The Sewing Room (part 2)

ERICS_MUM

PixieDust wrote: »

Hooray for getting your mojo back, Kittie

Yes, and back in a big way ! Kittie, you obviously know and love your fabrics.

ERICS_MUM

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

Didn't they used to ? Mum made a lot of clothes for us all in the 1960's and I can remember the pattern envelopes being very thick, stuffed with the different styles and sizes printed on separate sheets of the tissue paper.

I suppose dress patterns have gone the same way as knitting patterns - pared down to the basic in order to increase profitability regardless if they are more difficult to use.

[Deleted User]

I am so glad to see you here HH

Re the fleece. It is very hard on the machine and on needles. Maybe you need to go at eye level and see if the needle is bending or if it is not going through easily or maybe it is too thin, should be a 90/14 needle perhaps

No sewing today but still sewing related until now, back is killing me and I am shattered. That brown and cream top is not going to be worn, I don`t love it but already it is helping me re adapting another pattern, pins etc. I don`t like that neck but am liking the top with a snugger neck and tie, so did a pattern adjustment this morning, finished by 9 and all ready to go on swedish paper as I`ll be using it loads.

Hint on adjustment if the hips need more room and if you`re short like me, take up at the shorten line under the arms/waist, it immediately accommodates the hips better. I just added a bit more length lower down too, ie - 1 1/2 at waist, + 3/4" lower down, then 1/2" at hem side up to waist and french curved neatly to armhole. That was that kwik sew pattern

Did a sewaholic later, bought several of that make in the past, never opened the packets, renfrew. Realise that snug fit on hips is so not me but like the bands and the potential looseness above the band. Drastic adjustment on hips here as biggest size was 16 when I bought Took me several hours and added more to waistband, which will sit on higher hips, also shortened etc. Renfrew is massively popular and includes 3 sleeve lengths and 3 different necklines

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=sewaholic+renfrew&rlz=1C1SAVA_enGB504GB504&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiJxNKOvvfKAhVIPxoKHcC_D9EQsAQIJw&biw=1366&bih=643

Tidied all rooms as several got very messy, will take trousers up next week

just an edit to say not to be afraid of the new stretchy fabrics, I am loving to sew them and was very daunted when I started

Savvy_sewing

Hard_Up_Hester wrote: »

Hi all
Kittie, your post on another thread inspired me to start following this one.
I made a tiny dog bed yesterday for DGD's toy dog & I managed to sew a button on a cardigan, not much of an achievement but it's half term now so I'm hoping to get more sewing done next week.
I do have a question if anybody can help, I have some fleece that I made baby items from and I find I frequently break the sewing machine needles and I don't know why, any ideas?
I have two dresses cut out ready to sew and my craft/sewing room is bursting at the seams, I really need to get some stuff made this week.
Hester

Most common reasons for breaking needles is using the wrong needles for the fabric, or Pulling your work through the machine instead of letting the feed dogs feed the fabric through, and finally the thread tension or the thread may be threaded in correctly.

[Deleted User]

Has anyone ever used merchant and mills patterns? I have lots of dress lengths in linens, they are quite thin linens but are not see through, originally bought for mens summer shirts and uncut, I always buy too much fabric so will have enough for dresses. I am thinking of very hot summer, so want to keep cool and non sticky. Kaftanesque with sleeves of some kind. I am intrigued by this make

http://merchantandmills.com/patterns/

[Deleted User]

I need a long dress and have ordered a customised pattern from lekala 4455. Cost me £3. I`ll be downloading soon and then taping the pieces together before tracing. Nothing to lose and will definitely do a muslin. It will be brilliant if this fits. I made a skirt once, it was good but usually cannot be bothered with all the printing etc but am getting desperate to get that long dress, hopeless in my size in ready made. 4` 11

http://www.lekala.co/catalog/dresses/pattern/4455#model

it is printed, only took 5 minutes, all 42 pages. The 10 cm sample square at the front is slightly bigger then 10 cm but that is ok, it will give me better ease to play with

Savvy_sewing

I didn't think the sample picture of the garment you showed from merchant and mills was made very well!
I buy Burda, and My Image and Be Inspired pattern books, that are modern and have versatile patterns at the cost of one commercial pattern
Must try and find you a link at some stage.
I do know that Kwik Sew patterns are going to be on half price sale from this weekend as promotional signs arrived at work today. They are easy to understand patterns.

Hard_Up_Hester

As I can no longer wear skirts/trousers etc due to a medical problem I found I have a couple of skirts that I cannot bear to part with as I like the fabric so much.
I have bought a couple of plain white t shirts from the CS, I've taken the waistband off the skirts and attached them to the t shirts, I now have 2 wearable summer dresses.
Hester

[Deleted User]

HH what a wonderful idea

I needed to concentrate on something due to family stuff at the moment, so back to sewing. Managed to stick all 42 lekala sheets together, a bit at a time, long dress so was hard to be accurate by the time I got to the bottom. 4 strips x 10. Pattern pieces all cut out and looks very impressive. Cut out spare stash fabric as a muslin and will do a quick sew up later with fingers crossed. Only cut to knee length as torso is my problem

Doh, I missed the extra measurements tab ie bust, low, medium or high, upper arm etc. Princess seams so bust should be ok. Either that or I`ll by an upthrust bra :rotfl:Cost £2.25 and if this fits then I`ll be doing more. Tops and skirts will be very easy compared to this. Seam allowance option is very important as it gives two points of reference for sticking together

[Deleted User]

Don`t bother. The pattern does not give any ease. I trashed the pattern and fabric. Was worth a try though