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.

My vintage lace to trim Luna the rabbit's clothes has arrived, yay!

Ooh vintage lace, sounds gorgeous

Hi, I've been following, but not posted, yet!
I've been sewing for years, and know my way around a machine, but my daughter has taken my Huskystar off to university (she's doing a textiles course, so it makes sense!), leaving me with a basic janome.
The issue is that the tension keeps coming loose, leaving loops on the reverse side of the stitching, I think that it might be related to the bobbin I'm using, as it can go along fine until I change threads and bobbins.
Are janome machines fussy about what bobbins they work with?
Or is it just me?!?

I don't know that it's specific to Janomes, as I get the same issue with my Singer. Using brand-compatible bobbins definitely helps. Fussy buggers, they are!

Thank you, good to know that it might not be my fault!
Thankfully, my local sewing shop is doing click and collect, so I should be able to pick some up asap.
I'm currently working my way through a quilt top, some Christmas bunting and finishing a dress, depending on how I feel when I sit down at the machine

Ooh, show me the quilt top, please! I mainly do quilts, when my mojo is in the room anyway...

It's a really basic one, sew strips together, then use the rotary cutter to slice into 25x6.5cm strips, then sew those together to make a block, then I'll do sashing between. Really easy, no thinking sewing, ironing, cutting and sewing; just the way I like it!

1. is where I'm up to, 2) is the picture I saw on pinterest that gave me the inspiration, and 3) is the quilt I made a couple of years ago that is on my bed at the moment (I do have far too many quilts, to be honest, but at least I'm warm!)

Oh, that's going to look amazing! And I absolutely love the quilt on your bed- it's beautiful, really gorgeous. I really do like 'scrappy' quilts; not only are they a way of using leftover bits of fabric and making inroads into your stash generally, but there's a real pleasure to be had in spotting your favourite bits, and the ones that tell a story.

I hardly have any quilts at home, despite having made dozens, because I generally make them to give away. One I've kept though is the Grandmother's Garden that I sewed by hand- it was definitely a labour of love. It lives on my favourite chair.

That's unfinished in that picture- I think it's just the top, before the quilting and binding, but you get the idea.

Those quilts are all gorgeous.

BitOfFun - how did you quilt the hand-sewn hexagon quilt? My first big hexagon quilt I had long-arm quilted (which scandalised the quilt shop as apparently it's not the done thing, but it looks great). I've got two more to do but don't want the faff or expense of taking them to be long-arm quilted and nor do I want to hand-tie them. Do you machine quilt yours?

I love that you scandalised the quilt shop Well done.

I've sewn together and quilted my winter (not Christmas) themed table runner. I need to get hold of something to bind the edges now. Most of the fabric was fat quarters from Aldi.

I just did parallel diagonal lines with the machine, Moonlight. I was a bit baffled as to what to do, tbh.

Nice work, Captain!

Thanks.

Hello, can I join too?! Enthusiastic amateur here, just love making dresses for my daughters but love a good sewing chat!

Welcome!

I'm loving seeing some quilts!
That's the joy of sewing, you can go anywhere with them, and do what you want to do

I used to struggle with a loose top bobbin making the stitching loopy underneath, I solved it with the low-tech bodge of twisting an elastic band round the bobbin holder when using large bobbins. It's not pretty, but it does the trick.

Blossom- this is the FIRST quilt I ever made! It was a gift for my daughter's 21st, which was three weeks away when I started. I don't think I've ever made one which needed so much concentration to piece together since, and I must have done almost as much unpicking as sewing .

That's lovely BitofFun and very fast work.

@BitOfFun that's lovely. Incredible!

Anyone know how hard it is to embroider names on a cushion? My gran has Alzheimer's and I'm making her a cushion and thought along with the tactile elements I could embroider names. Any good YouTube tutorials?

Wow, BitofFun, that's fantastic! I bet your daughter was chuffed with it.
And THREE weeks?!? That's dedication to the cause!

That is gorgeous and AMAZING.
In slightly smaller news I got the piping right on DD's pyjamas today. The first pair for both DCs it didn't meet properly at the collar and I had to redo it about 4 times.

Well done on the piping, drspouse. I've never attempted it, but coincidentally was looking at a tutorial recently. And that's a fabulous quilt, BitOfFun - so easy to get it wrong if the rings don't interlock correctly!

I haven’t been as ambitious since .

Drspouse, piping would give me nightmares- bloody well done!