The sewing thread

[Deleted User]

curtain fabric plus lining plus tape is expensive, even buying cheaper fabric and big curtains are a horror story to make. You use double the width of the window and immediately you have an awful lot of fabric to handle and many of us have to lay it out on the floor. Then there is the physical challenge of fixing linings and tape to curtains, feeding all that stuff through a machine. Then hanging them to drop and then hemming them. Buying RM is better because the donkey work is done and I have also lengthened curtains from the header, that plus the fact they they are often cheaper. Urghh, sends a shiver down my spine, been there, done that over and over and never ever again

I almost finished my mix n match tops and skirts yesterday and have cleaned my machines. Was at a loose end yesterday evening and decided to get cut out grainline linden sewn up. I made the LS sweatshirt version without any extra ribbing. Used french terry for the first time, ever. Pattern has only 1/4" seams, didn`t like that. Basted it together quickly and decided to make the seams even narrower and do a topstitch as well down each seam as I wasn`t sure about the strength of the seams. Finished quite quickly and yet again, a big neck, although this one lies flat. Its good as a layering top though, I can see it with a shirt or t shirt underneath. Trying to work out where it went wrong, the garment neck was bigger than the pattern. Lessons have been learned: next one I stay stitch and if it is not raglan then I will use elastic tape at the shoulder as this fabric stretches a lot. Another thing I have learnt is to wash a few times before cutting as it has very high shrinkage. My new fabric book came yesterday and it tells me so. The all new fabric savvy by Sandra Betzina. Lovely book, very well written and easy to read and a good resource

Also found this about different knits
http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2014/07/11/different-types-knit-fabric-explained-fabric-giveaway.html
I have to say that most of my useless rubbish cotton knits are from girl charlee so I don`t use that online shop any more, however some knits were excellent but too much pot luck

Another linden quickly cut out yesterday because I am sure it was my technique that caused the bigger neck, having already raised the neckline from the pattern by 5/8". I used a decent patterned cotton knit from my old stash and cut a different colour for the neck band, sleeve and hip bands. I am going to baste on the machine in case the neckline is now too high, I could quickly cut the excess off again. Its a hugely easy quick make and seems to be very popular
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/search/pins/?rs=ac&len=2&q=linden%20sweatshirt%20grainline&eq=linden%20sweatshirt&etslf=3549&term_meta[]=linden%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=sweatshirt%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined&term_meta[]=grainline%7Cautocomplete%7Cundefined

I started my `go to` box yesterday and have three patterns in there, they have to be perfect in all ways before they earn a place in there. I have stacks of old altered patterns to go through, one at a time before I decide to keep them. This weekend I will sew my last mix n match together, the pickle colour top and skirt, just waiting for woolly nylon to arrive from empress mills. Btw I wish I had known stuff from that book before washing and cutting these linens, like to iron with a hot iron before pre-washing as it sets the chemical in them. Also nice to know that linen softens with every wash

Just saw the reader on sky news in full profile. She is wearing a very nice short sleeve, V neck tunic, or what looks like a tunic but seems to be sewn with a different colour at the bottom. Looks lovely and skims her hips. Bright pink tunic, black at the base ie a dress that looks like two pieces, good idea

silvasava

Artytarty - Kittie is spot on! I made the previous curtains and it was such a labour - even with all the faff of altering ready mades it wasn't the struggle that making from scratch was as I need two sets of curtains 12ft wide and 96' long. Don't mention the final pressing :eek:

PS - is anyone having a problem with the format of this thread going wide on their screen???

Artytarty

Yes to the format problems!
I get it about the curtains, it's something I will consider next time I decide to replace some.

PollyWollyDoodle

Yes - I can't read all of Kittie's post above because it's disappearing off to the right.

flissh

Ive only made curtains from scratch for small windows, even that is a pain and expensive. Ive made lots of Roman blinds in the past, I find those easier and certainly cheaper as they use less fabric.

As I said Im using Ikea curtains. The windows here are huge sliding door type, 2 sets in each room and same upstairs. Im joining ikea ones as they are quite narrow but nice and long. I think pound per meter they are good value for money.

What is wrong with the formatting??? same for me.

flissh

Kittie, Ive never even thought of making sweat shirts, thanks for the links. Do you use an overlocker?? Ive only got a basic machine, Ive tried a very wide zigzag on knits but didn't like it that much.

silvasava

Trying to get it sorted!

[Deleted User]

flissh, an ordinary back and forth sewing machine is fine with knits, they don`t fray and don`t need seam finishing. I think that is why the SA was only1/4" as it will be a neater seam. Knits tend to roll on the edges and thick rolls would make seams too bulky. I would just cut those rolled seams down, carefully

[Deleted User]

sloggi, about £8 a pair and they don`t last as the fabric is thinner than it used to be

so

http://www.thelingerieaddict.com/2013/01/how-to-make-your-own-knickers-a-step-by-step-guide.html

[Deleted User]

Linden is finished and this time it was a very enjoyable sew. Raising each raglan bit, 4 pieces, by 5/8" made all the difference and the neck feels just right. I put cuffs and a hem band on this time, after shortening the sleeves and hem. I used a stretch cotton with a medium hand, not flimsy but like a good t shirt type of fabric. The top is lovely, in appearance and in wearability. It is like a very light sweater and is easy to wear, will be perfect for cool days. I did stay stitch the neck then I put the neckband on. The instructions are very simple and it will be going into my `go to` box as I can see me making this over and over