lycra and 4 thicknesses of curtain fabric - easy peasy

He must be confident if he is offering an exchange or money back after 2 weeks
And I'm supporting a local business.

think i may need to ask the wish fairy for your model then :rotfl:if he tested it and it works on all those materials and for quilting then it's a goer in my book :j keep us updated though as it would be interesting to hear what you think of using it also hunny x

gingerandrubarb

flea72 wrote: »

i think i use my overlocker just as much, if not more than my sewing machine.

as the overlocker finishes edges and stitches in one motion, i only use my sewing machine to reinforce seams and finish hems/necklines (although if i can get away with a lettuce hem on the O/L, i try and use that)

F

Sorry if this seems silly but what is the difference between an 'overlocker' and a 'sewing machine' i hadn't heard of an overlocker until 3 weeks ago

dizzytina

Pooky wrote: »

Hippychick - what a fab idea your scrap bag holder is....I might have to have a think along those lines for my Mum.

Some lovely bags there Tina, are they all for you or are you selling/gifting them?

My sewing mojo showed it's head briefly today so I made the most of it and made some curtains and a door stop (piccies on blog). Although common sense was lacking when trying to do french seams and I did it wrong 3 times before I gave myself a good talking too and stopped being quite so blonde.

I am doing a farmers market next week so one is for that but the other two have been ordered by people so already sold. I do love bags though so could quite easily keep them - you can never have too many (apparently my hubby thinks you can!!)