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

desperate, you really need to learn how to maintain your own machine.
it's usually a tension thing

we went to Fabricland in kingston today.
it was lovely.

i bought some green with peppers on cotton and didn't know what to use it for.
then thought "I ruined the ironing board cover by ironing lycra without testing first", so decided to use it for an ironing board cover. yippee!

Ive finished my 1st ever bag I somehow managed to sew the strap inside the lining and outer fabric but sorted it in the end

Well done Desperate I hope you're pleased with the final result? It doesn't matter how you got there and whether there were problems - for me part of the fun is the problem solving.

Today I went to Franklins in Salisbury. I now want a proper sewing table which can hold my machine - but at least I know what to ask for for my birthday! When I'm not on my 'phone I'll post a link. Anyway, the shop is fab and the chap who served me was fantastic and even managed to find a replacement buttonhole foot. I may well be making more trips than usual to stay with my parents just so I can go more often!

I'm itching to go get more fabric, ive got some fabric squares now but I fancy making myself a summer dress next, will be on pinterest later browsing designs

Sorry to just jump in like this but wanted a bit of advice. Have asked on another thread but no replies so far.
Looking for a new machine. Not a total beginners one, I'd like one that can handle more sturdy things.
Am I best going to John Lewis or sewing machines direct?
Any models you can recommend?
Not after the most expensive but I'd rather spend a bit more if it's worth it.
Thankyou!

Oh! Also, anywhere you can recommend for patterns for toddlers clothing?

Fatty - welcome! Having been into Franklins in Salisbury today, whilst I didn't buy a machine, I was very impressed with the range of knowledge that the chap had and the range of machines they had from very basic to extremely technical (£2k) Berninas. I would certainly go and have a look there if I could.

I have a lovely Riccar. It's electronic, but doesn't have a huge number of bells and whistles which suits me well. However, I don't think there's any substitute for going to a place which has a range of makes and models. Any shop worth their salt will be able to ask the right questions to get the right machine for you.

Before you go, think about the sorts of projects you are likely to do (for instance, I have no need for embroidery programmes), but I wanted a fairly heavy duty machine which could do things I was used to doing on an industrial straight stitch machine.

Thanks pigeon. I've had a bernina and loved it so may go back to that one. You're right, someone with experience is always going to be best!

Hi Fatty,
Do go to a shop where they'll let you try out the machines - John Lewis can be a bit annoying in that, they never seem to let you try them out, just have them out on display with no electricity.

A smaller shop would be better, if you have one in the area.
it also means you'll get advice from someone who actually knows what they're talking about :)

patterns for toddler clothing - try www.simplicitynewlook.com/ for patterns, mainly, but you'll find them on ebay quite readily too

This fell off my threads I'm on.

Is anyone still here? Does anyone have any tips on making insoles for shoes? I need a bit of extra padding in my summer shoes and I'm not sure how to measure it.

i'm still here.

make insoles out of carpets

seriously - go to a carpet shop and ask to buy a sample. they're usually selling them at £2 each or so.
then cut round your original insole :)

I have lots of carpet. Do you wear it fluffy side up iyswim? That's a brilliant idea by the way. :)

yes, that's right :)

My mum always did it :)

Cool. I'll let you know how I get on if I can get the carpet bits out of the loft. Thank you.

Hi everyone, not been on the thread in ages, not had the energy to do any crafts either :( Am hoping to get in my craft room tomorrow (child free day) and start on a dress for DD, but it turns out I don't have as many little girl's dress patterns as I thought. I like the Simplicity #5695 that SarahBeeny is making, it's just the sort of thing I was after, so am off to the shop in a bit!

Have been lurking for a long time on this thread, picking up useful hints! DH has finally cleared enough detritus from the spare room for me to get my sewing machine out. First thing to make is the sewing bee shirred children's dress for DD, but I also want to make things for myself. Specifically shirts and dresses.

I am hampered by my shape though. Does anyone know which makes of pattern are best for a big bust? I know they are all adjustable but not usually enough! I'm a 34GG at the moment (post DD!), and I don't want to get as far as buying material and patterns then discovering at the tacking stage that there isn't enough room for my boobs - money is short, and it would be disheartening!

Thank you in advance (and hope).....

I have no advice about how you'd go about it but if you've been following the thread that shouldn't surprise you.

Well it appears dh gave all our carpet off cuts to some friends in need so we have none. I'll have to get a sample or two later.

On the plus side I ave had some sewing success. I took in a top that was massively too big and made a great big bow on the shoulder. And I made my first bag!! I got a fleecy, white blanket from the charity shop and I had some handles I liked already. Then I put some red, felt flowers on that I made. It looks fab even if I do say so myself. :)

I have still to actually use a pattern though. Don't know why I'm so nervous of it.

Viking always choose your pattern according to your bust size.
think about the kind of clothes you would buy in the shop and choose things that are similar shape.

you can alter patterns by using tracing paper (or baking paper) alongside.
you can try it out (make a toile) using cheap fabric with a similar drape or feel (charity shop sheets are great for this) and play around with the pattern until you're happy with the fall, then draw your pattern piece exactly that way.

you don't go tight under the boob, but similarly, don't go too loose or you'll look like you're still pregnant. darts are your friend. make darts in all the places you need them - you might find that more small darts are much better than a few bigger darts (that's when the gaping happens)
with big boobs, most of your darts need to be in the underarm section.
you will probably also need darts in the cleavage area.

here's a good report

which comments remind me - your patterns will assume that you've got a wide back - you haven't, so make sure that you line up your side seams with the middle of your side. you have to assume that there's a line running down your side from your shoulder to your ankles, like a plumbline, and your side seam needs to sit on that.
your dress needs to be bigger at the front, not all round.

Hair - get you
sounds really good :)

Just wondering, does anyone here trace off copies of paper patterns, or do you all just use the original?

My mum has been making clothes for years, and says to just use the original, but fold the paper along the lines to indicate the size you want to make, and then on any curved parts snip the paper every so often so you can fold it around the curve. (Hope that makes some kind of sense.)

However, if you use a pattern a lot, isn't it going to get wrecked from all the folding, unfolding, pinning etc?

nononono don't use the original!
what if you need another size? or need to do alterations?

always trace your pattern!
baking paper is perfect, but any tissue or tracing paper is fine.
(I've got a massive roll of professional pattern paper which will probably last the next three generatikns. but it lives at the shop so I keep using newspaper!)

Thanks Unique, that's exactly what I thought. I bought a roll of tracing paper just for this purpose, but it is a bit thicker that I'd expected, that shouldn't matter though right?

My mum always irons the paper pattern pieces and then re-folds along the lines for whichever size she wants to make, but I really think I'd prefer to just trace and cut a fresh copy if I want to make a different size. I've been meticulously careful with my tracing, and I just feel happier not shredding my original.

Thanks for confirming that I'm not just being terribly precious :)

no, any thickness is fine because the fabric is the thing tjat moves
in fact. a bit stiffer miggt be better because it's more sturdy to cut round.

the reason patterns are such thin paper is so they fold small for the packet and it's cheaper that's way

nah your mum's the mad one.

my mum used to cut her patterns because they were cheap.
if she knew she wanted a different size she would always tra e.