The sewing thread

Laura_Elsewhere

Adding my best wishes for a wonderful wedding for your son, @purpleivy!

I am not adding to the cheerleading for fusible interfacing though I no longer use the stuff, having gradually realised just how much better sewn-on interfacing is. If I'm putting in that much effort to make something structured and fitted and so on, then I don't want the flatter planes of it ending up bubbled after a few years! 
I love tailoring but do very little - I am mostly a housewife who walks through woodlands and scrubland to and from the shops, so tailored little numbers are not my everyday wear! But I do love it when I have some tailoring to do, and have just started re-making a grey fine-flannel skirt and jacket from a late-1940s pattern that was in my Gran's things; I started making it (badly!) many years ago and have now completely dismantled it, pressed everything and now only have the sleeves and lining to do, welted buttonholes to finish on the inside, and buttons to go on. Then the skirt gets the same treatment! But the jacket has been a real pleasure, all that proper needlework...

Living_proof

Yes I miss Kittie - she was always opinionated but in an informed sort of way. A lot of Old Stylers seemed to have thought better of it in the last year or two but my suspicions are that one or two have snuck back in which is great. I will visit the local charity shops today to see if any interesting sewing items are up for sale - it's a bit like the bran tub, you never quite know what you will get in your haul! The task will be then to kick out all the work-related, officey type stuff in the 'office' upstairs and change the space to accommodate craft and sewing equipment. Then to remind myself how to thread up my sewing machine of 36 years.

purpleivy

Yeah..... my jacket isn't really tailoring.....not structured really. will try and find the pattern number

purpleivy

Is it long since Kittie left? I can't see a message from her. I couldn't believe I hadn't been on here since before Lockdown

silvasava

Purpleivy - Thank you for the offer of help The only way I can mend the knees of DH's jeans is to undo the side seam to gain access. I've already repaired 2 pairs so he can wait for these until my machine is done Its persisting down here so I'm going to hit the rest of the mending pile.
Shame Kittie left but I think some people took offence instead of clarifying her meaning on another forum. So sad when that happens.  The last time I remember her posting was when she had bought a new house and was preparing to move.

purpleivy

That’s how I would do it!  It’s a quick job opening the seams if there is one that isn’t felled and soon sewn up again afterwards 

piperlynn

Very pleased to find this forum. Started making dolls clothes for my Sindy when I was 10. At 14 I wanted a trousers and sleeveless tunic set. Mum didn’t have time, as my sister was 3, so she said you will have to do it yourself. So I did. Cut it out, showed her each seam as I sewed it,  then she told me what to do next. It was a treadle machine. I proudly put in a zip too. Eventually when I stopped wearing it, my mum wore it . That was it. I had the bug. When I went to teacher training college ( back in the day ) it was given my granny’s old hand machine. She had used it to make uniforms in ww1. I made my own dresses, tops etc. I remember making some white jeans. Someone who I thought was my friend kept pestering me to borrow them. They vanished from the laundry, and I later learned she had pinched them !!!!!  Now my granddaughter is learning. She has done a basic skirt, and a simple t shirt. I bought her a little Aldi machine for her birthday. If she continues, will have to invest in a full sized one. 

I am looking forward to reading about what all of you are making in the coming months. I cannot bring myself to prepare for colder weather yet 🤔😃

piperlynn

Very pleased to find this forum. Started making dolls clothes for my Sindy when I was 10. At 14 I wanted a trousers and sleeveless tunic set. Mum didn’t have time, as my sister was 3, so she said you will have to do it yourself. So I did. Cut it out, showed her each seam as I sewed it,  then she told me what to do next. It was a treadle machine. I proudly put in a zip too. Eventually when I stopped wearing it, my mum wore it . That was it. I had the bug. When I went to teacher training college ( back in the day ) it was given my granny’s old hand machine. She had used it to make uniforms in ww1. I made my own dresses, tops etc. I remember making some white jeans. Someone who I thought was my friend kept pestering me to borrow them. They vanished from the laundry, and I later learned she had pinched them !!!!!  Now my granddaughter is learning. She has done a basic skirt, and a simple t shirt. I bought her a little Aldi machine for her birthday. If she continues, will have to invest in a full sized one. 

I am looking forward to reading about what all of you are making in the coming months. I cannot bring myself to prepare for colder weather yet 🤔😃

silvasava

Bum and double Bum!  My old flat bed machine that I had repaired and serviced last year is awful! The bobin winder doesnt stop the foot moving up and down which it should. The reverse button is out of alignment and sticks, the machine has a 4 step buttonhole programme and I can only get the dial to move to the first position. It sounds lumpy and the zig zag is missing a stitch every now and then. I took it to a local guy who did tell me my machine was very old and he could do me a deal on a new Janome but its a heavy duty machine thats all metal (weighs a ton) and has always run beautifully even though its over 40 years old. Gonna ring another company that repair and have a good reputation.  Not my week for machines

Hard_Up_Hester

I started making a rag doll , but I've not touched it for weeks, I've had no chance to get me sewing machine out.