The sewing thread

PollyWollyDoodle

Oh wow, they look amazing! You are very clever. I'm not sure I would have the patience to do all that.

I am busy writing plans for this year (I don't do New Year's resolutions) and one of my plans is to recover the cushions on a small two seater sofa. It's been on my job list for about five years, I keep putting it off because it feels a bit daunting, but it really needs doing. I need to order some new foam for the cushions and I think that's what's holding me up, I'm scared I'll get the measurements wrong!

aliwali

Hi all, I’ve started a mindfulness challenge this year. I want to use up some of my fabric stash so I am taking part in a quilt along, called the 365challenge. Just a small 3 inch square block to make each day. Hopefully perfect to try and relieve some teacher stress each day.

Look forward to hearing about your makes this year.

daisy_1571

Oh pwd i feel your pain! Well done for persevering. I remember a time when I volunteered for a country house making period costumes for the staff and I was asked to alter something. I've blocked what it was from my mind now :rotfl: clearly! I inserted something, a sleeve!? An extra bit to make item bigger? Anyway, did it beautifully. Sooooo smug and pleased with myself. Till I realised it was either on the wrong side or back to front. Never mind, calmly unpick. Resew. Not quite so perfect this time. "Aaaaaaaggggghhhhh ive done the same flipping thing again!!!" Not so calmly unpick and sew fir third time, checking it a hundred times as I went. Finished article not nearly as perfect but to be frank it was just lucky it wasn't slung out in the garden and danced on :rotfl:

Fab job mandm90

Daisy xx

daisy_1571

I feel I've been going great guns recently. Altering several items of clothes that have been lying in a great pile awaiting attention. (Eating frogs as they say on the kon mari thread.) including turning 2 pairs of combat style trousers into shorts for hubby. Sadly as he walked with the pins in till I could see if legs were straight before sewing he stabbed himself with a pin and ended up with a 2 inch scratch on inside leg and bleeding all over the place. Oops. I remember having to stand getting pins stuck in me by my mum when I was wee so I was sympathetic, but perhaps not overly

Also made two capital 'A's to hang over our back door handles as now we dont have the dog we aren't out the front door for a walk first thing. Consequently it can be later in the morning and we have forgotten the alarm is still on and we go out the back, opening doors and setting it off. This way when the alarm goes on, the As get hung on the handles covering the key holes. When the alarm is cleared the As get hung up beside the control panel. V happy with that fiddly little job.

Also spent ages crawling about the floor measuring material I have been supplied with to make 6 individual curtains from. Only enough to do 4 very skimpy ones or 2 with a much better hem. So needed to fold it all up again and I will have to go to the letting agent tomorrow and ask them what they want me to do. Sigh, waste of an hour and a lot of brain power.

Daisy xx

PollyWollyDoodle

Not sure if this really counts as "sewing" but… I had intended to make some reusable gift bags for Christmas, then I discovered I had a lot of wrapping paper left to use up.

When I got the Christmas decorations down, I discovered I have several Christmas tea towels that I've acquired or been given over recent years. I just don't use these, I prefer my well-washed everyday tea towels, and I don't see the point in having Christmas ones, not my thing.

Lightbulb moment! Using a contrasting thread and the longest stitch setting on my machine I have converted them into gift bags with a simple drawstring casing. I will attach a label explaining that the recipient can either reuse them as a gift bag, or simply snip the stitching and return it to use as a tea towel. I'm really happy that they will be leaving my house next Christmas and will be useful and practical, I hope.

silvasava

Polly - I had a few souvenir tea towels that I turned into aprons. I cut the top corners off diagonally and then turned a largish hem n the cut edge. Then I threaded a long length of piping cord through. The cord went over the head and tied behind. They worked really well as they fit all sizes!

MandM90

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Not sure if this really counts as "sewing" but… I had intended to make some reusable gift bags for Christmas, then I discovered I had a lot of wrapping paper left to use up.

When I got the Christmas decorations down, I discovered I have several Christmas tea towels that I've acquired or been given over recent years. I just don't use these, I prefer my well-washed everyday tea towels, and I don't see the point in having Christmas ones, not my thing.

Lightbulb moment! Using a contrasting thread and the longest stitch setting on my machine I have converted them into gift bags with a simple drawstring casing. I will attach a label explaining that the recipient can either reuse them as a gift bag, or simply snip the stitching and return it to use as a tea towel. I'm really happy that they will be leaving my house next Christmas and will be useful and practical, I hope.

Lovely! I also wanted to make some but had wrapping to use up. I didn't buy it this year in the sale - I did buy 2 packs of cards for 30p each. Drawstring bags it shall be!

Jane2112

Hi, I am returning to this forum after a break away and returning with a cheeky question. I have a Janome machine which work well but have also obtained ( free) a Toyota Quiltmaster50. has anyone got experience with this machine and any top tips? Many thanks,
Jane

daisy_1571

Hi Jane, sorry I've not used a quilting machine before but I'm sure someone will have

Daisy xx

daisy_1571

Has anyone got a tip for best price fabrics that curtains can be made from? So maybe heavy weight cottons for example?

Cheers

Daisy