The Sewing Room

Kaz2904

Don't get me onto clothes yet! Ha, I've only sewed a couple of lines! I don't see me ever being able to follow a pattern, so smocks anyone ? I'll go with the cushions first and see how I manage.
Any tips for this? I was going to cut the pillow in half as It's about the right size then. How to sew it shut? Do I need to pin it or shall I just sew? I may need to remove some innards to get a tidy edge (seam?) which means that I will then have to go and make some stuffed hearts and things (aw shucks!).

Errata

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Don't get me onto clothes yet! Ha, I've only sewed a couple of lines! I don't see me ever being able to follow a pattern, so smocks anyone ? I'll go with the cushions first and see how I manage.
Any tips for this? I was going to cut the pillow in half as It's about the right size then. How to sew it shut? Do I need to pin it or shall I just sew? I may need to remove some innards to get a tidy edge (seam?) which means that I will then have to go and make some stuffed hearts and things (aw shucks!).

Pin, tack, sew. Might seem like a lot of fuss, but ensures a good result.

Kaz2904

Brill, thanks for that. I assume that the tacking holds it all steady while I sew it together then. I hope I don't jab myself with the pins!

irishgirl62

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Brill, thanks for that. I assume that the tacking holds it all steady while I sew it together then. I hope I don't jab myself with the pins!

I would sew over the pins someone told me that was naughty but I find it works for me:rotfl:

Kaz2904

Gawd, I'd probably snap the needle and send it flying through my carotid artery (or my eye)- eep! *Whispers* Might give it a try though
I reallyneed to get off my BUM and get the ironing put away so I can get started on it.
The thing is, I will need to open up the second Aldi box but it's only cellophane wrapped so I actually need somewhere to store it all. I have a pink tool box http://www.pressies4princesses.co.uk/pink-toolbox-DIY-kit.shtml (similar only mine has two trays as a top shelf which slide sideways and it has a mirror- probably the most "me" christmas present I have ever recieved!) which I love and think that if I can find something like this, it'll be ideal for now. Goodness, I wish I had bitten the bullet and boughtthat god awful make up set in boots at Christmas when it was down to £10! Ah well, life goes on.

In_Search_Of_Me

well done kaz! I think the secret to good shape in making things is ironing as you go! this may help in deciding which to do!
http://www.makeitandmendit.com/2010/02/20/how-to-make-cushions/
Am getting on with quilt but its so vast that it takes an age and now I just want it finished...so I can start the next one lol! Mind you must have a tody - theres thread everywhere!
I have one of these and its fab for small bits of quilting etc;
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50119054

Savvy_sewing

Dont think of it as a garment. Just think of every seam as an individual line of sewing.
Read the pattern through first. Then stop. Make sure that you set your pattern out as to the instructions. If the fabric is cut out correctly, the notches will guide you on the seams.
Then Iron every stage as you go. If you follow the instructions on a pattern you should be fine.
Relax and enjoy it. What is the worst that can happen? You have to stop, unpick and start again.
When I started to sew we always pinned, tacked, removed pins and sewed. Becuase at the tacking stage, you can try a garment on to see if its going to fit. If you have it pinned you are liable to jab yourself (and eventually that friend or customer).
I sew over pins too! I do have a habit of it either bending the needle or the pin! so I do try to remove the pin as i get to it. But that doesnt always work, I forget sometimes.
If you are pinning at rightangles to the seam, then it is less likely you will get the pin stuck in the feed dog or the mechanism of the machine.

Good luck.

nykied

Mooloo wrote: »

Read the pattern through first.

Now see, this is the bit I'm having trouble with. The pattern doesn't make any sense! Admittedly, it's one of those that came free with 'Sew' magazine, but nowhere does it tell you that you need to sew the sides of the bodice lining in the opposite direction to the way you sewed the sides of the bodice. Nowhere!

It's obvious I've done it wrong now I've figured out how the bodice and lining is supposed to go, but they didn't explain it in the instructions, nor did they explain various other points :eek:

wendym

Free patterns are not the easiest (she said too late and unhelpfully). 'Proper' patterns are much easier to follow. Oddly, I think some of the best are Vogue Very Easy, but they are expensive. As I said in an earlier post, I've just bought a Simplicity East to Sew, and it just isn't.

Kaz2904

Helloooooooo again . I've made the cushion part now. I changed my mind and use a feather pillow. I shook all the feathers down and decided where I wanted the line to be. I then got a spirit level (the longest straight edge I posess!) and drew a line across the pillow with permanent marker (biro didn't work). I then (tried) to follow the line with a running stitch (? it was straight). Once that was done, I went over it with a zig zag stitch. Then I cut off the excess material (scary bit that, but not too many rogue feathers!). I then folded it over about 4cm and did another row of straight stitching. I had a spot of bother there as I snapped the top thread and the bottom looked like I was growing cress. So I cut it off and carried on. It's just the right size now so I'm happy.
ISOM, I saw that you had posted after I last came on but didn't check back. I then decided to look for some advice from the oracle (aka google). Weirdly, the site I picked was the one you have linked to. How funny is that?