the Sewing Bee watch part II (it might be over, but we're still sewing)

[UniqueAndAmazing]

I thought I'd better start a new thread so that we don't lose it!

Original part here...

Background - flubba got excited by The Great British Sewing Bee and we all piled in too

[UniqueAndAmazing]

it might do, i don't know of one though :)

[UniqueAndAmazing]

a merrowed border.

apparently.
that's just the method of overlocking used, though ,not specific to the border.
named after the guy who invented that kind of overlocker

[UniqueAndAmazing]

www.merrow.com/

[TheOneWithTheHair]

Hi everyone. Life has been so busy I've not been on here. I've not done much sewing either. All my creative time (about 5 minutes) has been taken up by crochet at the moment.

I am using a variety of materials to make my car tidies. One is a really hard denim from an awful 1980s jacket my mum gave me. The problem is that it's a Katherine Hamnett one and it's so well made its taking an age to unpick.

You all sound like you're having so much fun though. It's been great to read! :)

[InMySpareTime]

Thank you, I have an irrational need to know the proper names of odd things. The day I learned that the bit on the end of a shoelace was called an aglet was a happy day...

[lougle]

Hi . I'm glad the zip was just detached.

Mob Cap done, hooray!

[cate16]

I have nothing to say, but cannot let this thread fade away!

[UniqueAndAmazing]

ah it won't fade away.
that nightshirt that I was talking about , we washed, which pulled the neck in a bit. but she still managed to get her arms out and scratch herself silly last night
problem is, I can't even undo it and put a bigger/wider cuff in because the fabric is so old it was already starting to break down.
it's fine cos I've got loads more fabric.
Even tempted to buy loads of fabric from fabricland and sell the tops on etsy!

[harbinger]

Aglet....really! I'm always stuck on that with crossword puzzles.

Thank you.

Should nap be up or down? Velvet/cord?

[PigeonPie]

Velvet nap should be 'up' so if it were a skirt it should be brushed up from the bottom hem to make it smooth (I hope that makes sense).

[harbinger]

PP does that go for all garments?

Jacket/Coat

Waistcoat

Is it different if above waist?

[PigeonPie]

Yes! Well that is what I was taught on Savile Row and I assume it's the same for dressmaking

[harbinger]

Yes, it certainly makes sense if you are talking about suits. They would all have to 'flow' the same way.

Thank you

[UniqueAndAmazing]

ooh no, nap down!
it's awful wearing something velvet and not being able to smooth it downwards!

[cate16]

That's why I avoid velvets etc, I know it should be nap up- but it just feels horrid.... smoothing it out downwards feels so much nicer :)

[DameFanny]

[UniqueAndAmazing]

exactly.
one oc the reasons whymaking your own clothes is good.
noone ever smooths their skirts upwards. you smooth it downwards - when you get up and straighten yourself, when you smooth your skirt under your bum when you sit...

[TolliverGroat]

Current project: adapting 12-13yo girl's dress into Gertie from E.T. costume for 5yo DD1. Side mission: make the skirt, at least, rewearable (will probably involve deviation from strict accuracy). Sub-side mission: I'm not putting those nipple tassel things on.

Current status: unpicking taking much longer than expected. And trying to decide whether to keep full width of skirt (will make for a much fuller gathered skirt) or reduce it (would involve moving button placket (which I am retaining in pursuit of side mission 1)). Pfeh. Will probably just make it fuller and keep the placket.

[TolliverGroat]

[UniqueAndAmazing]

fuller and gathered - least work :)

[TolliverGroat]

Yes, I'm coming down in favour of that. And I think I may just do an elastic waistband rather than the proper waistband I'd been planning, given how little time I've got.

[SarahBeenysBumblingApprentice]

Hello everyone,

Everybody is so productive! I have been camping this week and I'm not a knitter so nothing made there but I have started sewing a dress (simplicity 5695) for my 11 month old in the hope that I'll get it done for her birthday at the end of the month. I've made a few clothes before but I've actually never followed a pattern so this is an experience! I spent 15 min trying to figure out the "narrow hem" around the neckline until I discovered I was trying to turn it all the way down to the casing line -doh.

I can't wait to finish it but of course I really need to take my time so as not to mess it up... happy sewing everyone.

[UniqueAndAmazing]

well, i discovered last night that the dance show i thought was in a couple of weeks is actually this Saturday. so now panicking.
need to fix costume - sewing elastic into bands and cuffs and stitching up an annoying hole in the hem.

just going to google your pattern Sarah

[UniqueAndAmazing]

ooh, i found some nice pictures of it done...
here
here
this one
beautiful

I love the way it has loads of different layer options.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

That is a beautiful dress Sarah.

I have big boys, not little girls so sadly the concept of clothes made by mum is not going down very well

which is probably just as well because I've only made skirts so far