The sewing thread

flissh

Hello sew-ers :hello:
Just had a little catch up read. Don't know how I got so behind, not like I'm busy or anything!!

Im half way through a shift dress, a simplicity Jiffy. Got totally tangled up with the facing and had to undo both side seams. Put it down in a huff, I might have a look tomorrow.

I'm really struggling to find nice fabrics here, can't wait to come to the UK for my hols at the end of the month and have a browse around some fabric shops.

Ive been watching a lot of you tube stuff, and found a site called 'Sew over it' and have downloaded a PDF pattern, but need a new printer cartridge so am waiting for that to come

[Deleted User]

flissh, I hope you manage to find a good fabric shop in the uk. There are none at all within any driving distance from me and any I have come across in the past have only sold fabrics for curtains, I can only get good fabrics online and it is a bit hit and miss re draping and colours but the quality tends to be very good. If you need to talk to any good fabric shop owners then there is one in totnes, contactable by phone
http://www.stonefabrics.co.uk/

My last fabric order is due to arrive today and I just had to make sure I had one very cheery and good quality fabric in my stash. I already made something from it and it makes my heart sing. I also managed to get some cheap fabric from them, potentially for long winter skirts for home. As always it is fingers crossed that the fabric is suitable
The first fabric, the one I want to safeguard
https://www.croftmill.co.uk/products/fabric-by-width/fabrics-by-width-130cm-51-143cm56/floral-cotton-spandex-dress-fabric-product.html
The one with skirt potential, maybe, fingers crossed. I bought dark red and gold
https://www.croftmill.co.uk/products/european-dress-fabrics/dark-red-lightly-brushed-cotton-twill-fabric-made-product.html

Flissh, I did a pdf once and never again, such a faff fitting all those pieces of A4 together. All the indy pattern makers are promoting pdf, no wonder as all they have to do is e mail a file. Some patterns have dozens of sheets to stick together. The only one that is value for money is pdf by lekala, they are very cheap and made to measure. I think this is one of the reasons I have so many paper patterns as the likes of stylearc used to give free paper patterns away with orders, they are now quietly going the pdf route. I think they have a good system via amazon and I believe that amazon does the printing but the patterns are limited

flissh

Thanks for the links Kittie. That fabric looks lovely. I'll be on the south coast (near Rye) so will head to Tunbridge Wells to see my daughters, there are a couple of fabric shops there They are not that great to be honest but hey ho! I'll also have a snout round Brighton/Eastbourne way maybe. Marchant & Mills are in Rye so I will pop in there as well.
I get what you are saying about PDF patterns. I've not got much of an option at the moment. I have a very small collection of patterns of my own, that is definitely something I need to build on.

[Deleted User]

just popping on for a second

Have a look at this fabric, it is stunning, just arrived, took a gamble. It will only make something a bit heavier like a lined jacket as there is a thin white soft fleecey type back on it. It is absolutely eye catching. Fab fab curtains or eye popping cushion covers or a cover for something like a window seat or a padded box. I love it, will wash it tomorrow and see how it performs, won`t make a skirt or dress or trousers, I think I will make a sleeveless long vest top. The one I just finished that fits me perfectly in 16, there are instructions for lining this tunic. The pattern cover is awful and boring and old fashioned but the tunic without buttons looks nice on me and in this fabric, it will look stunning

It has a gentle shine to it and the flowers are large and clear
https://www.croftmill.co.uk/products/european-dress-fabrics/multicoloured-abstract-fairly-substantial-product.html

http://www.petitepluspatterns.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=151&Category_Code=PATTERNS

gotto go now, been out all morning

Artytarty

Ooh ladies, I need your help!
I have bought a length of heavy printed cotton to make a new kitchen blind utilising the old fittings.
I'm having trouble getting it to roll up neatly.
I had sewn a double fold over down the sides but I've now unpicked this and my question is do I just cut the material to width and seal the edges with something or do a single fold over or overlock the edge and turn under or overlock and not turn under?
Has anyone ever done this?

PollyWollyDoodle

Arty, I've never done a roller blind but I'd guess you need to keep the edges as flat as possible so I'd overlock or seal in some way, could you use a narrow strip of iron-on interfacing or the stuff you use for hems?

Kittie, that fabric is lovely- I can see a sort of 'swing' style coat or jacket, quite loose fitting. I'm particularly interested in the one that you just had to buy to 'safeguard'. I have a favourite skirt, it's in a floral fabric with a black background and it's got a tiny amount of stretch in it - the skirt is wearing out, and I really want to try and copy it. That fabric would work perfectly.

Home from my hols tomorrow and yes, although I've had a good time I'm not sure the effort of packing, travelling etc was really worth it - I'm not that bothered about going on holiday but when I say that people seem to think I'm mad. I could have bought a Horn table and several yards of lovely fabric (and probably a new machine!) for the cost of a week in a cottage and some indifferent pub meals.

flissh

Glad you've had a good holiday Polly. I always resent how much holidays cost too.
Arty, I've no idea re the roller blind sorry.
Happy Friday all :-)

[Deleted User]

arty, I cannot help, never made a roller blind. You have probably googled but I was just thinking about glue for the sides, rather than any bulk. My roller blinds are completely flat at the sides

Polly, snap re holidays. What`s the point of going away for some of us? It is easy to ignore the phone, to buy ready meals and get some dvds in and go to a NT property for a day out, all while sleeping in your own bed. That fabric `flower bomb` has just a tiny bit of stretch. I got 4.5m of it as potentially a skirt or two or skirt and vest/jacket in the fututure, not now for sure but its a colourway that makes my heart sing and I would regret not buying it

I washed one of the twills yesterday, the gold one and the texture has changed like I thought it would. Changed from a semi-canvas feel to a soft, warm, mustard colour, thick bendy feel. Value for money, certainly and many uses, not just clothing as in trouser, jackets, small child coats.. I will be making a long warm winter skirt from it, just for the house. It is dry now but being cotton twill, I will be giving it another wash today, to make sure it has finished shrinking. The dark red is just on the dark side of bright red, more bright than dark. It will behave in the same way. If I say old fashioned flannel skirt, then that is what the fabric is, it is just like old fashioned flannel. Warm and soft and heavy, not fashionable but utilitarian. It will fray a lot so I will be overlocking all sides before sewing, then pressing seams open, to reduce sideseam bulk

Slept really well last night. Gave myself more ventilation, my bedroom CO2 build up reduced by a half (netatmo monitor/weather station. i am a weather nerd)

[Deleted User]

I have washed the red twill twice and it is a completely different cloth to the gold. I think the gold is 100% cotton. This one has remained thinner and smooth, there is a very slight sheen in the back and it has not creased too much in spite of a 1000 rpm spin. I am not doing a flame test but am pretty sure the red is cotton/polyester, which I am very pleased about. I have been looking for quite some time, for a thinner canvas type to match an orvis (they are pricey) skirt I bought several years ago. It feels like about 70% cotton. I am happy with it, pleased in fact. It is always a risk when it is a cheaper fabric and that is destined for a skirt or even top64 as I bought 2m and it is wide. £14, a good buy

I have to think about the gold twill re a skirt. I might make some cheery cushion covers. Will think again in a month

[Deleted User]

gotto go in a mo, browsing while waiting for stewed apple to cool for freezing
kirsty and agatha together, wow. I`m not buying but one heck of a lovely combo if working. I have never paid tax on getting paper patterns direct from stylearc. I have loads, they always work
https://www.stylearc.com/