The Sewing Room

[Deleted User]

little_miss_moneysaver wrote: »

Lovely makes everyone....was away for a few days and the thread moves on so quick!
I'm still putting of my sewing machine. I think tomorrow will be the day though :undecided
I'm nervous about cutting the fabric for my bag. I got a pattern from my local shop and it's cotton material. Does anyone have any tips? Or is it just a case of pinning the pattern and cutting? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

LMMS

I am not sure how much sewing you have done before so there may be too much informaton here!

Choose a surface large enough to lay out your fabric. I use my kitchen table or the floor depending on how much space I need.

If the fabric is creased press. The pattern should have a cutting layout. It will show how the pattern pieces should be laid out on the fabric. The fabric may have to be folded in half selvedge to selvedge. Check to see if any pattern pieces have to be reversed (unlikely I think for a bag) or cut out twice.

Lay the pattern pieces on the fabric along the straight grain. There may be a grain arrow on the pattern piece. If so pin at either end of the arrow. Then one pin diagonally in the corner of each piece and pin the edge with pins about every 4" (10 cm) with the pins at right angles to the edge. (If there is no grain arrow use common sense and just lay pieces "square" on the fabric with straps for example following warp).

Use the largest scissors that you have to cut. Left hand hold fabric down and open the scissors as far as possible to cut (obviously smaller cuts on curves). Try not to lift the fabric whilst cutting.

Leave the pattern pieces on the fabric until you have transferred any marks that you need using tailors tacks or any method you prefer.

This looks complicated written down but is straightforward enough if you take your time. It is tempting to rush but someone advised me to never cut out late at night which was good advice.

I don't know if you have used a sewing machine much but you can always practise with your machine swing straight lines on a piece of gingham or striped material or lines drawn on plain fabric. You acn also draw lines on a piece of paper and stitch over them but as the paper will blunt the needle it would need changing.

rufusdog52

Lovely instructions Onewom, well done for taking the time, you have explained it brilliantly xx

LJM

thanks seths gran for another great link xx

Tamster150

jemtom wrote: »

im going to ask a silly question now but what do you put in the quilts? i would love to try making one. made my mum a cover for her hot water bottle yesterday from an old pyjama top also have the matching bottoms so i was thinking of making her a pj case to go with it.

i have also heard of people using fleece and old woolen blankets for wadding, although that can sometimes be tricky to sew as fleece especially is quite stretchy.

I buy cotton/poly blend. It is quite thin, even thinner than the 2oz poly but makes a nice warm, heavy weight quilt. Pure cotton wadding (batting) also makes a really lovely quilt but is much more expensive (like £12 M)

Tamster150

LV_Sue wrote: »

I'm after an embroidered anchor to sew on a bag I'm making for my grandaughter. It needs to be about 4 - 6 inches high. Has anyone got any suggestions where I could get one one please? I'm in Surrey if that helps, or are there any online retailers that might have one please. I've looked on ebay but can't see anything - maybe I need to put a different phrase in the search.

TIA

Fabricland in Kingston do those iron on thingies, but I haven't been there for a while so not sure if they have what you are looking for.

it is hidden down the road behind the phoneboxes/wilkinsons

Tamster150

sethsgran wrote: »

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Lifestyle/Crafts/DIY-Decor-Miniature-Applique-Quilt.html a cute FREE pattern for a mini quilt. I have saved this idea in hope that our next grandbaby is a girl too soon to tell yet

I recognise that quilt -

Someone on here has already attempted something similar - I think it might of been danables. The lady who created the pattern has her own blog here with some other free patterns, on a smaller scale & very good instructions for doing machine applique.

Bunny200

I'm so excited, just been to a WI Knitting Workshop and knitted something! Its only a little practise square but we did knit, purl, rib and casting off! And I have no holes!!!! I don't think I'm going to be a major knitter but I'm just excited about the evening I had, loads of women learning and supporting together and lots of laughter!

PootleFlump_3

Bunny200 wrote: »

I'm so excited, just been to a WI Knitting Workshop and knitted something! Its only a little practise square but we did knit, purl, rib and casting off! And I have no holes!!!! I don't think I'm going to be a major knitter but I'm just excited about the evening I had, loads of women learning and supporting together and lots of laughter!

That sounds great. I saw on telly last night that there is a knitting magazine out this week which has wool, needles and a dvd included and its only 99p. Ive been trying to knit but so far have only made a very big rectangle (with lots of holes!). Squares are outwith my comfort zone as I cant figure out how to cast off yet!

Bunny200

PootleFlump wrote: »

That sounds great. I saw on telly last night that there is a knitting magazine out this week which has wool, needles and a dvd included and its only 99p. Ive been trying to knit but so far have only made a very big rectangle (with lots of holes!). Squares are outwith my comfort zone as I cant figure out how to cast off yet!

Someone mentioned a magazine last night but didn't mention 99p, very MSE! Might purchase that, what was it called, was it a part weekly thing or a one off? I know there are loads of knitting mags in the shop and as I said I don't think I'm going to become a major knitter but I wouldn't mind actually making something useful!

dispossessed

Hello all,

First post on this thread (but not MSE) so please accept my apologies if this should be elsewhere but..... does anyone know of a good Tailor / Seamstress in the Bedfordshire / Hertfordshire / Cambridgeshire area ? I live on the borders of all three but am prepared to travel a reasonable distance.

When I say "Good" I think this is best epitomised by the phrase " attention to detail" - I have had some work done locally and have been rather discouraged (to say the least) by some very erratic stitch lines (on several seperate occasions).

Anyway if anyone knows of anyone then I would be grateful.

Many thanks,

Arthur