The sewing thread

keepcalmandcraft

Hello, can I join your thread. I love sewing and after a few years of not doing a lot, I did some dressmaking last year and aim to do more this year (I have enough fabric stash to last more than my lifetime!).
I like the idea of doing some sewing daily for Lent. I give up chocolate, biscuits and cake for Lent normally and this year have also decided to give up as much single-use plastic as I can.

silvasava

Polly - I watched it too (so glad it's back) to do a swimsuit with a machine you've never used before :eek::eek:
I thought the Italian guys suit with the diagonal stripes was excellent - the way he'd got them to line up perfectly was real skill. Looking forward to see what they get thrown at them next week.

purpleivy

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Ooh, claim to fame, Purpleivy. I think it must be brilliant for an actor to get a part in The Archers - with luck and good behaviour it's a job for life, and lots of them go off and do other stuff in between.

Just caught up with this week's sewing bee. Swimsuits - yikes :eek: I can't imagine ever sewing one of those. I haven't even mastered knickers yet!

Well, I don't think It's a big part at the moment, is it? She's a late starter at Uni, but pleased she can continue

PollyWollyDoodle

No, not huge (although I'm tickled to hear she's at Uni - Mia is about 14 I believe!) but it could go on for years. Obviously people get written out or they have a new actor, but many of the cast have been in it for a lifetime.

Back on track ... still no real sewing here, but I managed to whip up a little buttonhole for something I had to do today that required 'Suffragette' colours. I found purple and white ribbon, but nothing in green - I ended up using some green felt for the third bit. It was very basic but pleased the people concerned. I really want to get sewing, but work and life stuff has got in the way.

no.1swimmum

Hi, I have been reading this thread for sometime, I love sewing and have making my own clothes for longer than I care to remember. It started out of necessity as I am 6" tall and when I was younger there weren't the longer lengths in things.

I haven't done alot of sewing in the past few years as I have fibro and am in constant chronic pain - but I am lucky enough to be able to get to a market near upton park in London where the fabric starts at £1 a yard. You know what its like you see a piece of fabric you like and buy it..... i'm sure all sewers are the same. I am however a perfectionist (i have a little OCD as well) so things generally take a little longer to make as I tack everything. I smiled to myself I got tickets to last weekend's Knit & Stitch and decided to pay a visit - on one of the stalls I saw 2 rolls of fabrics that I had bought in the market for £1 a yard being sold at £5 a metre!

I did buy 3 pieces of fabric (3yards long each so cost £9) a while ago and have finally finished 2 tops and another is underway. I enjoy reading about what others are making so although I may not get to post alot I will be following you.

silvasava

Good to 'see' you No1! Yes we all get itchy fingers when we see some nice fabric especially when it's a good price! I've not been near my machine for ages as we're having work done on the house but I've a nice pattern for a shift dress that keeps beckoning me!
I too started sewing clothes when I was young as I am tall and clothes were more expensive then. Must admit it was 'hot needle and burning thread' then as I wanted a result! I'm much more particular now
Do post when you can - we all love reading about what each of us is doing....or not!

Laura_Elsewhere

I reckon most people I know who make their own clothes started because they are "non-standard" - I'm 5'7"ish, so height not a major issue but with long arms and legs everything flapped round my ankles and six inches above my wrists! Also small-buster with a huuuuge broad back - and my oldest friend who dressmakes is the opposite, petite and only 5'1/2" (don't forget the half and inch, whatever you do!) and with a narrow back and large bust!

babs_103

Just about to start on an apron, I haven't done anything for a while and now I have a frozen shoulder so cannot start til next week - I'm aiming for Wednesday as it's my Birthday and I can do what I like on that day, no housework whoo hoo.


Anyway my question is I have some polycotton for it but am not sure if I should pre wash or not? if so do I just do a 30 degree wash?


Any help would be appreciated, thank you x

ChasingButterflies

babs_103 wrote: »

Anyway my question is I have some polycotton for it but am not sure if I should pre wash or not? if so do I just do a 30 degree wash?

Hi,

I think the general rule of thumb is to prewash any fabric you are likely to need to wash at some point.

Washing and drying should be the method that you will use under normal circumstances. There shouldn’t be much shrinkage in poly cotton, but I would rather be safe than sorry! In our house polycotton would go on a 40 degree and then in the tumbler (but only because line drying doesn’t happen very often here) so there would be no shrinkage once the made up item was washed & dried.

Hope your shoulder pain eases soon.

PollyWollyDoodle

I agree, pre-wash just to be on the safe side. I'm always raring to go and want to get on with cutting out but I have learned the hard way that pre-washing can save you a lot of grief!

As ChasingButterflies says, use the washing programme you'd use for the finished garment.