The sewing thread

flissh

Polly that's not sad at all!! I bought a second hand machine the other day to keep in the caravan we have here. It's just like the one my mum used to have and a pleasure to use. I'm almost sad I can't take it back with me but I'll have it here next time I come.
Now I've bought so much fabric and some patterns and a book on dressmaking I can't wait to get home to get stuck in

Fabric land was ok Think you have to take it at face value. There's no info re washing instructions and not all fabric is identified but it was a real bargain

elf06

Ooooh I'm off for a nosey at fabric land! Personally I like Oh sew crafty - good customer service, quick delivery (even to the arm pit of nowhere which appears to be where I currently reside).

Re storage - how do you all store your fabrics? By colour? Farbic composition? Project? season? I need to find a better way as mine are all currently flung in storage boxes but I can't always find what I'm looking for. Zips, clips, buttons etc are kept in either a small storage cube that has little drawers (think mini tool box for screws etc) or in a biscuit tin!!

silvasava

I've got some underbed storage drawers - not plastic ones - they were bought over 40 years ago to go under my boys bunk beds so they're 2ft wide, 2'6'' deep and about a foot high. Nice and solid wood on castors with hinged lids. At the moment I store furnishing fabrics in two and dress fabrics in the other one.I really need to have a sort out to see what I will realistically use. Our local hospice has a craft shop so any surplus will go there. I use them a lot for oddments of supplies too. Have been known to buy a part reel of thread for 20p for one job and return it when I've finished!
Polly - I've sorted my zips by colour rather than length - might do the same as you.

PollyWollyDoodle

Plastic crates for larger bits, underbed drawers for fat quarters/larger scrap pieces, and then upholstery fabric is piled in a cupboard that I'm slightly embarrassed to open at the moment. It's more oddments than actual dress lengths, and it does need tackling. I'm confined to quarters on Thursday as the car is being serviced, so perhaps that will be the day!

I am having huge amounts of fun at the moment, haven't been able to get on with a big project as too many things are interfering, so I've started something I have planned for ages. I'm making a 'Quiet Book' for my friend's little boy. If you haven't heard of these, Google it and be prepared to lose several hours of your life! Basically it's a cloth book with activities - zips, laces to tie, velcro, things that pop in and out of pockets etc.

Because he is very young, I am keeping it to things that are firmly attached - so far I've got a felt tree with leaves which lift up to show an owl, squirrel and so on, and the next page will be a barn with farm animals behind the doors and windows. It really appeals to my creative instincts, it's a great way to use up scraps of felt, coloured thread etc and it involves lots of hand sewing so I can do it while watching TV and without needing to use the machine. My plan is to punch eyelets in each page and clip them with a keyring type thing, so that further pages can be added in due course.

Once he is old enough not to put everything in his mouth, there are some fabulous ideas which involve things you can move around, match up, take on and off the page (with buttons or velcro) and so on. I am having so much fun, I have had to invest in a pair of microtip scissors though to cut things out neatly.

purpleivy

Well, I had the best laid plans. I got my top cut out, started sewing. Took ages to get the overlocker to play nicely. Work sewing under control. Then I was ill. Managed to get away, but still not well. No new top. Best overlocker has had its service and man let me know it is ready to collect on my return.

RosyRed

I spent a satisfying hour sorting all my threads into the new sewing basket my friend bought me for my birthday,and the top compartment housing machine needles,spools,& sundries like tailors chalk,pins.It made me realise how much thread I have got so I've sorted a bag of duplicates and colours I wont use to give to my cousin who makes costumes for school nativities etc.

My fabric is stored in a plastic crate on top of the wardrobe,and WIP or soon to be used under the shelf where my sewing machine is.Patterns are in a nice box on the bookshelf in the bedroom,which is where I sew. I am feeling a bit more organised now


DGD came today and I have one of the playsuits back-she said she was doing gymnastics on holiday and it got a hole in.Its actually the overlocking that has pulled away from the fabric on the crotch seams,easily fixed,though they are lightweight so there won't be that many chances to wear them now autumn is on it's way,& they probably won't fit her by next summer. She's back at school tomorrow,and DGS starts nursery school next week so I'll have a bit more time to get stuck into some sewing.
Polly,the quiet book sounds great,I'll have a look at those later.

Save

[Deleted User]

Just a catch up thread browse for now. Hope you are feeling better purpleivy. I am liking to read about storage and projects, I don`t have a storage problem any more as it is just me but in the past it was difficult, boxes under beds mainly. Now I store fabric in the airing cupboard as well as in any cupboard in my sewing room.

Proof of the pudding as in wearing and using. Yes I am loving my hm clothes, just the right season for them and I am glad that my linen skirts are a bit longer and looser, they are warmer and I can see the layering potential. Blanket is also wonderful

I am thinking about trousers, I have always had a fit problem, the best pair was from MnS classics about 16 years ago. I sacrificed them :cool: unpicked all the seams and made a pattern on card to hang in my sewing cupboard. I may never use them as an actual pattern because the side pockets and zip were complicated but they will make a huge improvement to any trouser pattern fitting

I am glad to see the thread remains alive and well, til we meet again

flissh

Thanks for the info 're the quiet books Polly, I'm definitely going to have a look at that
Hope you are feeling better purpleivy.

joedenise

I've finally read the thread through from start to finish - it's taken a while.

Thanks for the links Kittie and others. I've book marked several for later.

Haven't done much sewing for a long time but used to make my girls skirts & dresses when they were younger (both in their 40s now!). Have just made my first dress for a long time but not particularly happy with the fit. Will need to make a few adjustments to it before I can wear it. It's a bit loose around the bust area and a bit tight around the hips - think I should have graded the side seam and made it size 14 rather than 12 but it was good practice.

I'm thinking about getting some fabric and having a go at making some knickers - they look fairly easy to do but not sure when that's going to happen as going away shortly for 3 months.

Will keep an eye on the thread when I can.

Denise

silvasava

Only sewing for me this week will be altering a too large cotton nightshirt I bought in a CS for 50p - it's nice quality and has little embroidered hearts all over it. I've also got a new pair of cut offs to shorten - they're mid calf and I prefer them just below my knee.
Out shopping on Wednesday with a couple of friends and I took a quick look in Fabric land - they had some nice heavy stretch cotton and a lovely roll of scuba - I've a shift pattern that I love and I'd only need my length as they were both wide .......thinking about it