The sewing thread

Squiggly_Diddly

No worries flissh, the Stitch shop and C&H are here in Eastbourne (although I think C&H have a branch in Brighton too). Stitch also have a shop in Seaford, haven't been to it but I think they also stock more in the way of wool etc for knitters.
I know that frustration, I think it's why I stopped sewing for a long time as well, but I have more patience now! Also I think either going to an occasional class as well as being able to watch videos online really helps sometimes. Plus Owl & Sewing Cat do segments on Create & Craft TVs as well apparently.

srn

I know what you mean about picking the right fabric, Flissh, I have that problem, I can't seem to visualise the final made up item and seem to pick fabrics that are "too much". I did find a website which shows the fabrics made up into various garments

https://www.myfabrics.co.uk

I found it very helpful.

silvasava

I think sometimes our dressmaking efforts disappoint because we choose a fabric we like the look of rather than considering if it really suits us. I am tall so small busy patterns don't suit me. Neither do pastels or multi coloured fabrics. I suit bold plain colours or large two toned prints. Before you buy have a think about the colours that suit you and take your lifestyle into account. I also will not buy anything that has to be dry cleaned and I can't stand linen as to me it always looks like a dishrag in 5 minutes!

RosyRed

Hi everyone:wave:

Another lurker come to join in if you don't mind.I only tend to post on the Daily now and again unless I can see a specific question I can help with. I love the links that you put on Kittie,and everyone so thank you.I recently bought a Style Arc dress pattern from Amazon-I had never heard of them before.Not started it yet.

I have had a sewing machine since I was about 16 and I'm now a Gran of 2. I had basic sewing lessons at school and also my own Gran showed me things on her Singer treadle machine.I used to love being able to run up my own maxi dresses in the 70s-I still like dressmaking,but have also done patchwork and baby quilts,bags and other bits and pieces.

My current machine is a Silver 1050 and I've recently just bought a Brother overlocker to replace a Frister Rossman that got damaged in a house move,& I was told by a local sewing shop it wasnt economically worth it to get it mended.I've also got a Newhome that was my late MILs,but its so heavy :eek:

I'm going to go and do some sewing shortly after I get a few more jobs out of the way.I sew in our bedroom.DH put me a little desk height shelf in an alcove & I made a little curtain on a wire to go under it so I can keep fabric etc in boxes underneath and not take over the bedroom too much! If I need both machines out at once I have a folding table to put one one and just turn my chair round.

I've just started 2 playsuits for my DGD aged 5.Her other grandparents are taking her abroad on hol in just over a week and when Nanna saw one I'd already made has asked if I can do 2 more as theyre ideal for hot weather.Cue a mad rush to get some fabric- I'm quite lucky as there is a mill fairly close that sells all sorts,and also an Abakhan in town.

Right I'd better get on with it then but thought I'd introduce myself.I love the thread and always read to see what others are up to.

emmzickle

kittie wrote: »

Re fabric Emm, no-where online is cheap, they all have to cover PnP so I would suggest that you call into charity shops as often as you can and look at the curtaining as well as for dress fabrics. I had a friend 40+ years ago, in her 20s, who made the most wonderful clothes from curtain fabric

Good idea! Thank you I also popped over my Mum's and she has given me lots of offcuts to practise on.

I have some lavender from the garden drying at the moment so I think one of my first makes will be some lavender bags ... hopefully should be able to manage that!

ivyleaf

I'm loving the thread, but not really doing any sewing just atm - I'm waiting for cataract surgery and plan to get back to it after that, all being well. Thank you so much for all the useful links kittie :A

[Deleted User]

I am SO happy to see you all on here now, you don`t have to be actively sewing right now, just interested in sewing is enough. Just need to say that I click thanks when I have read a post, nothing to do with agree or disagree, helps me to keep track

One thing that is proving invaluable is my slowly growing `go to` box. These are patterns which fit and are easy to make. I used it just now. I put my pink linen esme top on with a nice multi coloured skirt, then put some tops away and suddenly realised that the top I washed yesterday was made from the same fabric as the multi skirt I am wearing today. Doh, didn`t sink in previosly. Straight to my stash and have now cut out, in 5 minutes, a pink linen skirt which I will sew tonight, instead of falling asleep when I relax in the recliner. Another mix n match set done

Scarves to link mix and match sets, I tried all the shops and charity shops but turned to amazon and they have hundreds of lovely scarves, so am now sorted and I have bought the ones that link fabric colours

Linens, I noticed that many sellers sell linen blends as linen. They drape better with something woven in them and I personally like linen/cotton blends

PollyWollyDoodle

I think the fabric issue is an interesting one. Years ago my mum made my clothes because it was cheaper than buying them - that's no longer the case, but it depends what you're comparing them with. You can buy very cheap clothes from Pr*mark etc - but they are generally made from inferior fabric and not well constructed. If you compare home-sewn with more expensive brands (some of which I'd never pay for!) then even buying quality fabric, there are considerable savings.

As a fairly amateur sewer, it hadn't occurred to me to compare my products with the higher brand stuff - but even my efforts are probably better made than the discount clothes, and they're individual and unique. We should take a pride in what we make, and lately I've realised that if I'm going to spend hours making something then I want it to be in a fabric that I like and which will last. So in future I'm going to be spending a little more on fabric and taking more care and time over what I make.

I love the idea of being thrifty and I've got my fair share of duvet covers, charity-shop finds and so on, but I'm now realising that this invariably means compromising, the pattern or colour isn't always ideal for what you want - and this is possibly why I haven't used some of it! If it's for patchwork or cushion-covers then you can get creative but for clothes it's harder. I don't mind making a quick summer top out of cheap/recycled stuff but don't want to spend time on something that might fade in the wash or get limited use.

Ideally I'd like to be able to remodel charity-shop garments but I think that takes much more skill than making from scratch. So my way forward will be a bit more thoughtful - buying for a specific project and taking trouble to get the right fabric.

flissh

Polly, you've made really interesting points. I agree that hand made for yourself will definitely be better than cheap fashion churned out by the discount shops, even well made shop bought is made for an average fit.
Your point about being more thoughtful has struck a chord with me. I'm guilty of rushing ahead with poor quality fabrics (they are mostly all i'm finding here where I live).
I need to slow down, do some proper planning, online is ok, then take some time to make somethings I can be really proud of.

silvasava

Polly - your thoughts on using charity shop garments to remodel really resonates with me. I remember buying a beautiful grey wool worsted skirt that was about 4 sizes too big for me for the fabric. I unpicked it all - recut and made it with a new lining and zip - as it was a classic pencil skirt I had it for work for at least 10 years and then passed it on! I also have a beautiful silk shirt in indigo blues, purples and a splash of hot pink that I made from a monsoon wrapover dress. Both bought purely for the fabric. I still have a look round now and again - just feeling the fabrics to decide if its good quality.