The sewing thread

PollyWollyDoodle

I've been stalled, I'd planned to start to copy the sofa cushion covers, but when I took one off to try and trace a pattern, I realised I'm going to need to replace the foam. (The sofa is second-hand and of unknown age, but I love it so it's worth spending a bit of time and trouble on.) I think I'll just order the foam to fit the sofa frame and then make covers to fit the foam, rather than trying to use the old ones for guidance.

So now I need another fill-in project as I can't afford the foam for a week or two. Still on a roll with my overlocker practice, I'm going to look up the links Kittie posted and try making some knickers. I'll be back to let you know how it goes!

[Deleted User]

I have just looked into new sofa seat cushions, various sites on the web do them, there are so many densities etc. I have a large matt dark brown squishy leather chesterfield type and the seat cushions are cheapest polyfibre, I am going to step up to wrapped foam seats but need to research a bit more. I am also going from two to three cushions. I am not making the covers, piped zipped upholstery fabric and then would have to stuff oversized inners into them, they should be oversized inners btw. I am still pondering and have 5 fabric swatches, just ordered another 6. I`m not ordering in a hurry because it could be an expensive mistake

Two more pairs of sloggi formed holes last week and I am so fed up with the quality. I have some good washed cotton stretch fabric and will make my own knickers from now on, they are very very comfortable to wear

A change of leg wear for me, coming up as I want to wear my skirts and dresses more. I cannot go bare legged outside, not nice legs and tights are horrible as in cr*tch falls down and result is nora batty ankles, anyway not good for `that` area of the body if prone to cystitis. Stockings and holdups are ordered and will be trailled, with high hopes

Ninnel

Thank you. I think will go to a store and ask there

PollyWollyDoodle

I tried a few sites for pricing yesterday, need to get a friend to double-check the measurements before I order, as I don't trust myself. This sofa was bought for £20 on eBay, it's a wooden frame, think they're called 'country style' although it's not Ercol, and the cushions just 'sit' on it so sizing is not too crucial. I've been planning to make new covers since I bought it 4 years ago! It lives in my dining kitchen, where it just fits in front of the woodburner. I've got a roll of upholstery fabric which I hope will fit, but can't tell till I get patterns drawn up. The cushions are all going to be square/rectangular so not too hard I hope.

[Deleted User]

That sounds like a nice sofa Polly. You will enjoy making the cusions, I am sure

I just put the hm blankets on the ends of the two single beds, still side by side, one single would look lonely and I could not cope with turning a bigger mattress. I put them on the foot ends, doubled, easy to pull up if needed and they look lovely, very cosy and make the bedroom look even more calming. I am glad I made them, it was worth it

RosyRed

I've not had chance to do any more sewing over the BH,and today I'm minding DGS so perhaps later in the week.I did have a lovely surprise on my birthday on Sunday,my friend bought me a lovely sewing basket from John Lewi s and the latest copy of Prima makes which has a few different crafts in.I can be beautifully organised now instead of using an old plastic cotton bud box for all my spools.
Happy sewing everyone!

flissh

Well, I got to eastbourne today and found 'the stitch' what a great shop. I got loads of fabric and a simple t shirt/dress pattern too.
Polly, I reupholstered a chair a few years ago. I stripped the fabric off systematically and photographed each stage as I took it off.
I re wadded the arms and replaced he foam seat cushion. I had to replace 2 springs as well. It seemed like a massive job but I got it done. I used a book on upholstery to guide me
The worse part was I chose striped fabric and was determined to match my he stripes on the back, seat and base
Still got it, it's probably my most successful job
I think breaking it down in stages makes a big job like the that more bearable. Good luck with yours

This_calls_for_cake

Stuck in today waiting for various bits of school uniform to be delivered. I have a little kit that was stuck on the front of a magazine full of felt and ribbons and things to make a couple of small toys/decorations, think I might dig it out along with the last piece of plastic canvas and get the kids doing something different from staring at a screen of some sort!

purpleivy

That's an excellent tutorial for doing necks, but one thing to add.
If you are pressing as you go along, be really really careful about hammering your poor fabric with the iron like the demonstrator is doing! Some jerseys (particularly bamboo or viscose/elastane will stretch out and also may mark quite badly with an impression of the seam allowance underneath. I would start gingerly with a pressing cloth and see how it goes.... on a sample of fabric before my garment.

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

I have finally learned to love my overlocker! By way of background, I bought the beast a few years ago, secondhand. I didn't really understand what to do with it, and it's been taking up valuable space in my sewing cupboard. I decided that this year I'd either got to learn to use it or lose it.

I tried making a T-shirt not long after I got it, and it didn't end well. In fact I think I'm still emotionally scarred. In my cupboard upstairs is a carrier bag with some scrunched up (and slightly tear-stained) jersey.

Earlier this year I went on an excellent Saturday course at Morley College in London, which make me slightly less scared of it, however I still hadn't really used it. Rather than risk a mistake with expensive fabric, I cut up a jersey wrap dress that my sister gave me. I used a pattern from this very good book Sew U Home Stretch by Wendy Mullin and followed the instructions. Wow - so quick and easy compared to making a woven top, no facings, no darts, no fitting issues. I'm sure it's not perfect but I seriously don't think I will ever buy a t-shirt again! I can choose some proper fabric instead of the 'cheesecloth' weight that most seem to be made from, and make the sleeves a comfortable length. The overlocker performed perfectly, I'm still learning how to position the fabric but it's so neat and so speedy.

Incidentally Kittie do you recall posting this link, http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/3839/video-a-neckline-binding-for-knits about how to fit necklines? I followed it to the letter, and it worked like a dream - perfectly fitting neck band.

I'm so pleased with this, and it's given me a real boost after a somewhat challenging week. Now, am I brave enough to retrieve that UFO from the cupboard and see if there's anything to salvage? :rotfl:

purpleivy

Well, been a while since I was here, but just to catch up on a few themes.

Overlockers...my Babylock has decided that chewing fabric instead of cutting is the way forward, so it's been collected today and is going to SMD for a repair. I do use it an awful lot for my work doing garment alterations and repairs. The 2nd overlocker has come into play. I used to think it quite decent, but finding it hard work, as the tension needs constant adjustment, unlike the Babylock, which goes from chiffon to fleece with no change!

Sewing for other people....hard one! I get paid to do it. I don't charge my parents, but everyone else pays. They don't think not to! even then, Mum bought me a cashmere top as a thank you for the recent (large) batch of stuff I had done for her.

I was bemoaning the fact that I hadn't got round to sewing for me. Well, work being under control I decided to get a top made to take on holiday at the weekend. 2nd overlocker not playing the game, so a slow start. Now I'm ill and not able to get on. grrrr!

Don't be scared of the overlocker, just be very careful! ONe thing to remember is always have your right thumb under the fabric as it feeds into the machine, so you can tell straight away if there is an extra layer (your gament!) which will end up with a hole in it and also your left hand doing the same with the rest of the garment. If you sew like this on your regular machine, then you will avoid getting little wrinkles of fabric in the seam, that you have to stop and unpick and re-do