The sewing thread

[Deleted User]

enforced sewing room tidy is complete. I have a visitor sleeping on an aerobed in there at the weekend. I am still debating shortening a skirt and will decide finally when I have finished my knitting project. The season is changing and I feel myself turning from wool craft to cloth craft

PollyWollyDoodle

Gosh Silvasava, you did well there - I never seem to find things like that in charity shops! I'm itching to get sewing, but no time yet.

purpleivy

As Kittie says, if you can get your dummy to the same shape and size as you are,
then that's all well and good. Unless you can, it's no good for fitting, though useful to decide on placement of stuff or to support your work while you are at an awkward stage.

If you are a standard size then I'm sure it would be very useful. there are a few ways in which my dummy couldn't be made to match me I think. My bust point (ahem!) is much lower than Dolly's. My underbust is much smaller than Dolly's. Neither of these is a fixable problem with padding out.

I really need to get back to personal sewing.... I know I keep saying this. I've been chucking out my stuff as it's worn out. I looked wistfully at the rag my hub was using on the car on Sunday. It was a lovely top I had that had got rather too ropey to wear. I'm not that picky either! I refuse to go the RTW route, when I have a stash of lovely fabric.

I shall go into the workroom and carry on with other peoples' sewing shortly. Perhaps will try and do a few minutes each day for myself.

Good luck with all your projects. Lovely to hear about them. Oh! A couple of weeks ago I got really lucky and was gifted an Elna Lotus ZZ by a neighbour/customer. I already have an Elna Lotus SP, so going to be hard to decide what to do with it. THey are fab little machines, I even took mine on a road trip holiday a couple of years ago and did some therapeutic sewing in our holiday let!

kittie wrote: »

I have a body form and I padded it to my own shape, it took me a long time and a lot of determined grit as it was so boring to do. I used a curved needle and put a stretch cover over the top, with an inserted zip down the back because figures change. Then I put tape around bust, waist and hips. I covered it so it is hidden and she wears a stuffed bra. I have never used it for making my dresses or tops but I will. It is so realistic that I won`t be leaving it to the removals men if/when I move

I have two large full length standing mirrors in that room, on secure stands and with chains so they don`t collapse. I placed them in a corner at right angles to each other and they are very useful, much more used than the dress form. I had to measure myself and that was difficult but I bought a craftsy class that showed me how to do it and I also bought
http://stores.islandersewing.com/measuring-made-easy/

Now I can measure every bit of myself. It started with the Linda Lee class on craftsy called `fitting solo` I would give that lady 10/10, she is a fab teacher

silvasava

Polly - our local hospice have some great ideas for fund raising. The shop used to be one of their CS but now they've turned it I to a craft shop, sewing, knitting, crochet, cad making, cross stitch - you name it they'll have something. I've cleared out a lot of my sewing stuff that I inherited from my mum to them - they take fabric, books, buttons, half used threads, wool, knitting needles. I just LOVE the place!
Slight hiccup with the machine last night - the needle is hitting the race so I've got to dismantle it again o find out how to reset it - fun and games!

daisy_1571

Evening all

Does anyone have an elna sewing machine? I'm having trouble tracking down what model I have. It says elna on the front, it says TSP on the front at the top near where it is threaded. I can't find any other marks on it but when I search for it there is loads of elna model numbers but none match TSP without further numbers.

I'm trying to buy more metal bobbins but they seem to be different sizes for different models do want to make sure I get the correct ones.

Thanks.

Swimum I agreed with the ideas posted earlier regarding your student, how frustrating for them but I'm sure we have all done this sort of thing at least once

Daisy

queengoth

Hello I have decided to replace my sewing machine, was a cheapish one, about £50, from either Aldi or Lidl quite a few years ago. Various bits have gone over the years but I think I have finished off by dropping it in the box and snapping the foot adjustment lever off, any way I digress

I’m looking for something possible with a few extra embroidery stitches on and definitely with an easy thread needle, does anyone have a recomendation ? I have found several brother machine that look like they fit the bill at about £350. Am I being too cheapskate? The better embroidery machine seem to be over £1000 but i’m not sure if it’s a function i’d use all that much, most off my sewing is either basic alterations or curtains and cushions. Could I have your thoughts please ?

[Deleted User]

you could ring the people at GUR. I spoke to them when I wanted a machine suitable for a child but to take her to adult sewing. They are very helpful and their prices are the best as is the quality

silvasava

Queengoth - decide what you are actually likely to sew. I've two sons so all I did was sewing for them when they were little & then mending for them & DH. I sewed lots of my own clothes as I'm tall ( so no embroidery for me otherwise I look like a standard lamp!) and home furnishings. My criteria were a machine that would go through 3/4 thicknesses of denim, had a semi automatic buttonhole programme and zig zag for stretch fabrics and blind hemming curtains. I ended up with a Husqvarna - it wasn't top of the range but has given me good service for over 20 years and is still going strong. The Elna was another option.
Off to have another fiddle with the old Singer

studyingitalian

I wish we had a CS near us like this! I would love to pass on some sewing stuff!

silvasava

Well I've googled and fiddled all morning with Singer and although I think I've found the problem I cant get at the bit I need to DH quite impressed on my skills so far but he's stumped too.
I'm going to have a word in the Hospice Craft shop as they have someone who services machines for them to sell - maybe I can make a donation for him to have a look at it if possible.