OS/ HM soft furnishings

JoeyEmma

Having moved into my first proper house 4 weeks ago, I'm trying to jazz it up OS (and cheap!).

I have purchased one of those JML easystitch sewing machines (only £20, only does one type of stitch though) and have just had a rather succesful attempt at making 2 cushions for the bedroom.

I'm looking at being more adventurous with my sewing and have thought about getting some sewing patterns as I want to make a throw (not a full bedspread) for the bed that matches the cushions.

I have thought about ordering some patterns off the net as I think using the paper will help me cut out my pieces better. I've seen Kwik Sew patterns as well as Butterick. Has anybody had any experience with these, and which is easiest for the ultimate novice?

Where is good to buy from to get good cheap, easy, non-old-lady-fuddy-duddy and reliable patterns?

Cheers in advance!

Jo

flea72

kwiksew patterns are very easy to follow for a novice, so i would go with those, but there are very few stockists of these in the UK, and anyway, it usually works out cheaper to buy them direct from the US

as for cheap patterns, i would either join a coop on yahoo groups, or buy them from my local fabric store when there are sales on. i think New Look patterns are 25% off at the mo, most places

not really sure you would need a pattern for a throw, as its a simple shape.

However, fabric isnt that cheap to buy, and you usually find with soft furnishings, they are cheaper to buy ready made from places like Dunelm, Wilko, The Range

As for non-old-lady-fuddy-duddy-patterns, i dont really thing there are any. you just have to ignore what fabric they have used in their pics, and just use the basic pattern shape as a starting point. Kwiksew being the most hard to try and visualise from, as they just use such awful fabrics.

hth Flea

JoeyEmma

Thank you!

I need a pattern as I am highly inept at sewing and need to be guided through step by step.

I got my fabric for the cushions I made from Dunelm. It cost me about £5 to make the two cushions, however similar things that I have looked at have been £30+ each.

I can only find plain and boring throws in block colours and bland materials such as chenile, satin and fleece. I want a cool cotton one with a bold pattern, that seems to be a fortune ready made, if you can find one.

lofty_cherrytree

I bought some fabric sample books from a local upholstery/curtain fabric shop for £2 each, Loads of squares for patchwork in toning colours. Somentimes charity shops get lengths of fabric at good prices.

flea72

if you are just looking at doing a one layer throw, in a cotton fabric, then the easiest way would be to work with the width of the fabric, that way you only have to hem two edges, and for that you wouldnt even need to sew, you could just turn the edges over and use some bondaweb

what type of fabric have you made the cushions from, as that may have some bearing on the easiest way to make a throw?

hth Flea

JoeyEmma

Its a cream cotton, like curtain material, with a pink/raspberry flower print.

The thing strip on the edge reads 'Exclusive "presitigious" design 100% cotton printed in the UK'

I want to try and avoid having to use two widths of fabric as it would involve pattern matching that is far too complicated for a novice like me.

I want to try and make it lined so that it lasts a bit longer (and also if I stain it with my morning cup of tea I can turn it over and use the other side!)

I've been looking up free patterns without any success. I can find loads of American quilting sites but not many throws.

flea72

i dont think you will find a pattern for what is basically a square

pattern matching isnt as hard as it sounds, but perhaps an easier way to get the size of throw you want, would to be use a co-ordinating plain strip down the middle between two pieces of the pattern fabric, or maybe, use a plain border all around? to make it even easier with a border, if you blocked the corners, you wouldnt have to try mitring (??) them. or how about, just block the throw from 4 large squares

http://www.quiltersvillage.com/basic/basic12/ this shows various ways of adding a border to a quilt

making it double sided, would be the same principle, as when you made the cushion covers.

hth Flea

jessicamb

I've got the same machine as you but I've never been able to get much more than very basic performance out of it (my ineptness rather than the machine).

Just a word of warning - it cant cope with thick material (I tried to take up some curtains and it wouldnt play).

JoeyEmma

It is a bit of a pain. I've been playing with it a bit more and have discovered its annoying habits, such as its inability to go on a perfectly straight line and the top thread keeps breaking and needing rethreading. I don't think the wonky lines mattered as much when I was making the cushions as the padding means that you don't have any clearly straight lines.

I did go to a carboot sale this morning to try and find a second hand one that was a bit better but there weren't any so I thought I'd give this one a shot.

LizD_2

Try charity shops for second hand machines. Or try your local sewing shop: they may have reconditioned or ex-display models available.

As for the printed edge, just turn it under, stitch, then turn it under again and stitch to hide the print.

If you're really stuck, try the Sewing for Dummies range, by Simplicity. I like https://www.habithat.co.uk for patterns.

JoeyEmma

My local charity shops are always quite expensive. I look at the recipe books and realise they are often cheaper to buy them from play.com with free delivery!

I've put a wanted ad on freecycle though and am looking at loot as well.