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Arts and crafts

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Original poster

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

OP posts:
Original poster
flubba · 03/04/2013 21:39

Oh, that's good to know coffee ~ I think I'd have just tried to get some more fabric onto the side of it with my normal zipper foot Blush
Maybe I'll just be happy to see the zip :o

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 03/04/2013 21:45

I'm sure Posted some links to a line skirt patterns in Arts and Crafts not so long ago.

SoupDragon · 03/04/2013 21:48

here is the thread I posted on.

Itsjustafleshwound · 03/04/2013 21:50

Putting in a zIp or doing proper sewing requires a large amount of tacking - having fancy feet for the machines is like having a good oven when you can't break eggs ...

Loving the work room and all that gorgeous fabric.

At the beginning, the material they use to make that dress looks remarkably like the London range of patchwork fabric ...

coffeeinbed · 03/04/2013 21:51

I can break eggs though.
Grin
and I can iron.

Itsjustafleshwound · 03/04/2013 21:54

Oops ... Smile

coffeeinbed · 03/04/2013 22:00

the green fabric?
It was all wrong. What was he thinking.
Can't use patchwork fabric for clothing, it has no drape at all.

Original poster
flubba · 03/04/2013 22:04

I don't think I can get extra feet for my machine, unless I plump for ones that say they're universal, but I've heard they're quite unreliable and it's £££ for something that may not work.

Thanks Soup ~ I'll take a look at those once I've got my craft fairs out of the way. Pray for sunshine, warmth and dry skies on Sunday - it's outdoors Confused :( :o Shock

OP posts:
TolliverGroat · 03/04/2013 22:15

I have a fairly cheap non-branded invisible zipper foot for my machine and it works fine. What machine do you have, flubba?

Original poster
flubba · 03/04/2013 22:27

A Brother x-5 - what's yours?

OP posts:
Ambridge · 03/04/2013 22:36

flubba - this is a very good, no-nonsense and rather inspiring book that walks you through all the steps for making a simple skirt without a pattern. Better than buying a pattern really, because you draw it up according to your specific shape.

DeafLeopard · 03/04/2013 22:39

9yo DD and I watched this on iplayer and loved it.

I found this useful for making bias binding

TolliverGroat · 03/04/2013 22:50

I've got a Husquvarna Emerald. Do you have a buttonhole foot for your X5? I'm sure I read a piece online about using a buttonhole foot as an invisible zipper foot; will see if I can find it.

TolliverGroat · 03/04/2013 22:54

See here -- if you have a buttonhole foot with a groove in the underside then you can use it instead of an invisible zipper foot.

Original poster
flubba · 03/04/2013 22:57

Yes, I have a buttonhole foot. That'd be great if you can find the link tolliver :)

OP posts:
ChippingInIsEggceptional · 03/04/2013 23:01

Flubba - that sounds painful, I hope you can get some meds for it soon x

ChippingInIsEggceptional · 03/04/2013 23:18

Soup - that's a lovely wee dress. How old is your DD now? (MN kids seem to grow up at at least twice the rate of 'real' ones Grin). Is the blogger an MNer do you know? She has a georgous wee girl - who has a very good presence in front of a camera.

RueDeWakening · 03/04/2013 23:24

Flubba - there are bunches of tutes on Pinterest for aline skirts, here's one link: simplesewingprojects.com/sewing-blog/a-line-skirt-tutorials/

I loved the show, and actually I don't think the time pressure was that far off sometimes - my mum was a dressmaker, and often got calls on a Saturday morning to make a dress for some do or other by Saturday evening Shock - at least from her regulars so she'd already got their measurements written down. She's a speedy speedy sewer, much quicker than me.

I watched it last night and didn't realise there was a thread on here so will be back next week :o

purples · 03/04/2013 23:28

Oh, I'm starting to get itchy fingers. I want to pull out my old sewing machine and rummage around in the cupboard to find my stash of fabric. It's been a while since I've done any proper sewing!
SoupDragon thanks for the links to the skirt patterns.
I'm off for a nice cup of tea.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 04/04/2013 01:03

Just marking my place ... I've just cheered myself up after some weirdo gave me the fright of my life (note to self: don't open the door at midnight in a new house and expect nice normal people). It was perfect cosy viewing for that though I see why others didn't like the presenter.

I always thought I was rubbish at sewing - I was always really cack-handed at school lessons and my granny and mum never managed to teach me. But last year I taught myself to quilt and I love it, so I would really like to learn to sew clothes.

I found it was pitched at a good level for me. Blush I knew what the terms meant but didn't know what they looked like, if that makes sense, so it was nice to see them on actual fabric.

Will be back again next week for the next installment. Smile

SoupDragon · 04/04/2013 07:44

She's 7, Chipping and huuuuge! Shoulder height on DS2 and he's 12 (albeit a short 12!) Not my weeny little BabyDragon any more. [sigh]

I found the dress via a convoluted route - I don't think the blogger is a MNer. I hope it proves to be simple to make as it should be easy to make it funky without being too grown up, which is a problem I find when getting DD clothes as she's so tall. I have some fab old pillow cases from a charity warehouse which will work for the fabric part.

I think the timed aspect was fine - if you can produce a quality garment under pressure you deserve to win. Lots of people could make a quality garment given plenty of time to do it in.

SoupDragon · 04/04/2013 07:44

HOpe you're OK LRD!

RhinestoneCowgirl · 04/04/2013 08:12

I really want to have a go at making clothes now. Just have a quilt to finish off first...

Original poster
flubba · 04/04/2013 09:09

Haha chipping

Thanks RueDe - will check them out too.

Yes, Rhinestone this has simply added to my To Do list! Sigh (contented sigh though :) )

OP posts:
purples · 04/04/2013 09:21

How are you LRD?? hope you managed to get some sleep.

In the past (and I mean in the distant past of teenage years!!!) I made a couple of things like skirts, blouse, jacket etc, but always used a pattern. Never really thought of making my own pattern or just free sewing clothes. Thought it was too just too complex, I'd just make a mess and waste the material. I just needed the confidence of using a pattern. But that was in the days before computers and ideas from all you lovely people. Love the RueDeWakening link, shows some skirts that make it look so easy and so quick.

And SoupDragon I just love the idea of upcycling a pillow case for the bottom of the dress.