The sewing thread

PollyWollyDoodle

:rotfl: The things you get asked to do when you can sew!

My recent activity has been taking things up for other people, but I want to do some more stuff for myself. I'm planning to make some little zipped cosmetic pouches as Christmas gifts, I've done these before and they are quite quick to make. I'd started a patchwork quilt out of scrap material, I have never done patchwork before and I seem to find it extraordinarily difficult to make the squares match up!

It is just a very simple pattern of squares, I need to take another look at it because at the moment it's likely to end up in a carrier bag stuffed under the bed somewhere, I really want to finish all those odd projects and not leave something half done.

silvasava

Oh Polly - the dreaded WIP - I had a dress half made hanging in the wardrobe for about 7 years!!! It ended up in the ragbag. Don't quite know what happened, whether it wasn't going right or I just lost interest
When I go into my local hospice craft shop I can't resist looking at the fabric lengths in there but my inner voice says ' when will you make it' so I pass on ...........it's difficult though
I think it's a hangover from the days when if I wanted something new it was make it myself or alter a CS find as money was tight. I still look at readymade and think I could make that at half the price lol!

Laura_Elsewhere

Just to make everyone feel better about half-done projects...

Early this year, I finally got round to putting a little hand-sewn plain blind hem on a baby-vest, made of very fine wool-challis, hand-sewn with felled seams and lace edging on the arm-holes, tiny buttons and buttonholes on the shoulder-straps and a little embroidered row of flowers on the chest.

Made by my at Gran sometime immediately before the last War when she was expecting my Dad who will be 80 this winter...!

So, that's an *80-year* "work in progress" finally finished - for what would have been Gran's great-grandson, who my cousin brought into the world this summer!

SunMoonStars

SunMoonStars wrote: »

Thanks for your replies

I have decided to wait before washing and get the proper colour run sheets from the shop, even though I am sure the home made ones would turn out fine.

It’s really difficult being patient though when you have a new hobby, amazing shiny new fabric, and the enthusiasm of a five year old with their first ever quid at the Pick ‘n Mix in Woolies :rotfl:

Thanks again!

Glad it isn’t just me who gets stuck on a project. I managed to cut the pattern, then went on holiday, and I haven’t quite got my initial enthusiasm back... hey ho!

daisy_1571

I seem to have got myself a wee job altering/making curtains. Still deciding if it's for me or not. Theres a lot of work involved in this, as you lot will know ....or maybe I'm just slow spending too long pondering, measuring and pinning.... so it doesn't work out a great hourly rate. Anyway, that's tomorrows job waiting on me - still 5 individual curtains to do - it's off to 4 post hill for me now, night night everyone

Daisy xx

Eta: re unfinished symphonies - I have a xstitch of a dragon round a castle ive been doing on and off since 1984. One day, one day.....

PollyWollyDoodle

Rather you than me Daisy, I hate curtains!

It’s good to know I’m not the only one with WIPs in the cupboard. I had a real effort last year to try and clear some, but I currently have: a rag rug (Not convinced by this, and I was finding it really difficult because my hands are not great, but I’ve got so far I don’t want to give up); a hexagon paper pieced quilt (still at the stage of making hexagons, it’s been dormant for a couple of years but I will get it out and do some more on it one day) ; an Aran jumper that I started knitting about eight years ago, a crochet reindeer that never gets finished in time for Christmas (and won’t this year either!) and several small handsewing projects which were supposed to be done on holiday but didn’t get completed. I really don’t want to add to their number!

silvasava

Don't you find that WIP's lurk at the back of your mind but when they actually get completed they don't take as much time as you thought? Then you wonder why you didn't crack on ages ago!
The renovations to our kitchen/breakfast room/dining room have stalled for a few weeks so I intend to move my kitchen table to put my machine on and crack on with some mending and get it out the way and hopefully make the (some? One?) of the cushion covers while I've got a small 'window of opportunity' for a little while.;)

Wraithlady

Ah, yes, the pile of UFO's (Un-Finished Objects). I either get bored, hit a snag, get over-ambitious or distracted by something else more urgent/interesting.

Then I find them years later - mind you, I inherited a chair cover from my Nan which she started in the 50's (and I finished it in only 5 years!). It's genetic, honest!

daisy_1571

Im sewing up curtain hems by hand and using a pair of small scissors to snip threads. They are nicely heavy for their small size, have a design of pale pink flowers on their lilac handles and make a lovely 'snip' sound when you close them. They give me infinite pleasure to use and I just wanted to share as I know you people will understand.

Love them :heart2:

Daisy xx

PollyWollyDoodle

:rotfl: Don't worry Daisy, we understand completely! There is something very satisfying about having the right tools for the job.

I have guests coming round tonight, so I have put the sewing machine away (it's been on the dining room table for about two weeks!) and folded the quilt-top-that's-gone-wrong into a bag. What's the betting that I will find the bag in 18 months time and wonder what on earth is in it. I still want to make a dress for Christmas, but I have a few knitting and other projects to get out of the way first.