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.

Thank you PickAChew. After i've completed DH's alterations, I may try my first proper sewing something from scratch project. I don't know what yet. It would need to be easy, yet wonderful so that i'm motivated to do it...

@IDontMindMarmite

Thank you PickAChew. After i've completed DH's alterations, I may try my first proper sewing something from scratch project. I don't know what yet. It would need to be easy, yet wonderful so that i'm motivated to do it...

The advice I was given was to make a top

• no sleeves, no zips etc. I had a basic pattern and made it from an old bed sheet.

And from there I was off!

Finished the shirt dress! DD insisted on gold buttons 😂 turned out ok although messed up a couple of button holes

I also decided to sew my niece a little sleeping bag for her baby doll at the very last minute. I love this fabric, absolutely gorgeous print

Your girl has a good eye. The gold buttons look great with the print.

I've just ordered a book on Sashiko embroidery. My poor arthritic hands won't thank me for it.

Happy Christmas sewistas! I discovered I'd sewn way more than I thought when I came to wrap but thankfully it all went down well.

Few of the xmas presents. I did family pjs, DH got a sweater, 3 tees, 2 pairs of boxers and an aviator had. Big DD I think had 4 dresses, 4 pairs of leggings, joggers, a hat, a sweater, a top and pjs. I lost count for the tiddler.

DH, bless him, bought all the fabworks fabric on my wishlist, including 5m of wool for a coat!

My order from pound a metre arrived too and seems really good. One of the wools I ordered is a melton with a woven backing which is unusual, it's like working with pre interfaced fabric. Planning to use it for a coat for dh so it will be fine, I might remove the backing for the sleeves.

Blimey you are very productive Statistically, well done! Beautiful items.
Iggly, the fabric for that mini sleeping bag is marvellous.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.
I was watching Cathy Hay unbox her present to herself - an Edwardian sewing machine, absolutely beautiful. I watched with envy, thinking "I bet that was incredibly expensive", then had a look on eBay.
I would have lost my bet, because although there were some very pricey ones, there were a lot of incredibly affordable ones too.
It is probably a good job that I have discovered this after Christmas rather than before ...

Can I also remind everyone that The Great British Sewing Bee is on this evening and New Years Eve, with celebrity sewers, which should be fun.

Oh that's exciting! I didn't know that there was a Christmas sewing Bee!

Looking forward to catching up with sewing bee tomo!

For Christmas one of my gifts was this book. I’ve got one from the 1970s (which has some awesome illustrations) which I enjoy reading. This version is also great!

I have to confess I've never watched sewing bee - is it good?

I also made MIL some oven gloves which turned out to be a total pain in the ass; rows and rows of stitching to quilt together the layers. Rare for me to want a bigger machine but a longer arm would have been nice!

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

1990’s.

It’s just experience and doing pattern cutting that did it.

I started off knowing not much! But l do think some people have a flair for it.

Interesting story: ( or maybe not!) l was adopted and grew up in a very academic family. I was making dolls clothes age 5 on my own. No one in my birth family could see.

When l met my birth mother the one time, who l actually didn’t like, she told me her mother was a tailoress/dressmaker of some reknown.

Nature v nurture

Wow that is remarkable

I've recorded the Sewing Bee to watch tomorrow. I usually enjoy it. Many of the ladies on here would wipe the floor with most of the contestants though.

Now that it's past the crazy Christmas sewing for everyone else period - what's everyone got on their sewing to do list?

I seem to be collecting coat fabrics which is funny since we're, you know, not going out! But hey!

I'm currently thinking:
-Charm patterns princess coat. I have some lovely yorkshire wool this one which I think I will make in to a long version, not decided whether to go tailored sleeves or flared yet. I also have some olivey green wool (much cheaper, from pound a metre) which I might use for a different version of this coat

• I think I'm going to try and copy the alexander McQueen skirt in the photo below. Thinking just a fairly full a-line in 2 layers, possibly with an extra bit of fullness in the black at the shortest part to enhance the shape. I have some of this for the bottom and a black wool for the top
• going to have a go at the long belted jacket version of this how to do fashion jacket in this wool blend

-a Twig and tale forester jacket for DH in pale grey melton

I also have a pile of "easier" fabrics to play with - so a few nice jersey tops, leggings, comfy dresses etc. I've got some lovely off white alpine fleece backed sweatshirting which will be a sweater with a cat face...lots to keep me busy! I made big DD some PJs for christmas from cotton lycra which have been declared the comfiest garments in the world so I need to run up a couple more pairs for her.

I have this in both jersey and waterproof so at some point I need to find a raincoat pattern, or edit a normal coat pattern to add a hood. Not sure yet

Yes, I really like colourful clothes, and I'm not buying any more fabric until I've sewn some up. Projects for me got backburnered in the run up to xmas so I've built a bit of a stash

The Sewing Bee was hilarious.
My 'to do' sewing list is sooooo long, but my priorities are finish the an Edwardian beret and a black velvet top both of which are pinned and ready to sew; I also have some olivey green wool from pound a metre which is going to be an ankle length Victorian walking skirt and jacket (and probably a hat from the offcuts).
I'm going to make several new outfits for steampunk events next year, but I've got plenty of time for that as they won't be required until April, (always presuming they go ahead, all of this years got cancelled), so I can afford to be distracted by any other projects that appeal to me. And I've got plenty in the stash to play with

I'm just watching the Sewing Bee. Joe's put on weight. They start by telling us that the celebs have been shown how to use a sewing machine but that appears to be the sum total of their skills

You know though, I think i've got my first clothing project. Pyjama bottoms.

I have a shirt and a couple of short sleeved tops to get stuck into and have ordered the Megan Nielsen Opal pants and shorts. I already have a piece if a cotton linen blend that I've been wanting to turn into shorts but I've ordered enough of an indigo print cotton for some tapered leg trousers.

Yes, they do look nice, don't they? (Although some are more ... competant than others!)

Is jersey fabric a bad idea for a novice? I found the cutest fabric for PJs.

Gah, I wish I could just go in a shop and poke at it. jersey might be too thin for jammies, right?

I made lovely cotton lycra jersey pjs for dd - cuffed jogger and raglan top style. They're light, but nicely so. Does the website have the gsm on it? Do you have an overlocker or regular machine?

@forgetthehousework think we might have the same wool it's lovely if so.

It has naff all information - here. It says it's good for t-shirts and summer outfits though. It also calls the flamingos "water storks"

I don't have an overlocker yet-