The Sewing Room

rufusdog52

Kaz when my sewing machine went wrong not long ago (Singer) I rang up the hotline number that was either in the book or on my machine, it got me through to the Singer company, I told them what was wrong and they got an engineer to ring me, he was talking me through different things to try and when it didnt work he asked how old the machien was. I told him about 9 months so he just said its still under warranty, we will pick it up and repair it free. Cant remember how they arranged pick up now but I was told a day and they did come that day and it was back within a week.

Savvy_sewing

hmo wrote: »

well my dd nearly 9 made a cushion a few weeks back with my help for cutting out but she did all the sewing.



the fabric is stripey shes not sewn all that together!

anyway ive been offered a janome sew mini through freecycle for her as she wants her own smaller sewing machine:)

we should get it this week she has already said she wants to make favour type bags to put sweets in as thank yous for her friends who will be at her 9th birthday party at the end of june.

but what else can she make to practice on her machine.

I had the sewing bug by the time I was 9. I went to boarding school, and I was sewing all sorts of things. I remember my Dad went mad that the sewing account was so high. I did the whole years sewing in one term. The compulsory stuff, Apron for cookery, waist tied gingham pouch for the sewing, then the skirt, blouse and I went on to make trousers.
By the second term I had started making what I liked and the teacher was tearing her hair out as the girls were coming and asking me questions and not her! Ha. I remember poor girl got her finger stuck in the sewing machine. She went right through her nail and had to go off to hospital. Teacher (a nun), panic striken, and I had to undo the needle from the machine so they could go off to hospital!). Didnt put me off sewing though!:D
Having a nervous breakdown from making the wedding dresses stopped me, in 1995 until 2003 when i made my own wedding dress more for cost then desire really.!

I hope little one enjoys her janome and will be like me and make something to go out in for the youthclub every week! or what ever it is they do these days.

Kaz2904

I'm going to get DD set up on the machine so that she can make herself something I think. It would be really nice for her to be able to wear something that she has made and it will be fab for her to leave home (not yet, many years away hopefully as she's only 9!) and be able to knock herself up whatever it is that she needs or wants to furnish her own house.
What can I get DS to sew though? He wants some pyjamas so I suppose I could try to find some fabric which would do the trick. Perhaps the duvet covers which I got from my friend would do for now? They're dark colours.
I do think that with so few people being able to sew and appreciate the amount of work that actually goes into making something, that is what has fuelled the crazy throwaway society that we live in today. No value seems to be placed on skills. If more people made their own clothes and furnishings, you can bet your life that there would be less waste (I think so anyway). I don't think I've worded that 1st sentence very well because I'm tired but I hope you've got the gist of what I'm trying to say.

hmo

Kaz2904 wrote: »

I'm going to get DD set up on the machine so that she can make herself something I think. It would be really nice for her to be able to wear something that she has made and it will be fab for her to leave home (not yet, many years away hopefully as she's only 9!) and be able to knock herself up whatever it is that she needs or wants to furnish her own house.
What can I get DS to sew though? He wants some pyjamas so I suppose I could try to find some fabric which would do the trick. Perhaps the duvet covers which I got from my friend would do for now? They're dark colours.
I do think that with so few people being able to sew and appreciate the amount of work that actually goes into making something, that is what has fuelled the crazy throwaway society that we live in today. No value seems to be placed on skills. If more people made their own clothes and furnishings, you can bet your life that there would be less waste (I think so anyway). I don't think I've worded that 1st sentence very well because I'm tired but I hope you've got the gist of what I'm trying to say.

hi yes i understand, my dd is 9 at the end of june, we get the machine for her tonight, so once weve set it up and make sure its ok i am going to give her a scrap of fabric and let her try out the stitches to get used to it.

then we will have to work out what small item she can start off with.

clairewop

Does anyone know where I can get a pattern for a pram set? the back part and cosy toes bit? I have looked on the internet but cannot find one.

irishgirl62

Avstar love the sock monkey!! did you make the tutu?

Not done any sewing, been trying to declutter and so far I managed to succeed in finding home for all the stash! Today I am hoping to draw out the pattern for another dress for myself, I fancy a gypsy style maxi dress I bought pink gingham fabric for it, will use a maxi dress that i have as a template for drawing out the skirt pattern and use a gypsy top pattern for the top.

rufusdog52

My Brother was telling me yesterday he used to work with a lad who did embroidery to make patches and things that they used to sew on the back of a leather jacket or similar. He said the work was really nice and he used to charge a lot for his work. A lot of tailors are men so its not just womens work (sewing that is). I think its lovely for children both girls and boys to have a go. Two of my grandsons are learning to sew and my granddaughter likes sewing too. The boys are 11 and 10 and the girl is 6.

Hmo - bet your daughter is well excited at getting her machine. Cant wait to see some pics of her makes xx

Savvy_sewing

The easiest thing to get her to sew is a Skirt.

Make a rectangle of fabric, fold in half. Sew the seam. Neaten. Hem the bottom. Then Turn over the top, stitch about 2" down. Insert elastic that is adjusted to the size of your Daughter. Stitch the top, to neaten. In a few minutes she will have a skirt.

To make them trousers its a little harder, but only becuase its making sure that the fronts and the back sections dont get mixed up.

Hem a square, and she has a headscarf.

Make a triange. Turn over the top about 6" down, make a seam again around 2" from the top. (Cut off the excess).
Take the sides, and add a tie belt, and hem the bottom. Make a tube, long enough to go around the neck, down through the fabric and able to tie at the neck. Thread it through the top of the triangle and you have a halter neck top!
You can finish it with buttons if its slightly different shape. Just play around with what fabric you have and your daughters measurements.

She could make a basic T shirt, quite easily, with drawing around a t-shirt you already have. Can make a simple one that the arms are part of the T, so only the two side seams, and the to shoulder seams, with the neck hemmed or faced, or bound, with a contrasting fabric.
Then hem. You can add pockets or patches, or applique etc etc.

Just a few thoughts.

avstar

irishgirl62 wrote: »

Avstar love the sock monkey!! did you make the tutu?
.

Thanks everyone - I do love the sock monkey and am glad its going to be living in DD's room, don't want to part with it. Yes the tutu was just a circle of elastic and then I cut the pink tulle into strips and tied on - not much sewing involved at all. I am also trying to knit a scarf for the monkey but I'm struggling, I'm def a sewer not a knitter

Gingerandrhubarb I would def ring up Homebargains, the direct debit charge is proof you only bought the machine 6 months ago so should still be under guarantee.

Good luck to all the kids trying sewing, its a wonderful hobby for them to do inc boys, my dad worked in tailoring and I taught my BF how to sew, he's very good too!

sethsgran

clairewop wrote: »

Does anyone know where I can get a pattern for a pram set? the back part and cosy toes bit? I have looked on the internet but cannot find one.

Could you adapt this tutorial
http://community.babycentre.co.uk/post/a5236875/making_a_buggy_snuggle