The sewing thread

flissh

Amazing what a bit of improvisation will do!
Just traced a pattern for a simple t shirt from a new book, 'Beginners guide to sewing' by Wendy Ward. Not doing it today, maybe tomorrow. It looks like a really easy make though.
Washed all my new fabric today, now folded and put away. I'm looking forward to getting going. Also caught up with all the sewing blogs and vlogs that I missed when on holiday, hopefully sewing is having a bit of a renaissance.

Green_hopeful

Hi. I hope you can help.

I am making eyelet curtains for quite narrow French windows. I think each curtain will be one width of fabric. I cut the fabric and then tested out the placing of the Jupiter eyelet tape.

Going mid eyelet to mid eyelet is 137 cm. clearly that won't work and give me some fabric to fold over and seam allowance. It would waste lots of fabric to reduce the width enough to get to the next even number of eyelets.

Does anyone know of eyelet tape that fits one width of fabric or tried making eyelet curtains without using tape. My fabric isn't very thick but I have lining with wadding back so it is quite strong and thick.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Many thanks

Green hopeful

flissh

Sorry, I don't think I can help, but I think I understand your frustration. I bought ready made eyelet curtains and had to join another curtain to them to make them wide enough and was really frustrated at the amount I had to discard to make them an even number. I had to cut off a whole eyelet width each side.

jackyann

I would have a look on the Merrick and Day site, where anything curtain related can be found, along with useful tips.
Having said that, I rather think that eyelets for a narrow, but heavy curtain is not the best way of hanging them(experienced amateur talking here). I think that the wadding will need a big 'fold' to hang properly.
You might consider fabric 'tabs' ( loops) sewn on to the top and looped over the pole. I have found these very useful with narrow curtains BUT the bulk of the tab means they don't draw back into a narrow space . So they are most useful if you have a large side space to draw them into (needs a longer pole) or if they are on a window where their decorative effect is more important than letting in the light!
You can reduce the bulk of the tab by using strong coloured webbing / herringbone tape that matches / contrasts with the curtain. You can also use this method with any old tape you have lying about to tack on and give it a try.

My own favourite is to buy poles with rings, use conventional curtain tape, and hook on to the rings.
I have seen curtains made without curtain tape, where the rings are either sewn on or secured with a small, tightly sewn piece of fabric tape.

This site has nice tapes, and also stocks eyelet tape and other curtain stuff: http://www.fabricuk.com

Green_hopeful

Thank you. I might just make normal tops.

[Deleted User]

I kept a darning mushroom, never used now but nice to stroke, tactile

Absolutely no sewing now as I am clearing anything I can get my hands on since I decided to move. I will be having a dedicated sewing room, no doubt about it. I finished washing the last of the lengths yesterday and will stash them away later, The sewing room here will be easy to pack as I want everything in it and the joy of it is that everything is in that one room, plus two shelves in the airing cupboard

I have taken to wearing my own hm things lately, almost every day, except for trousers. I only ever had one pair that fitted me well and I kept them going for 15 years, last year I took them apart, the very old MnS classic fit, I cut cardboard patterns and the patterns are hanging up. No point in trying to replicate exactly because the side pockets and front fly were complicated. What I will do is use a standard pattern and then use the cardboard to alter the all important fit from waist, down between legs and up again, this also gives me enough ease, whereas just a tape measurement does not. That is in the future. Next job is to start clearing some wardrobe space

This time of year I am wearing skirts outside too, long enough to wear with my opaque knee highs. I am another who does not have nice legs and was never brave enough to have them on show outside my own home

Oh yes, knickers, I wear my own by choice now, they are supremely compfortable, the fabric is much nicer. I cannot see me buying them again, ever. Welcome to all the new people, I am loving that this thread is thriving

Slowdown

Hi all,
I'm thrilled to have found a sewing thread. I'm an amateur sewer who has lapsed in the last 6 months. I don't really make clothes, more soft furnishings and sometimes scenes. I love sewing but this year has been stressful at work and despite the relaxing nature of sewing I have not been able to settle to it. If I'm not in the zone I find it hard to be creative.
However, I'm about to leave my stressful career after 28 years, which is sad because I've devoted my life to it but good because I can no longer carry on being so unhappy. And that means I feel like I can begin to sew again. I started a seaside quilted scene for a picture frame which I am keen to finish. I'm very glad there are lots of experienced people here whose brains I can pick when I'm stuck and with whom I can share my interest with.
So thank you and see you soon.

likklegibbon

Hi everyone. Today's my birthday and after a lot of thought I asked my family for a dressmaker's form and sewing lessons as my pressies. I'm short, busty and a bit on the curvy side and sick of wearing stuff that hangs in all the wrong places - have been a cross stitcher for years but now want to learn how to properly sew so that I can finally find things that fit me rather than kinda fit. Any suggestions of a good place to start?

silvasava

Slowdown and likklegibbon - welcome to the thread! The more the merrier!! Congratulations on leaving your stressful job SD - in a few months you won't recognise yourself! I'm only an occasional poster but do pop in regularly to see what people are up to and what's going on.
Today's sewing task is to move two buttons on a wrap over skirt to accommodate me expanding waistline lo!. It's only an inch - honest

jackyann

Likklegibbon - meander round the various sites to look for patterns. My own 'curvy' favourite is Cashmerette - recommended on this forum (thanks whoever it was!) expensive but worth it.
Style Arc are also good.