The Sewing Room

PootleFlump_3

freudianslip wrote: »

What is closed end zips? Would that be what I would need for the pencil case? Also could I use them for making small scatter cushions too? There a pack of 5 (6 inches) on ebay for 99p. Sound about the right thing I need?

Be careful about buying cheap zips. Ive tried them before and they have burst. I have a stash of longer zips in the house if you decide to try cushions. If you want me to send you a few so you can practice just PM me your address. You should try and get a machine if you can. You will love it!! x

hart44

I am lucky, I can get my zips from the fabric shop not far from me but the smallest they do is 8 inch but they can be cut down if I need shorter so it is always better to buy bigger if you are unsure what size you need

I made a start on finishing the bag I had cut out before my op but Ive had to stop now as the fabric I want for the lining is too short so I have had to order some more off ebay

I have had some realy nice sea/boat theme buttons arrive today Im going to make some bits for my step-dad for fathers day as he is sailing mad and has his own boat he goes on every Sunday
I have the fabric and hope to make him a phone holder and wallet out of it

hmo

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Hmo - that bag is gorgeous, well done, was the sequin fabric easy to sew? I tried sewing on sequin fabric once and it kept cutting the thread as I was going along.

hi

thank you it was really easy to sew, its flimsy fabric so i put fusable interlining on it first and i sewed it with that side up.

i am pleased with it as i made the pattern up myself not much different from lots that are available but i drew this all my self and printed the pattern too.

ChocolateIsLife

Fab bag hmo! Have had a go at making a tote bag today, took me ages as i didn't seem to understand the tutorial very well but a great youtube tutorial helped me out. Is a 'practice run', want to make one for my mum with some poppy fabric i've bought although not sure how the material will look as a tote

freudianslip

ChocolateIsLife wrote: »

Fab bag hmo! Have had a go at making a tote bag today, took me ages as i didn't seem to understand the tutorial very well but a great youtube tutorial helped me out. Is a 'practice run', want to make one for my mum with some poppy fabric i've bought although not sure how the material will look as a tote

the tote looks fab, really strong and sturdy looking too.

hart44

ChocolateIsLife wrote: »

Fab bag hmo! Have had a go at making a tote bag today, took me ages as i didn't seem to understand the tutorial very well but a great youtube tutorial helped me out. Is a 'practice run', want to make one for my mum with some poppy fabric i've bought although not sure how the material will look as a tote

Your bag looks great :T
I was like you a year ago, when I 1st found this thread I had not been near a sewing machine since school (very long time :rotfl:) but here I am with the help from here and the internet sewing complicated bags and even now doing quilting squares ready to make pretty quilts, I have made 3 simple patchwork quilts
My 1st tote bag was made from 2 tea towels and ended up huge but it was practice and I still use it for shopping

Im going to try do a bit of sewing today (just some thing simple) as Im now so fed up with this bandage but it's comming off Tuesday :j

Forgot to say I have ordered this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLFA-RATCHET-ROTARY-COMPASS-CUTTER-CMP-3-FABRIC-/150576500446?pt=UK_Crafts_Sewing_Supplies_MJ&hash=item230f0f0ede

I can't wait till it arrives

freudianslip

Do most of you use a machine? I would love to do a tote bag like ChocolateisLife but I just can't see how much hand stitching would ever be strong enough.

I just wish I could afford a machine. Time for another savings pot I guess!

rufusdog52

Good luck wth the sewing Hart, that cutter looks a good idea. I need to get a new blade for my normal rotary cutter as its leaving little tags joined still when I cut. Have been using it loads though. Really glad my son bought me the large mat and the cutter as dont know how I managed without it. I would like one of those circle ones too.

I was sorting out my craft room on Friday and come across some patchwork blocks I made up ages ago using all my little bits of fabric left over. What I had done was cut them all into small strips about 1.5 inches wide and any length most only about 2 or 3 inches and then sewed them into a long strip and used it to do log cabin style blocks. There are very brightly coloured. I had 9 of them done so I sewed them into a bigger square and then sewed a border around the edge. It still didnt look big enough for a quilt so I found loads more scraps of fabric and cut some strips 4 inches by 1.5 inches and this time sewed them together lengthwise so I ended up with a 4 inch wide stripey strip. I have sewn this around the outside and have now pinned and tacked together the three layers of the quilt ready to be quilted.

Cant make my mind up whether to attempt quilting this one by machine now I have my walking foot or whether to do it by hand. I want to put the finished article in my shop. I am more confident doing hand quilting but I am doing my Dads one at the moment and still quite a bit to do on that so it would have to wait. I would really like to do it on the machine but am scared it doesnt come out well and I would have spoiled it.

Decisions, decisions.

rufusdog52

freudianslip wrote: »

Do most of you use a machine? I would love to do a tote bag like ChocolateisLife but I just can't see how much hand stitching would ever be strong enough.

I just wish I could afford a machine. Time for another savings pot I guess!

Hi Freudianslip - why dont you come and join some of us on the thrifty gifty money making thread in this forum? We help and support each other to earn extra pennies doing surveys and reviews and things, the money soon mounts up. Have a look at some of the recent posts and the first post tells you a bit about what we do. We say we are saving for special occasions but buying a sewing machine would be a special occasion. You might find you can earn enough in a month or two if you have the time to fit it in, Rufus xx

freudianslip

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

Hi Freudianslip - why dont you come and join some of us on the thrifty gifty money making thread in this forum? We help and support each other to earn extra pennies doing surveys and reviews and things, the money soon mounts up. Have a look at some of the recent posts and the first post tells you a bit about what we do. We say we are saving for special occasions but buying a sewing machine would be a special occasion. You might find you can earn enough in a month or two if you have the time to fit it in, Rufus xx

Oh really? I'm straight over there. I'm a stay at home Mum so I an fit extra things in. Fantastic thanks!