The sewing thread

PollyWollyDoodle

Oh Kittie, happy to see you back, but I wonder if you meant to post this in another thread? Please don't go, I have really valued your input into this thread in particular as well as many others.

RosyRed

Kittie, thank you for all the help you have given to people on this thread and others.It seems a shame to lose your expert advice,perhaps you will return in the future.May I wish you a happy life in your new home,it sounds ideal xx


I have been very remiss in the sewing department,Ive only made 1 top all year,and altered a dress I bought in the sale at Marks.Perhaps because the weather has been so good,and a bit too hot in the bedroom where I usually sew? I'll get back into it when cooler weather comes.Hope you are all well xx

Squiggly_Diddly

I came & posted here a few months ago (last year maybe?!) when I had a flurry of returning to sewing, then my new job consumed my life and I did no more. However, life changes have been made and I am getting back into it.

I took my 13 y/o niece to a sewing workshop last week where between us we made zip-up make-up pouches, a box-shaped washbag and a tote bag. Some of these were with oilcloth which I haven!!!8217;t used before. I love these little workshops (I did a jersey one before) as they are a confidence builder and a chance to get tips & advice.

As I start a new job on Monday where I need/want to look a little more professional than leggings & long tops all the time (I could wear these but the setting means that I won;t be out of place a bit more dressed up or mistaken for a student) I want to run up some simple dresses, some in slightly more quirky fabrics too. I also figure that as the weather cools they can be layered up with thicker tights, boots, cardigans, etc. And I am going to put pockets in them all - I love pockets. I bought a McCalls pattern, 7116.
I also have the Dottie Angel smock dress but will have a go with an old sheet first as reviews indicate it can be a bit fiddly and need adjustments.

I am about to sort my very small spare room to turn it into a sewing/craft room and study which means it should be easier to pick up & put down in short bursts. So hopefully will return here a little more often...

Love the accidental / deliberate trousers by the way !!!55357;!!!56833;

PollyWollyDoodle

I'm really wishing I had a room where I could leave the machine set up, I do have a spare room but I'd need to get rid of the bed and various other items.

It's been a roller-coaster of sewing here in my kitchen, or Polly's Little Sweatshop as I was calling it when the heatwave was on. Flushed with the success of my dress, I made this cardigan https://www.sewessential.co.uk/womens-knit-cardigan-design-hacking-simplicity-pattern-8377 which was a quick and very satisfying make from a remnant of knitted fabric I bought recently. I did most of it on the overlocker which has been sewing like a dream, with no problems.
I rethreaded it so I could shorten my friend's bridesmaid dress. Two hours later I finally discovered why the **!%$* overlocker wasn't sewing properly. (User error, needless to say).
I managed to shorten the dress ok, a bit scary as its a proper bought frock, but my friend was happy. I was relieved I'd been able to do it on the machine and not by hand as it was 3m in circumference at the hem.
Back on the roller coaster, and a plunge into gloom as the skirt pattern I'd bought turns out to be too small, even in the largest size.
Found a dress pattern and decided I could use the skirt pattern, and managed to squeeze it out of a piece of slightly stretchycotton in my stash, by some ingenious placement. As I congratulated myself on my skill and started sewing ... I realised I'd cut both back pieces of the skirt the same instead of flipping it over. Gah.

The journey continues - I have learned so much from trying these new things. Think I've managed to rescue the skirt, onward and upward.

silvasava

Polly it's always the same - something for yourself goes beautifully but when you do it for someone else sods law it tends to go wrong! I've done exactly the same with a pattern piece - the only consolation being you'll never do it again!
No sewing lately - too much other stuff going on but I did buy some more filter cartridges for my steam generator. I fitted one and the iron promptly gave up the ghost. I live a a very hard water area so had a quick Google on how to descale and after 3/4 attempts it's now functioning like it used to ......phew!

morganlefay

Sorry to butt in ...The little fabric shop in the town where I live has just suddenly and with no warning shut its doors. So although it wasnt very exciting I could always count on it for basic stuff (I sew quite a lot when there's time). Can anyone recommend an online fabric shop, mostly for fabric for ladies clothes ? There seem to be lots but can't tell which might be the good ones and which not.
Thank you for reading...

PollyWollyDoodle

Welcome to join in! The wonderful Kittie swore by Croft Mills, and their stuff looks lovely but is not cheap. Another good online one is Abakhan, or if you're after something cheap-and-cheerful Fabricland is supposed to be good. I prefer to feel fabric before I buy so I haven't used any of these myself, do you have a local market? Fabric stalls on markets can be good value.

Wraithlady

Hi Morgan, I can recommend Clothspot - especially when they sell off the remnants (a bit pricey otherwise). I have bought several pieces of fabric from them, and the width has been generous.

morganlefay

Thanks Ladies, helpful suggestions which I shall exxplore :T

(Well I imagine we're all ladies, we seamstresses, but no reason why there can't be some lads too - trying to avoid being quite so sexist !!!)

Laura_Elsewhere

So long as nobody ever calls me a "sewist" - I loathe that term with a vehemence beyond reason!