The sewing thread

PollyWollyDoodle

Sorry, I've never used an embroidery machine, but there must be someone out there who has? And no great ideas on curtain fabric, I think it depends what you want - in my experience market stalls have been good, or you could try Dunelm.

At last the Great British Sewing Bee is returning! Starting on 12th Feb apparently!

Laura_Elsewhere

I would go to Dunelm for curtain fabric - but more to the point, use their "cotton sateen lining" fabric for the lining. It's really excellent. Whatever fabric you end up using, the lining makes them triple the warmth, because you get the insulating layer of air between the two layers. They also look better.

I can't advise on buying the curtain fabric though - I've just put new linings into our sitting-room green velvet curtains, and they're the ones bought for my bedroom in 1979! Really good-quality heavy cotton-velvet, and still going strong, with only about 7 or 8 years in there of 'retirement' between childhood bedroom and the flat's sitting-room!

daisy_1571

Cheers chaps

Daisy xx

JCS1

Worth an enter, prize is complete set of DMC threads worth over £5k


https://www.sewandso.co.uk/threaduary

purpleivy

nannygladys wrote: »

Hi Polly, the knickers I made were quite easy as they were part of a kit, but just expensive. I also at some point wouldn't mind having a go at a bra (been watching youtube as well!!!) but again to buy everything it seems again an expensive outlay, especially if it doesn't fit very well. The knicker pattern I will use again at some point but not yet!!
Nannyg

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I don't know where you live Nanny Gladys, but Michelle Pye's bra and underwear classes are good. You would get help with the fitting and I believe the kit is included. It might seem an expensive way of starting, but will pay for itself sooner or later depending on what you spend on a bra.

purpleivy

Sewing progress here....not so much. My friend who was 60 in October is still waiting for his shirt. I have a friend who has discovered I can make tops for her, so trying to get one done for when I visit. She has a terrible fabric habit for a non sewer! I don't mind doing things for her, alterations and sewing, as she lets me go and stay with her (in Mallorca) whenever I want! Seems like a fair deal to me!

Mademoiselle

Morning all,
I've not posted on this thread before but hoping you lovely folks can add some thoughts for me.

I'm looking at buying a sewing machine (sewed years ago when I was a student and then movers dropped machine so not done any for a while) I will be wanting to sew made to measure bedding, cushion covers, mattress covers along with some canvas work and perhaps webbing for our new boat. Also would like to have a go at a T-shirt quilt for my DDs as they both have loads of sports event shirts.

Looking at Singer 4423 or Janome HD2200, but open to other suggestions too. These are the ones I've come up with by reading around the internet.

All comments welcome
Thanks

XX

silvasava

Mademoiselle - lovely to have you join the thread.
Not familiar with either of those machines but - I took a look at them on the internet and I would go for the Janome. Its a metal body which you need if you are sewing heavy fabrics - I use my old HD Singer for sewing canvas for my boat and it just about manages it. The Singer 4423 is lighter than mine. Just my opinion. Also a HD machine is quite capable of sewing lighter fabrics whereas a lighter machine cannot handle the weight very well of heavy fabrics.
There are quite a few Janome users on here so they can probably offer further advice.

Just to let everyone know - the Sewing Bee starts again next Tuesday 12th Feb - yipee!!

Mademoiselle

Silvasalva, Thanks for your reply, I think I am tending towards the Janome as heard they are very reliable and I prefer paying a bit more and having something that does the job well and lasts.
I am sure I'll be back with loads of questions once I get a machine (and new boat to make things for)
xx

joedenise

I'm a Janome user. Absolutely love my machine. Unfortunately not been able to do any sewing for a while as have had builder in since the beginning of January!

Still another couple of weeks to go and with a bit of luck I'll be able to get back into my sewing room. There is all sorts of bits and pieces which the builder is storing in it at the moment!

Really looking forward to the Sewing Bee next week. Hope it's as good as the other series.

Denise