Any sewing aficionados? I need a stitch and bitch...

[IDontMindMarmite]

Now I know when the Sewing Bee is on, there are loads of super talented ladies who would be a gold mine of information! It'd be great if we could gather. Maybe even have a section to ourselves in "In the club". If this thread doesn't die a death anyway. Please say I if you are in favour!

So over lockdown the sequel, I thought i'd actually get my sewing machine out. I sound like someone who has a clue - I don't. I was gifted a sewing machine years ago. I've made two pairs of curtain tie backs since. I've been to a class or two (made a cushion under supervision! And a canvas bag) but can't say i've truly got the hang. It's getting my head round the machine more than anything. It scares me!

Now though, i've decided to tackle mal fitting clothing. I've put darts in DH's shirts using youtube tutorials. I'd like to adjust some of my tops but would love someone to ask - do you only dart shirts? Youtube tutorials for tops like I have do a different method where you pin and sew a new side seam. Also, can I just use pinking shears to trim the excess fabric instead of doing a final zigzag stitch or is that too lazy?

Any general chat welcomed.

@drspouse

I need to try my alterations on me but it might be good for the DCs!

I need to do adjustments on almost every pattern so the first one is always done in a cheap fabric. I normally take a stab at editing the pattern on the computer based on my measurements vs pattern, make a tester, then tweak the pattern on computer to match changes needed. But that way its saved for the future. It's also quite easy to overlay patterns so i can often use an existing pattern that fits to guide me.

I always need big bust adjustments so pinning the tissue never worked for me anyway, I've always had to do muslins for my torso

hello, just joined as I gave away my 35 year old sewing machine but my new one arrives Sat. Still have my overlocker so am just making a long sleeved t shirt that I'll be able to hem on Sat

Welcome!

Sometimes good old fashioned pattern tracing entertains my inner 12 year old - yes, that is the actual name for that pattern piece!

I need to do adjustments on almost every pattern so the first one is always done in a cheap fabric.
I do this in tissue, then a moderate, wearable fabric that's the right type (e.g. stretch woven, or medium-weight knit, rather than sheeting). I'm not making a whole fabric garment I can't wear!

Yeah, I have some lovely white cotton off the duvet cover I used for the apron to make a first version of the dress shirt before I commit to the lovely linen I have for it. It's very oversized but I want to be sure it sits right on the bust, first. There's also some facings that some bloggers found confusing so it gives me chance to get my head around it. I've gone straight in with the fielder top, though, as it's fairly simple and not particularly fabric hungry. It's been blogged a lot which has helped me work out any possible pitfalls. The main one was people who sized down wishing they hadn't. So I didn't!

I've ordered the liesl & Co classic shirt pattern and some inexpensive cotton poplin so will jump straight in with that one, too.

Black Friday fabric has arrived! I have no idea what I’m going to make with it, I just liked the pattern.

That's gorgeous. What's the fabric?

And how much do you have?

Bust darts bang on the bangers.

I’ve got 2 metres. It was £3 a metre in the sale - I think I got the last lot, it’s out of stock now. From the fabric galore website

@PickAChew

Bust darts bang on the bangers.

Nice bangers 😂

They're well contained, today @iggly - rolled them up and stuffed them in my best bra for a try on 😁 all my others are in the wash

Urgh. Making a dress for littlest DD and it just turned in to a 'mare. It has a twirly, panelled skirt and calls for a rolled hem on the overlocker, but my overlocker just wouldn't play ball. It worked for a bit, but each seam it would jam, chew, then catch the fabric, dug holes in it - ARGH. I've ended up putting it back to normal and just doing a normal 4 thread overlock. It's visible but I don't think looks too awful. I may hem it still but not sure, it may be better with visible stitching as it's an uneven hem..

In my yoof, when my hands worked better, I would have hand turned that hem.

You're a braver woman than me! TBH, I might have done if it was something for me in a nice fabric. But it's for a 2 year old - it still looks decent and she's not going to give a rat's ass. She'll just see twirly and pink and be delighted

I finished this in the first lockdown. It’s just sitting in the closet because I am afraid to do the button holes!

That's gorgeous! For a thick tweed like that, you could use a chisel to cut them accurately I think?

@drspouse I’ve seen that in the internet. I think I can get the holes made. I’m more worried about binding them. I don’t think my machine can handle the thickness. And I’m not great at hand bound button holes especially with thick unraveling fabric.

Ah, I've never tried hand buttonholes! With hand sewn ones though can you not sew them first and then cut them like on the machine? I know buttonhole sewing is like blanket stitch which isn't TOO hard.

You have to cut them first. Years ago, I made a Linton tweed jacket and hand bound the button holes. Getting them to look good was harder than I expected. You are right, it is like doing blanket stitches on hand appliqués for quilts and things like that. But it needs to be so consistent and precise. I’m just dreading it.

Might be worth practicing on some scraps of the fabric.

You know, I'm meant to edge stitch this sleeve, close to the cuff but I can see any way of doing a tidy job of it, either in terms of distance from the edge or uniform stitch length. There's just far too much to pull both taut and out of the way. And let's not forget that it's blacker than this photo looks and the darkest day imaginable - even the overhead spots aren't cutting it. I noticed that a few of the bloggers who have blogged it conveniently ignored this instruction, too.

That's quite a lot like the edge stitching on all the t-shirts/tops I make for the DCs, though the body is stretch also. I stretch it round the arm of the sewing machine (thankfully they are big enough now that even sleeves will do this, not when they were babies!) and then stitch over the seam too (seam pressed towards garment).

It's too tight to fit around the machine and move easily, which is the problem!

Personally I wouldn't edge stitch that, I find with cuffed sleeves like that the seam tends to go up the way anyway.