The Sewing Annexe

SpikyHedgehog

I've been lurking here & was inspired to get my machine out to tackle the curtains for the hallway. They're 2nd hand, can't remember if it was charity shop or car boot, & when I washed them I realised they were floor length, so just what I wanted to go in the hallway to cover the front door and [STRIKE]move with the draught[/STRIKE] help block out the draught.

But they needed new curtain heading as the existing stuff was coming apart. I've now learnt that the pretty coloured line on curtain heading is good for sewing along, because if you sew too far ontot he heading you will sew through the gathering strings and have to un-pick it...

Very pleased with how they look now though, and determined to continue to use the machine! It's an old Pfaff from mother-in-law. I usually sew by hand, but it is so much quicker by machine... when I know what I'm doing!

beautiful_ravens

I did some sewing today - was clearing out a few drawers and found a fatQ with pheasant scene on it, and a longish piece of green faux gingham. The annoying manky cushion lurking in the dining room got a new cover - winter pheasant scene, with appliqued[?] green gingham heart on which has appliqued [??] individual pheasants from the main scene on top of that. Green gingham for the back. Cheated and used wonderweb stuff instead of pins! So lazy heh.
Love the fact that I can think 'that cushion needs a new cover' and then just whip one up out of stuff lying around!! Dont know where to put a photo to link to though.

tigerfeet2006

MandM90 wrote: »

I'm getting my very first full sized sewing machine for Christmas and have been collecting easy ideas and scraps of fabric to practice on. So excited! :j

Wahey!! :T very exciting stuff. I have so much saved to my Favourite and links I've emailed to myself now, it's silly but fun.

Memory_Girl wrote: »

You need to snip to the sewing line on the inside several times - then the fabric will overlap like petals on the inside and lie flat as opposed to gathering like a ruffle and looking puckered when you turn it through.

Does that even make sense??? Sorry I have been plaster boarding all day and am pooped.

It makes perfect sense and I shall remember that if I make them again, which if I become proficient in sewing I hope to do, I'm very amateurish atm

Plasterboarding, I'm impressed :cool:

MG

miffy257 wrote: »

That's great news on a new machine MandM. Happy sewing. I love the link to the tea towel apron , I have bookmarked that site and shall read it later.
Tiger feet I was just about to say the same as Memory Girl. snipping to the seam eases the curve and should give you a smoother result. Can't wait to see the photos.Have been very naughty tonight and ordered more fabric for my DD's quilt.Shouldn't feel bad because I'm hoping it will become a family heirloom!!!!!!!:)

Cheers as well Miffy. Definatly shouldn't feel to bad at all. I think it is a fantastic thing to do. We have three family members expecting babies next year and I have been wondering what I could do that could be used by the newborn for a long time.

tigerfeet2006

sb88 wrote: »

I finished my top tonight, I've been working on it awhile, this was my first sewing project a few months ago when I started sewing, just went back and altered the size!

I found the fabric in a charity shop a few years ago, so I can't remember how much it cost!
Didn't realise how bulky the back was though untill I had this photo taken!

Love that fabric SB, it is fabulous. What a lucky find.

Please would you be able to give a tutorial on posting pictures. I have an iPhone if that helps.

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

I've been lurking here & was inspired to get my machine out to tackle the curtains for the hallway. They're 2nd hand, can't remember if it was charity shop or car boot, & when I washed them I realised they were floor length, so just what I wanted to go in the hallway to cover the front door and [STRIKE]move with the draught[/STRIKE] help block out the draught.

But they needed new curtain heading as the existing stuff was coming apart. I've now learnt that the pretty coloured line on curtain heading is good for sewing along, because if you sew too far ontot he heading you will sew through the gathering strings and have to un-pick it...

Very pleased with how they look now though, and determined to continue to use the machine! It's an old Pfaff from mother-in-law. I usually sew by hand, but it is so much quicker by machine... when I know what I'm doing!

:TWell done Spikey. Doesn't it feel great to achieve something and see it there all the time and think 'I did that!' I had quite a few quick unpik moments with my trees

beautiful_ravens wrote: »

I did some sewing today - was clearing out a few drawers and found a fatQ with pheasant scene on it, and a longish piece of green faux gingham. The annoying manky cushion lurking in the dining room got a new cover - winter pheasant scene, with appliqued[?] green gingham heart on which has appliqued [??] individual pheasants from the main scene on top of that. Green gingham for the back. Cheated and used wonderweb stuff instead of pins! So lazy heh.
Love the fact that I can think 'that cushion needs a new cover' and then just whip one up out of stuff lying around!! Dont know where to put a photo to link to though.

Sounds absolutly lovely. One of the projects I want to do after Christmas is cushions for the living room, when I eventually get round to painting it.

I think I might have a go at Kirstie's Heart Garland next.
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/how-to/crafts/kirsties-handmade-britain

Though I will have to tackle the housework tomorrow :eek: so no sewing.

sb88_2

I am not sure how to post a photo from an Iphone, but I've just been asked this question on another post - Dress for £2.05 so I will copy and paste my reply! I only know how to do it from my computer, there may be another easier way!


To put a photo on the forum, when you are replying, there is a little symbol at the top of the box, that looks like mountains set against a yellow sky. If you put your pointer over it, it says- Insert image.
You need to have your photo hosted somewhere, either on a blog, or your facebook account works too if you have one!

You need to insert the URL of the image in to the box that pops up. For those who aren't very tech savvy, to get the URL, go to your image on the internet , right click your photo, select- VIEW IMAGE INFORMATION, an information box should appear, there will be a section that says : LOCATION, the url should follow this. Usually starts with HTTP://

Hope this helps

Sarah

I store my photos on my wordpress blog:
http://fashionwithethics.wordpress.com/

tigerfeet2006

Cheers for that I can take photo with iPhone and post straight to Facebook and then to here. Will sort it out later.

TinyToes

that lidl vid make me chuckle lol. I am very much a beginner but i have the lidl's machine also and find it good. I just looked up classes in my area but they are 25 miles away one starts in january but i wont have the funds then so will really try and get on the next one. I havent really made anything with my machine. I find with 2 young sons time is my enemy. I really really want bean bags for them but the prices are eye watering!! especially when i need two! i have always had it in my mind i would make them, dunelm mill sell the beads cheaply so wouldnt cost much. i have a new kingsized duvet cover in teal colours that no longer match my decor so wont use so its going to become bean bags! or thats the plan lol. My dh and ds's are out just now so im away to hunt my machine from the back of the cupboard and see what i can do.

While i was in hobbycraft yesterday i picked up a dew of their leaflets for making felt decorations etc so that could give me inspiration!. The prices our alteration shops charge here are:eek:. im sure last time it cost £10 to have an inch or 2 taken from a pair of my mums work trousers and she had 4 pair! I do have a very very talented family member who is AMAZING with a machine, might need to go watch lol x

SpikyHedgehog

tigerfeet2006 wrote: »

....
:TWell done Spikey. Doesn't it feel great to achieve something and see it there all the time and think 'I did that!' I had quite a few quick unpik moments with my trees ....

Thank you! It does feel great & I'm looking forward to showing it off to people when mother & mother-in-law come round.

I love the idea of the tea-towel aprons & plan to modify it to make aprons for children, with ribbon round the neck too. DS2 goes to cooking club after school once a week & they have to have aprons for that. He's got one apron that fits him but of course it gets filthy so has to go into the wash & then he's got nothing for cooking at home. So 2 packs of 3 tea towels made their way into my shopping yesterday at M0rris0ns, & I'm going to get a load of red ribbon to turn 1 pack into 3 aprons & beige to turn the other pack into aprons. Plan to give some of them to neices & nephews for presents next year as my sister with 5 children loves to bake with the kids. So the plan is to make aprons for all of them, might personalise them too, then get some baking accessories for a baking themed hamper for next Christmas... Will take me all that time to get them all done, I suspect!

miffy257

Tiny Toes I'm sure your family member would be keen to give you a few lessons on your machine. Most sewers seem keen to get other people sewing. I haven't done any sewing for a few days as end of term is hectic in an Infant school. Roll on tomorrow. I did have a super surprise today. It was our Christmas lunch and in the secret santa I got a gorgeous Cath Kidston book called Sew. Don't know who gave it to me but I was thrilled, it's full of lovely things to make. I shall have to put it away for a while though as I haven't written any Christmas cards yet:eek:

mmmsnow

Hi, all. I've just convinced my dad to give me our family sewing machine. It's not much of an heirloom, really, as it's only 15-20 years old. Anyway, no-one remembers how to thread the needle so this should be fun

Youtube to the rescue, I think!

As a beginner, what's the easiest project to start with? I want to try to make some book covers and cushion covers - are these both doable with no experience?