The sewing thread

fuddle

I'd be up for a challenge but I'm not very able yet.

Maryb, did you say an automatic needle threader I've learned something new today. I'm sorry to read your eyes haven't been playing the game properly but pleased to read they're righting their wrongs now.

I have 4 rows left to stitch of my top quilt. [STRIKE]Some[/STRIKE], [STRIKE]a fair few[/STRIKE] most squares don't quite match up but it's so busy it's not easy to tell. I'm quite a perfectionist so a bit shocked at how this is ok and I actually l.o.v.e my quilt top.

Franalamadingdong

Fuddle I use frixion pens. To remove the mark I either use the iron, or if particularly idle I use a hairdryer.

I think I might be one of the younger sewers here. I've made curtains and cushions, quilts and clothes, aprons, bags, pencil cases, purses, jewellery rolls, toys, a tree skirt and an armchair sewing organiser thing. I'm doing an English paper piecing quilt at the moment. No doubt I will hugely regret such an insane undertaking.

Green hat, you could use your cheap stuff as a muslin, then when you've worked out all the tweaks and changes you need to make to the pattern you can use your good stuff.

Anyone done any leather work? I've been eyeing some up. I've used the fake stuff, buy I'd love to work with some real leather.
My mum bought me a machine from the charity shop about 6 or 7 years ago. This broke recently and was such an obscure make I couldn't get a replacement part. I ended up treating myself to a fancy pants machine and I love it. It made such a difference to my sewing! I also have an overlocker, but I've not used this as much as my machine. And now after teaching myself English paper piecing (EPP) last Christmas I use both a little less. Boy is it addictive! I do intersperse the EPP with quicker projects, like the tree skirt, to get a little quick gratification!

I am 100%, totally and absolutely not at all MSE when it comes to my sewing. If I am going to spend hours and hours of my time on something I won't compromise, it'll be exactly what I want. However, I do find use for scraps. I used some when learning EPP, and the leftovers from the tree skirt made my scrappy wreath. Well meaning people tend to give me mildew stinking scraps, as in 4" x6", of upholstery fabric. I'm not going to use it, and I'm not going to store it with my nice fabric so it can transfer it's stink over! I'm very firm with them saying that others could make better use of it and I won't accept it now Sounds rude but it's - I am polite about it, but some people will not take no for an answer. It's like people who like to ride bikes being given a punctured car tyre and expected to be grateful.

parsniphead

Thanks for starting the thread Kittie. I have sewn for many years and have asked for fabric and patterns for Christmas presents. I also like to draft my own patterns but time is a little short at the moment.

I have made a puff quilt, a embroidered bean bag and a 50's style mans work shirt as gifts this year. Time for some things for me I think.

I shall read with interest and post when I can.

parsniphead

Franalamadingdong wrote: »

Fuddle I use frixion pens. To remove the mark I either use the iron, or if particularly idle I use a hairdryer.

I think I might be one of the younger sewers here. I've made curtains and cushions, quilts and clothes, aprons, bags, pencil cases, purses, jewellery rolls, toys, a tree skirt and an armchair sewing organiser thing. I'm doing an English paper piecing quilt at the moment. No doubt I will hugely regret such an insane undertaking.

Green hat, you could use your cheap stuff as a muslin, then when you've worked out all the tweaks and changes you need to make to the pattern you can use your good stuff.

Anyone done any leather work? I've been eyeing some up. I've used the fake stuff, buy I'd love to work with some real leather.
My mum bought me a machine from the charity shop about 6 or 7 years ago. This broke recently and was such an obscure make I couldn't get a replacement part. I ended up treating myself to a fancy pants machine and I love it. It made such a difference to my sewing! I also have an overlocker, but I've not used this as much as my machine. And now after teaching myself English paper piecing (EPP) last Christmas I use both a little less. Boy is it addictive! I do intersperse the EPP with quicker projects, like the tree skirt, to get a little quick gratification!

I am 100%, totally and absolutely not at all MSE when it comes to my sewing. If I am going to spend hours and hours of my time on something I won't compromise, it'll be exactly what I want. However, I do find use for scraps. I used some when learning EPP, and the leftovers from the tree skirt made my scrappy wreath. Well meaning people tend to give me mildew stinking scraps, as in 4" x6", of upholstery fabric. I'm not going to use it, and I'm not going to store it with my nice fabric so it can transfer it's stink over! I'm very firm with them saying that others could make better use of it and I won't accept it now Sounds rude but it's - I am polite about it, but some people will not take no for an answer. It's like people who like to ride bikes being given a punctured car tyre and expected to be grateful.

I used to teach leatherwork Franalamadingdong so if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

kathrynha

katkin wrote: »

Do you all think we should have a simple sewing challenge? Make something within so many weeks then post the finished item? Sharing knowledge and tips as we go along?

I'm up for a challenge, and I have a sewing project that I have been meaning to do for ages.
I'm a Guide leader and I have a great big pile of neckers (the scarves Guides and Scouts wear round their necks), from lots of camps and special events, so they all have a sentimental value, but just end up in a box. My plan for them is to make a new Guide bag (tote bag) for me, and a plate bag for camps. Using them in a quilting like way. Never done quilting before, but I want to try.
I won't be starting till after Christmas though.

maryb

Fuddle, this is the needle threader I was talking about
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clover-Desk-Needle-Threader-Pink/dp/B00172MKO4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481620077&sr=8-1&keywords=clover+needle+threader

Worth every penny for me and I think it would also be really good if you are doing some hand sewing where you need to thread a lot of needles - it's so quick

thriftwizard

Whilst I am in utter agreement with Franalamadingdong about little mildewy scraps, I'm usually very happy working with reclaimed fabrics!

Yesterday evening I made a pair of curtains from one enormous one rescued by a friend who was redecorating a country house after a fire; it's a Colefax & Fowler linen/cotton union and the sort of fabric I could only dream of buying new in any quantity, but just happens to be the exact colour I need for the room I'm currently re-decorating. The other curtain had been badly scorched & was being burnt; my friend asked politely whether he could rescue this one before it went into the bonfire, and was given permission. As the curtains I've made from it are purely decorative, the cotton bump interlining is going into a cot quilt I'm halfway through, and the lining is in my rag bag. Later on I'll be making two cushion/pillow covers from the leftovers. There's already a quilted roman blind at that window in a C&F stripe which contains the same blue, bought as a remnant; I still have some of that too, so two more cushions will be made up in that.

My living room & hallway curtains are Laura Ashley's Pelham Stripe, four long pairs cut down from two huge pairs bought for £1.50, scrumpled up in a big bin-liner at the local Tip. Now with matching cushions! Not to everybody's taste, obviously, but it really suits the age & style of our house. Originally the two big pairs, made to measure at LA rather than off-the-peg, would have cost well over £1,000, and the fabric itself was in good nick once washed & ironed.

My very favourite thing to work with is old silk... from time to time, in the course of my business, I'll buy a bundle of old silk saris. Whilst I'll sell most of them on, usually to fashion students at the local uni, one or two of them will inevitably make their way into our own stash. But it's not the easiest stuff to stitch & we go through acres of tissue paper trying to keep it stabilised under the needle, even with a dual-feed machine! However, the softness, drape and flow of the fabric itself are utterly addictive. And don't get me started on old kimonos - Japanese weaves & prints are just to die for!

So it's horses for courses! We do occasionally buy & use new fabric - we, by the way, is myself and my two DDs - but in the course of what I do (and they help with) we just keep coming across the most beautiful fabrics, lace & other stuff that other people have rejected, usually for a fraction of the cost of buying good stuff new. I'm perfectly happy with other people only using new, though - it leaves all the more for me!

maryb

I've tended to use Vogue/McCall/Butterick/Simplicity patterns up to now and I have a pretty good idea of the adjustments I need to make. Has anyone used Burda patterns very much? Specifically, do they tend to run big or not? I've heard that their trousers fit much better than American patterns.

I'll be using a paper pattern - I don't think my poor eyes are up to tracing from the magazine!!

loocyloo

westcoastscot wrote: »

edited to add: loocyloo that would work fine - if the sides are straight you could shorten the work by cutting the sides and backs all in one piece, sew the two together leaving the shoulders open and turn it through that? Then you'd just need to sew the shoulders up?

THANK YOU! just need to find some time to get going!




Emminapickle, I always use cheap pillows or cushions for stuffing! the 'real' stuffing is SOOO expensive!


I'm loving reading about everyones projects and sewing history x

MandM90

Feel like a fraud joining as I think my sewing machine has been gathering dust for at least six months due to 60 hour working weeks, though I love sewing. I have the following waiting to be tended two:

3 tops/jumpers to repair
Curtains for DDs room
Curtains for my living room.

DD has asked for curtains for Xmas but don't think that will happen now I've never actually made curtains, though I've made tablecloths and dresses and loads of other random things with success! Anyone know of any online tutorials that might help? Maybe if I buy the fabric I'll actually get it done...