OS/ HM soft furnishings

lofty_cherrytree

Join Freecycle. Our local group has just had a couple of offers of sewing machines, and the best thing is that it's free. It's nationwide so just find a group near you and register. (it's for recycling stuff no longer wanted, but given away free to reduce landfill.)

jcr16

this is a very interesting thread. i am thinking along very similar lines. i was given a sewing machine from my husbands nan when she passed away. and even tho my hubby is an electrican it hs taken him 3 years to change the plug from a 2 pin to 3 pin. how typical. lol.

anyway i have so far made a single duvet into 2 cot duvets for my son for his cot. but i am really keen to get on with other bits.

i would love to make a patchwork throw for my children any ideas how ?

also curtains and cushions are my top choice .

also my sewing machine is an extremly old cream singer one. it has loads of attachments but not a button hole one. my mum in law says i will still be able to buy one. but does anyone know any singer sewing machine websites that might help.

Anne_Marie_2

If any of you are prepared to wait a bit I have some stuff on doing curtains and blinds in box in the attic. No chance of me going up there, but hubby home from sea in a couple of weeks, so will ask him to bring it down, can scan and then email to anyone who is interested. If I forget, which is likely for me, pm me in a few weeks to remind me!

For doing something simple like a throw which will be either rectangular or square shaped using 1 width of fabric, you have 2 selvedge edges so they are straight anyway - to get straight edges for other 2 sides, pick out one thread near the bottom of fabric and pull, very gently. Material will pucker up, contine pulling very gently, until you have covered the whole width of material.Pull out thread. You will now see that you have a thread missing (bit like me most of the time! :rolleyes:). With very sharp scissors, cut along this line. Result - straight edge. Do the same at the other end of the material. Then you can hem and sew away to your hearts content.

To make up a reversible throw -
Two pieces of material cut to same size. Put right sides together (the nice patterned sides, sometimes it doesn't matter, depending on material - anyway the sides you want to see when it's all finished). Sew straight lines on 3 sides. At corners, snip diagonally with scissors, but do not cut across your stitching. This lets the material lie flat when you get round to turning it the right way round. It is good to iron.............sorry.........frequently, while you are doing all of this! (Am now hiding behind the settee in case you lot are going to throttle me!)
Anyway, turn material right way round, - then do the ironing bit again. If you are happy with things, now time to sew up final seam. It can be done by machine - bit fiddly turning things about..so, will not bother there at the moment.
Turn hem inside open edge, and give a wee iron. Then you can handstitch or you can use some of that iron on sticky stuff, or you can use wee studs like you have on duvets, velcro. Final choice is to go by your sewing skills and what you can be bothered with. Or you can just sew straight line down opened edge - depends if you want "invisible seam".

tiredwithtwins

blimey, if my mother had a pound for every patchwork throw ive made over the years she'd be rich!!
not being at all sentimental, she binned them ....

nabowla

I've been hunting high and low for a beginner's machine sewing class in central London. You'd think that it would be easy as there are so many evening classes on offer, but it's impossible to find anything that suits. I've found lots of advanced/specialist courses but nothing for the beginner who needs to learn to sew in a straight line :rolleyes: I don't want to do anything as ambitious as sewing clothes, just have a go at a few basic home furnishings. Has anyone got any bright ideas?

Anne_Marie_2

nabowla wrote:

I've been hunting high and low for a beginner's machine sewing class in central London. You'd think that it would be easy as there are so many evening classes on offer, but it's impossible to find anything that suits. I've found lots of advanced/specialist courses but nothing for the beginner who needs to learn to sew in a straight line :rolleyes: I don't want to do anything as ambitious as sewing clothes, just have a go at a few basic home furnishings. Has anyone got any bright ideas?

Total basics. You need a tape measure, suppose a ruler would be fine, also some pins. Go into any shop which sells fabric and ask for box of pins for tacking - not to be confused with tacking pins which OH uses for jobs about the house! Pin material together until you are happy with the way things are. Then needle and thread. Use a contrasting thread - doesn't matter what colour it is, just so long as you can see it clearly. You are going to remove it anyway.
Sew big straight stitches along your pin line. Remove all your pins, then machine sew just a little off your tacking stitch line, but sew in parallel to that line. (You could sew directly over, but it a nuisance sometimes trying to remove tacking thread). Remove tacking thread when you have machine sewed.
Probably not explained things very well - so any confusion let me know and will try to explain it a bit better - or someone else could come to my rescue!:rolleyes:

JoeyEmma

Update!

The rubbish Easy Stitch has been taken back to Poundstretcher. I explained it was crap and they automatically gave me a refund. I then went and got a reconditioned sewing machine with a 12 month warranty for £40. I've realised that I'm better off buying a better machine and then selling it on through Loot or ebay than being stuck with a useless machine that will ruin my fabric.

I know have a load of fabric for making my bedspread/ comforter.

I was wondering if I should buy some padding/ wadding to go in it so that it doesn't end up looking like a duvet cover. Does that seem a bit over ambitious? If I do get it, will I have to stitch a couple of line down the comforter to stop it moving about?

JoeyEmma

Update 2

I have decided against filling as it is too complicated. I have measured and cut out the fabric and pinned it together. Gone to set up the sewing machine and.... it hasn't got a pedal or power plug!!! When I tried it out in the shop it had them, but it must have been packaged up wrong.

Now I'm in a mood!