The sewing thread

[Deleted User]

hsukltd, £5.99 plastic bead box single tray from ebay, includes pnp. Mine has arrived and I cannot say how pleased I am with it. I put every single foot into its own space, including my auto buttonhole foot, my walking foot and my straight stitch throat plate. It really is fantastic for storage. The compartments are versatile and I have taken a few dividers out to accomodate the long feet. I am just going to label the lid now and have ordered another tray for my hooks and eyes and all the small bits that I can never find. It is even good for in a drawer

[Deleted User]

I did order some fabric from fabrics-hemmers uk language site based in germany. It came today and no-where in the uk have I been able to get such good quality stretch cotton, no ifs and buts, it is top notch and generally 95% cotton 5% elastane but I chose weights between 210 and 220 g/m squared. This quality will be very easy to sew. I`ll show you a couple, the first is for me to make a sweatshirt for a grandaughter who will be 8 soon and is crazy about owls
https://www.fabrics-hemmers.co.uk/cotton-jersey-owl-glitter-gold

It is very wide and won`t need much fabric and they do whatever amount you might want like eg 1.25m

This is for me, another sweatshirt, very good quality french terry
https://www.fabrics-hemmers.co.uk/cotton-jersey-french-terry-wild-flower-grey

A gentle drapey top
https://www.fabrics-hemmers.co.uk/cotton-muslin-double-gauze-scribbled-stars-pale-green
This costs £24 a m in the uk and is 20cm narrower

I have to show you the ribbing. Good quality ribbing is difficult to find here, ask me how I know, I am wondering what to do with all my trial and error uk ribbing, which is weak and floppy. I picked expensive ribbing but it is tubular ie 2 x 27cm. It will last a long time as it is usually just for bits of a garment. They had several types of ribbing and this one is nice, very suitable for most clothes, except for very soft things for babies
https://www.fabrics-hemmers.co.uk/cuffs-goods-terracotta

I have finished sorting feet and other accessories. The sewing machine feet were tucked away hours ago, then I started on the serger bits and omg what a job. Bernina have numbers on all their feet, babylock just comes in packets with a photocopied printout. I had bought some from the usa as they were a fraction of babylock prices but I have been hours on ebay, working out how to use them. The double fold bias binder, the fellers etc Unless you are using these things regularly then you forget. Anyway everything is properly labelled now and I am ready to have some practice sessions, sometime. I found my serger receipt, dated february 2008. The equivalent serger is more than twice what I paid then

Talking about feet, I have bitten the bullet and am visiting a podiatrist tomorrow. Went once before, 12 years ago and hated it, so I am not looking forward to it but needs must, anyway it is a different person with nice reviews

[Deleted User]

podiatrist was a brilliant experience, such a lovely man, gave me a whole hour. Learnt that have very healthy feet and very good strong circulation, got some exercises and thats it

Last night made the petite plus false wrap skirt in a medium bright cotton slightly stretch print. Its nice but wrong time of year now. Today I have copied the same pattern but in ankle length with a bottom slit as I actually need some warm comfy skirts for winter. Found a large piece of fabric, looks like a tweed type, could be cotton or wool, not been washed. I cut the 2m needed and it is in a wool wash now, meanwhile I did the flame test, using metal tongs over a metal sink

Caught fire very quickly and that 1" strip burnt very fast, shrinking into itself. I put the flame out with water and the residue is black and brittle. Now that was a shock as the fabric is probably a polyester, one of those that mimic natural fibre. Its ideal for a skirt for winter and will wash. I am taking advantage of the dry day and have two thin cotton fabrics drying on a rack outside. They will be dry in 20 minutes and be replaced by this one. I like getting all this done, so that I can just get on with sewing in winter

Artytarty

Goodness me you are so thorough Kittie!
The only sewing I have done lately is th shook and eye on a pair of trousers.
On the subject, as I was ironing them I wondered about the crease?
Is it my imagination that most people don't iron a crease down the front of trousers now? Is that outdated ?
I decided to do the, flat and see how I feel wearing them, they are cropped trews.
I'm stepping back from sewing for a bit until I can crack my artists block!
I need a few paintings for an exhibition fairly soon and it's just not happening! I need to focus on that for awhile before I allow myself to sew anything new I think.

PollyWollyDoodle

I think it depends on the style a bit; I've got some black crepe 'best' trousers and they have a crease, but I don't bother with the linen ones I'm wearing a lot at this time of year.

Kittie so the flame test is to check if it's wool or not? I've not come across this.

elf06

Arty I iron a crease in my son's school trousers still - not a great deal else I hasten to add!

My bag handle arrived today so I'm looking forward to getting a few mins to try and work out a pattern for them. I don't even know if I have suitable fabric but I'll have a rummage tomorrow hopefully (by the time I get home tonight I'll need to get DS to bed, walk dog and then it will be bedtime for me!!)

edited to fix my phones spelling!

[Deleted User]

yes, google flame test. I read about that as a way of testing fabrics but have never done it before. What was actually very scary was the way that the fabric burnt, it was fierce for the small amount I used. There was a tiny bit of wool smell after washing so I think about 5% wool and 95% polyester. It drapes nice and will be warm so is useful

I`ll be cutting the straight skirt out tomorrow and no-mess serging the sides, its far more efficient than the sewing machine tidying I did yesterday. It will be quick to put together. I dithered about what to make with the other half as it isn`t a colour I want to be dominant ie it is tweedy drab. I am going to make a button front v neck sleeveless tunic to wear over something else.Not a gorgeous pattern but will be practical if it fits. Pattern is already drafted for D and I have to use via the HB measurement, which makes it 16 for me. I have taken it up 1" and graded out at the hips. All on the thin tissue, lining is optional so I am not using it. If the alteration and pattern work out, then I will copy but it does depend. It has long front facing and a back bodice facing. I will just cut the front and back initially, then baste as I made a drastic re-grade to the hips, I may have to take it back in. The pattern looks to be a good fit as a tissue but I`ll see

Using this thicker cloth with facing means that I will be grading seams when they are hidden, either that or I will pink them

silvasava

Just a little anecdote - some years ago I was invited to my friends house for a girly evening and dinner. She had laid the table beautifully and had put a couple of candles in the centre. She leaned across to place some food on the table - she was wearing a short bolero jacket that caught the flame and started to burn and melt in seconds. For a split second we were aghast & then I threw my water over her! We are still friends! We were all so shocked at how quickly her top burnt and turned to a black sticky mess - could have been horrific. I will not have lit candles in my house now.

PollyWollyDoodle

Goodness, that's quite scary. I favour natural fabrics but they can be expensive- and it's not always easy to tell these days, as you said Kittie, you weren't sure if this was wool. Something to bear in mind though, especially for nightwear.

flissh

Kittie, who knew you could burn fabric to determine its make up. You are a never ending mine of info.x

silva that story is horrific :eek:

Yesterday (can't remember why) I dug out my sewing machine manual and read it properly. Have found out that it does a sort of overlock stitch for finishing seams!!! Had a go today and its not bad. I haven't got the right foot, with a fabric guard but I managed with a normal foot.
I have made a pattern, a mash up from a maxi dress and sleeveless top. I'm making a maxi dress with some very bright patterned fabric. Its just a basic main seam down the back, 1 piece at the front, scoop neck sleeveless dress. Ive stitched the main seams and used the 'overlock' stitch to finish the edges. Just got to make some bias binding for the neck and armholes, thats my least favourite thing to do. My o/h was with me when I bought the fabric and was a bit taken aback that I got it because its not the sort of thing I would usually wear but I'm quite pleased with it so far. It'll be lovely for the beach.