The Sewing Room (part 2)

Savvy_sewing

PixieDust wrote: »

I need to shorten a pair of jeans.......should I bother trying to do it using the method where you keep the original topstitched hemline or should I just chop 'em off and double fold under to hem? Is it worth the effort if trying the other way?

I always chop them off, and turn them up.
Cut away some of the seams though to reduce the bulk. Use a jean needle ( or at least a 16). Use the off cut to raise the foot by placing it just under the back of the foot so your foot stays level. Then before you come down the other side move it to the front of the stitching and slowly stitch forward being careful not to stitch the spare fabric, until you are passed the bulk. Then stitch normally.
The other way is simple but I always fear the seam can be seen so never do it unless a customer specifically requests it.

PixieDust

Thank you!

rosie51

Mooloo.
I am pleased to see you are busy with your business I do the odd sewing job for people if I am asked. Last year I did 9 pair of jeans for a friend of a friend and I too my time, my thread and electric. I was asked how much so said £40 for the lot then was accused of being a rip merchant. When I pointed out it could have been £8-10 a pair as charged in my local sewing shop, I was told yes but they can sew. I blew a fuse and though what the hell am I, as have made my own clothes for 50 odd years and still do.

tattycath

Help please.
I have, over the years, developed a kind of 'obsession' for different kinds of crafts. I have a sewing machine ( over 20 years old) and an overlocker-never used, not sure how.
I have also collected rather a large stash of different fabric, from second hand curtains, brand new ( but stored for ages) fabric, fat quarters, a metre of this that and the other...sewing magazines, patterns. I'm drowning in the stuff. The problem is:
1) I don't know where to start, I'm not the best at sewing.
2) I don't have a designated area whereby I can leave it set up. I have to keep getting it out and packing it away.
Suggestions welcome.
Thank you

Savvy_sewing

rosie51 wrote: »

Mooloo.
I am pleased to see you are busy with your business I do the odd sewing job for people if I am asked. Last year I did 9 pair of jeans for a friend of a friend and I too my time, my thread and electric. I was asked how much so said £40 for the lot then was accused of being a rip merchant. When I pointed out it could have been £8-10 a pair as charged in my local sewing shop, I was told yes but they can sew. I blew a fuse and though what the hell am I, as have made my own clothes for 50 odd years and still do.

I found the same. When I was working at home I was lucky to get £6 a pair. But now I have the shop front, I'm accepted as a professional and am asked advise etc all the time.
I don't have a single qualification, just 40 plus years of sewing. I charge £10 to shorten trousers.
It is a skill, and I would suggest you always tell them the price up front. Then they can either pay up or you are saved the time, skill, thread etc. It would be better to use your time to be creative, to keep on learning, then to not get paid for your skill.
For me the overheads are very high, so although I have never been without work, personally I'm lucky to pay myself £30 a week.
This is hard, but as the business grown then I believe so will my portion of it.
I am learning to turn work down that I don't want to do, or charge accordingly. So I pitch it high. If they actually want it still then at least I'm getting decent money for it.

Savvy_sewing

tattycath wrote: »

Help please.
I have, over the years, developed a kind of 'obsession' for different kinds of crafts. I have a sewing machine ( over 20 years old) and an overlocker-never used, not sure how.
I have also collected rather a large stash of different fabric, from second hand curtains, brand new ( but stored for ages) fabric, fat quarters, a metre of this that and the other...sewing magazines, patterns. I'm drowning in the stuff. The problem is:
1) I don't know where to start, I'm not the best at sewing.
2) I don't have a designated area whereby I can leave it set up. I have to keep getting it out and packing it away.
Suggestions welcome.
Thank you

Hi TattyCath, it does become more difficult if you cannot manage to have a working space and have to tidy up etc after every job. It means the creativity has to stop earlier, takes longer to set up, or you don't even start.
I don't know what space you have, but I know one lady who has a wardrobe in the bedroom, this has been shelved out, has a sliding work top that slides out like the old computer desks. The top shelves and above stores the fabrics.
Underneath she has tubs with the accessories. The sewing machine is stored on the bottom of the wardrobe, where her feet go when sewing.
The doors open out with items hanging from strings and cup hooks.

Deciding on projects needs to be planned.
If you don't have much time, divide a job into 20 or 30 minute bites.
So have your magazines ready together, and sit and flip through while watching tv maybe. Once you decide use your next session to gather together all you need, use a box file for smaller jobs, a carrier bag perhaps for bigger jobs.
The next time cut out and prepare
Then the next time bring out the machine and sew. Set an alarm 10 minutes before you need to stop, to allow you to clear away.

My Mum keeps her machine in the kitchen on a trolley, and she wheels it up to the table when she wants to sew. The current projects are on the second layer of the trolley. The rest of her stash etc are in boxes in wardrobes etc.

To learn to sew better, is all about getting to know your machine.
Personally I teach basics for beginners, and small workshops for getting to know machines, you might be able to join one near you.
Or you can spend a little time on You Tube, or Sewing Forums and blogs.
Rather then making a complete project, practise on some of your stash learning parts of a job. Then when your happy with them progress into actual full scale projects.

Hope this helps.
I'm happy to help if I can. You can always message me and it may be possible to Skype if needed.

tattycath

Mooloo wrote: »

Hi TattyCath, it does become more difficult if you cannot manage to have a working space and have to tidy up etc after every job. It means the creativity has to stop earlier, takes longer to set up, or you don't even start.
I don't know what space you have, but I know one lady who has a wardrobe in the bedroom, this has been shelved out, has a sliding work top that slides out like the old computer desks. The top shelves and above stores the fabrics.
Underneath she has tubs with the accessories. The sewing machine is stored on the bottom of the wardrobe, where her feet go when sewing.
The doors open out with items hanging from strings and cup hooks.

Deciding on projects needs to be planned.
If you don't have much time, divide a job into 20 or 30 minute bites.
So have your magazines ready together, and sit and flip through while watching tv maybe. Once you decide use your next session to gather together all you need, use a box file for smaller jobs, a carrier bag perhaps for bigger jobs.
The next time cut out and prepare
Then the next time bring out the machine and sew. Set an alarm 10 minutes before you need to stop, to allow you to clear away.

My Mum keeps her machine in the kitchen on a trolley, and she wheels it up to the table when she wants to sew. The current projects are on the second layer of the trolley. The rest of her stash etc are in boxes in wardrobes etc.

To learn to sew better, is all about getting to know your machine.
Personally I teach basics for beginners, and small workshops for getting to know machines, you might be able to join one near you.
Or you can spend a little time on You Tube, or Sewing Forums and blogs.
Rather then making a complete project, practise on some of your stash learning parts of a job. Then when your happy with them progress into actual full scale projects.

Hope this helps.
I'm happy to help if I can. You can always message me and it may be possible to Skype if needed.

Thank you very much. That's really helpful.

PixieDust

I have spent a mind numbing hour cutting out a paper pattern for a tunic. God, I hate cutting them out. And I am miffed that I have had to choose exactly which tunic I want out of the four included, as the cutting is vitally different. I had thought, naively, that all the pieces for all the dresses would be in the packet. Still, on the up side, less paper cutting for me and less pieces to fanny about with

rosie51

PixieDust wrote: »

I have spent a mind numbing hour cutting out a paper pattern for a tunic. God, I hate cutting them out. And I am miffed that I have had to choose exactly which tunic I want out of the four included, as the cutting is vitally different. I had thought, naively, that all the pieces for all the dresses would be in the packet. Still, on the up side, less paper cutting for me and less pieces to fanny about with

I know what you mean, I've started to draft my own patterns now.
I am trying not to buy anymore patterns, relying on being able to download for free on the web, or given in a sewing magazine.

PixieDust

This is only my second pattern and already it has scary words like interfacing......