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Anyone else going to join me on the Sewing Bee watch?

999 replies

flubba · 02/04/2013 20:06

A bit excited about it

Blush

:o

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RubyGates · 10/04/2013 22:26

Well, so much for joining the "ordninary garment sewing club", I've just been comissioned to make a "6th Doctor" frock coat. like this:
sixthdoctorcostume.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/six-coat-cloth-ears.html

So no sensible a-line skirts for me then. Grin

DeafLeopard · 10/04/2013 23:04

What an awesome project Ruby - please take pics for us.

MrsPennyapple · 10/04/2013 23:17

Hi everyone, have avoided the thread until now as I've only just watched on i-player. I thought Mark seemed like a thoroughly nice bloke, I suspect he is very skilled within his area, but for the purposes of the competition, that wasn't enough.

Wasn't fond of Tilly from the start. She seems all "Look at me, I'm ever so vintage!" I agree it was the time pressure that finished her though. I haven't seen her blog but it seems like she has the skill, as long as she has as much time as she needs to do the work.

I really like Lauren and I don't want her to cry! She does seem to get a bit frantic with it all, as if she needs to take a step back and breathe and collect herself.

I have finished DD's dress tonight, only a Clothkits one that my mum bought me but I'm pleased with the finish and it looks lovely. It's the first garment I've sewn since school. I just hope it fits! I've had it sitting around for six months or so, building myself up to having a go. I have a tendency to put off doing things that scare me, and the possibility of cocking it all up and wrecking a load of expensive fabric scares me. The Sewing Bee has given me the motivation and excitement to take the plunge.

flubba · 11/04/2013 09:24

I've been trying to find a pattern I could follow for a dress and a fabric I have in mind. Strapless kind of straight up and down, hopefully with some showing of a waist! It would be similar I suppose, to the pictures on this but with a straight skirt.

Does anyone know of a similar pattern?
I'm a too much leftover baby weight size 14 I guess (I hate shopping! :o) and although I'm slimming down, my belly's still flabby - so not even sure it'd suit me. What do you think?

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UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 12:30

well, that's the beauty of making your own - you get to make sure it fits nicely and suits you!

You can use inbuilt corsetry, if you want, to make it hide your lumps and bumps.
Wondaweb is awesome (it's netting/mesh but pulls really tight) so you could use that as an undergarment first, and sort out your lumps that way. then build the dress based on your webbed person.

stretch85 · 11/04/2013 12:51

This my first ever post so be gentle with me! I have never sewn in my life but have been inspired by the programme to purchase a sewing machine and give it a go! Am so excited to start making clothes for me a DD. Any tips would be greatly appreciated Smile

flubba · 11/04/2013 13:40

True, unique ~ inbuilt corsetry sounds adventurous but think it'd be worth it to hide them there bumps 'n' lumps :o

Do you have a link to wondaweb? I can find bondaweb, but nothing on wondaweb?

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LetsFaceTheMusicAndDance · 11/04/2013 13:53

Aargh! After being so chuffed with my shirt, I have met my nemesis...

Quilting.
I'm trying to make one of these www.sameliasmum.com/2011/08/stack-slash-table-runner-tutorial.html#.UWawClfxTnG

I should have guessed it wouldn't be easy with one directional patterns on 2 of the cloths, one of which I'm using the reverse side of too. It's doing my head in because I'm being far too fussy about the hearts running opposite ways on each piece and solid colours being separated.

I know it's going badly because I'm starting to wonder what the point is of buying lovely fabric, cutting it in bits and sewing it all up again. Grin Grr.

Still, this week I've learned loads of new stuff. And there'll be a shopportunity on Saturday for things I now definitely need

bias tape maker
wadding for table runner
lots of ribbon from Hobbycraft in the sale
proper sharp pins
and if I'm very lucky, a rotary cutter and board

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 15:31

I might have spelt it wrong.
could be wundaweb.

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 15:32

no that's not it, that's hemming tape!

Leo35 · 11/04/2013 15:34

I am joining the throng - I love the GBSB. I have been inspired to start work on my all the unfinished projects that lurk under the stairs - knitting and sewing.

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 15:35

yeah, completely the wrong name Blush

it's powermesh!
here's one listing

SoupDragon · 11/04/2013 15:35

Can't really help you though, sorry!

My bias tape makers arrived yesterday. Coinciding with the arrival home of the SMallDragon after a week away so the timing couldn't have been worse!

LeFlaneur · 11/04/2013 15:36

Shopportunity?! I will be trying that out in conversation this week.

TheOneWithTheHair · 11/04/2013 15:44

I've found a quite local sewing shop that stocks the machine I want. They also do fabric, patterns, accessories, yarn etc. They do free delivery but I might just have to go and pick it up in person. Grin

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 15:50

you don't need a bias tape maker.
you can actually make one.

here's one using a knife (i've got a knife that's about to finish! sooo excited!)

Just got off the phone with the local knitting shop.
they have the 1/2" one in stock. It's £10.50, so that's what I've asked DH to get me for my birthday Grin

SoupDragon · 11/04/2013 16:00

I bought this set from Amazon but its sold out now.

flubba · 11/04/2013 16:00

Thanks unique - I feel I owe it to you to get some now! :o I also found a lovely little website all about corset making and selling corset making supplies. Think I may try and wing the dress instead of following a pattern because I still can't find one and I'm an impatient sod

Just found out for sure that my sewing machine won't take a walking foot, so quilting will have to remain straight line in the ditch stuff I think. May have to put a better sewing machine on my wants list. Is it too early to get people saving for me for Christmas :o Hmm

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TolliverGroat · 11/04/2013 16:03

I think Patrick wanted to lose Stuart and Mark because they had both completely failed to include a fly on their mens' tailored trousers and men's tailoring is his thing so he's more horrified by that than by Tilly not finishing anything properly (given that she did manage a reasonably confident fly front). The opposing view, which won out, was that Stuart had had a bad first week but two out of three of his projects in the second week had been very good even though the other one had been a disaster.

I can't see anyone other than Ann and Sandra being able to manage the more technically complicated challenges that must be coming up in the next two weeks (looks like a coat next week) - the others just don't have the experience or training (nor would I, but on the other hand I wouldn't have put myself forward as a candidate for "the UK's best amateur sewer"). I still back Ann for the win because she seems to manage her time better.

flubba · 11/04/2013 16:06

Oh, that DIY bias tape maker is clever, clever, clever!

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TolliverGroat · 11/04/2013 16:09

Will it take a darning foot? Supposedly you can free-motion quilt by [[www.daystyledesigns.com/freemotionquiltingintro.htm dropping the feed dogs and using a darning foot. Not that I've ever tried it, mind you.

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 16:47

corseting a dress isn't too hard - you just have to put boning into the seams :)

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 16:50

Tolliver - i didn't see the men's trousers.
why why wouldn't you put a fly on a men's trouser? ConfusedShock
the only way you wouldn't is if you did historical clothing and put a flap.
even a button fly ffs!

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 16:50

anyway, i did a blog post on bias binding

UniqueAndAmazing · 11/04/2013 17:07