The sewing thread

Laura_Elsewhere

I've had those red cotton trouser-culotte-things cut out for several weeks now but they don't seem to have sewn themselves... looks like I'll have to get involved and make them myself!

PollyWollyDoodle

I keep planning things in my head, but not getting on with them - I daren't set the sewing machine up as I need the table for a craft project with a deadline in ten days' time ... only I don't seem to be getting on with the craft project so I might as well have been sewing!

The deadline is my friend's wedding, I have nothing suitable to wear, obviously it would be a really stupid idea to start sewing something for it, especially as I have several days work and the aforementioned craft project to finish in that time. I do like a challenge though!

silvasava

Couple of small items to alter. I bought some men's jeans ( I'm tall and need a long leg) as I couldn't get any ladies straight leg - all skinny or supper skinny - makes me look like Max Wall! They're a little too loose around my thighs so will nip them in a bit. I also bought a nice t-shirt but it's too long so will shorten it. I may use the cut off piece to reshape the neck. I'm thinking of marking out the new neckline and using the cut off piece as a binding but sewing one side to the marking first before I cut out the old neckline as it's a stretchy cotton jersey. Any thoughts please

PollyWollyDoodle

I did this recently with a polo neck - my friend wanted a black long-sleeved top, but couldn't find one. I bought a polo neck shirt from a CS, unpicked the collar, and then cut a new neckband from it and just re-attached it - quite successfully, if I do say so myself. I take it you're worried about it stretching too much? I think if you don't handle it too much it should be ok.

I followed the video posted by Kittie a while back, about attaching a neckband and it worked really well. I prefer to sew the neckband as one piece with my overlocker but I machine stitch it first to check the fit. So if you machine stitched it round the markings, you could then go back and sew the whole thing.

Wraithlady

morganlefay wrote: »

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 !!!)

Well, I'm definitely a girl, so no offence taken!

silvasava

Thanks Polly - forgot about staystiching! I don't have an overlocker so usually use a small zigzag on stretch fabrics. Will probably have a bash today

purpleivy

As I do alterations for a living I'm rather relieved about this!

When I am doing a neck band on a t shirt I generally use some fusible knit tape to prevent it stretching out. I find that doing staystitching will stretch out a jersey fabric.

silvasava wrote: »

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! !

SunMoonStars

Hi I am a long time lurker on this forum.

I have just taken up sewing and thought that all of the knowledgeable people who post here might be able to help me with a pre-wash dilemma.

I am about to make my first garment, pyjama bottoms, which look straight forward. If they go wrong the only person who gets to see them is me!

I have bought some winceyette which is a beautiful dark navy blue with white stars. I was going to pre-wash it before sewing it up to try and avoid dye run problems and get any shrinkage out of the way first.
However, the washing instructions for this fabric say to “wash at 30 degrees as dye may run in first wash.” The thing is, everything I wash in reality just gets put into the machine at 40 and I am not going to make an exception for a pair of PJ bottoms. So, do I bite the bullet and pre-wash immediately at 40, or do a 30 wash, then maybe another at 40?

On another note, I also thought I’d make some home made colour catchers with soda crystals and put them in with this fabric because I can’t get to the shops for a couple of days. Has anyone had experience of making these? Or am I safer waiting until I can get hold of some commercial ones?

Thanks in advance

SunMoonStars

PollyWollyDoodle

Hello, welcome to the thread.

Ooh, never tried making colour-catchers. Re the wincyette, I can't see why it would run at a first wash on 30 and then not run at 40 ... If it were me, I think I'd just bung it in at 40 and risk it. However I'm known for winging it!

Do come back and ask, I'm not an expert by any means but one thing I've realised is that (like most things in life) the more you do, the more you learn. I've got the sewing machine out today, a couple of unfinished projects need tidying up and I'm making a bag to carry my calligraphy supplies. I'm making it up as I go along, using up some recycled stuff.

Wraithlady

Regarding the washing, I would be inclined to try a test piece first - either wash at 30 then cut a square of material from a corner and wash that at 40 (with a load that won't mind any dye run) , or just skip the initial wash and see what happens to the fabric in either case.