The sewing thread

Mumoffourkids

So today I have sewn another top and trousers for my youngest daughter. I adapted the pattern I had slightly and I'm very happy with the result. I have also planned my next few sewing projects and I am trying to use up the fabric I have before buying anymore. I might have a look around the charity shops tomorrow to see if I can pick up any cheap fabric.

purpleivy

Very wise Mum of four. Girls change shape up and down with the pressure of exams and so on.

Laura_Elsewhere

I don't have any excuses, no kids, no job, one small flat and a nice easy-going chap to look after - I'm just slow and disorganised!

But yesterday, we re-arranged the furniture in the little sitting-room, because we never actually chose where to put much of it (except my treadle sewing-machine. Mr Nice said, "in front of the window is supposed to be a good place for sewing, isn't it?" and promptly put my beloved Singer in pride of place with a view some 37 miles over the Welsh hills!).
I now have enormous amounts of clearing to do this week, as of course there turned out to be tons of things shoved under the table and behind the bookcase and so on.

But I should end up with a much more user-friendly room in all sorts of ways. Especially sewing...

[Deleted User]

LE, Ahh, that was thoughtful. I would say for those with not much time or patience, to just do one stage at a time eg I prep the pattern on one day and cut a copy, then next day I cut the fabric and so on


This spring/summer I am loving my own hm garments in preference to all the shop bought ones that I had in. Today I am wearing the first esme that I made, was supposed to be the muslin but I liked it so much that I finished it properly. The skirt is just a simple A line with a neat elastic waist. The button closures on my esme tops, I made 2, are false. First fabric was washed linen from ebay, £12.99 a metre and the second was a good quality pima cotton lawn from croft mill, the top is as light as a feather and didn`t need ironing, neither did my linen top as I put it out wet, on a hanger
http://www.fabricgodmother.co.uk/sew-liberated-esme-top-beginner/


Both tops are so airy and lovely in the heat. I made sure that it was not too small, everywhere just floats over curves


I am going out for lunch with a dd and will be wearing the merchant mills trapeze dress, the third one I made, in a drapey fabric. I had to alter the neckline in the first one but made that a permanent adjustment to the pattern. I love these indie clothes, no-one has the same

purpleivy

I'm away housesitting for a friend for a few days. There is a sewing machine in her guest room. I have brought some work sewing. Even done some of it! I have done some leisure sewing. Made a couple of Liberty silk bow ties for friends who invited me to their party yesterday. They were very pleased!

Went to knitting group at local shop and then going on Tuesday for a sewing class. Meeting school friend for dinner tomorrow night, so a good few days.

Miró

Only just noticed this thread!!!

Please could I have some advice re inserting invisible zips? I have just altered a dress which was a size too big and this involved removing and re-inserting an invisible zip. I had to watch a couple of YouTube videos to see how to do it and as I don't have one of those special foot thingies for invisible zips it was a right old tussle with just an ordinary zip foot! Anyhoo, I just about managed in in the end but I would now like to get one of those special foot thingies and have looked at several on EBay but was wondering if I need to buy a particular one for my machine or will any fit? My sewing machine is an elderly but still going strong Elna. I did find one thro Google that indicated it would fit an Elna but it was priced at £35!! Some on EBay seem to only be a couple of pounds. Confused!!

Any advice would be most welcome

[Deleted User]

Miro, you need to have a good look at the way a foot attaches to your machine. All the different makes have different ways of attaching. I bought a lot of bernina feet in the past and they cost on average about £35 each. I see on google that some vintage elna feet slip on sideways and then you tighten a screw, others just press down. You should be able to compare fixings with one of your existing elna feet


Re dresses and legs, I was so aiming to go bare legged but in the end decided that it wasn`t a good look with my legs. Didn`t have any light tights but did have some never worn fine stockings in a packet and a nice suspender belt, also never worn. Needless to say that the stockings came up very high but felt secure, however if I shorten the suspender straps a lot then I will feel more secure and would wear them again, they felt a lot nicer than hot tights. Last time I wore suspenders was around 55 years ago

purpleivy

Inserting an invisible zip without the right foot is OK if you have one of the ones that mean you can sew right up to the edge of something. You need to press the tape of the zip open without melting the plastic. then sew up to the edge. If you do zips at all, it's really worth getting a foot.

TraySelect

Kittie - just the question I was going to ask you! - how have you found the Merchant& Mills patterns [eg, Top64, Trapeze] for tops?


This weather's got me wanting tops with a sleeve [elbow length ish], boat neck or a bit of a scoop, A-line, boxy. Made with light cotton, or viscose?



But not sure which pattern to go for.


And the weather's also got me making cotton shirt wasters - they really are the coolest style, for me at any rate.

[Deleted User]

tog 24 is more of an autumn top and the trapeze dress is great for this weather, lets lots of air up. I am wearing esme again, perfect as it doesn`t much touch my body. Esme has elbow length and before I wash it, I wore it to the allotment to pick berries


Many of my other tops are too warm