Stitch and bitch thread #2. Sewing aficionados gather here!

[IDontMindMarmite]

The previous thread is coming up to capacity and as ever your wisdom, screw ups and accomplishments are appreciated!

Yes I meant a couple of hand stitches just to hold the facing in place but you probably won’t need to.

Glad the burrito went well

I've made quite a bit of progress with my blouse. It did need to unpick it quite a few times as I must have been sloppy with my cutting out and the back piece which is cut on the fold was a 2cm too wide and the neck facing about 1cm to short. It took me ages to work out why the wouldn't match though. The facings are also fairly narrow and if I make the pattern again then I'll make them wider.

I hope your facings turned out well @NutellaEllaElla. I've got a stitch in the ditch foot - I'm sure it call something else - and it has a little guide which makes it a bit easier when using your machine for under stitching. You can then move your needle by say a few millimetres if you don't have much fabric to catch onto. It's definitely not a necessity though.

The gathers on my sleeves have worked really well and they are now set in and there's more gathering to be done on the cuffs. I also need buttons before I can do the buttonholes but I'm still swithering. I really miss the shops for that kind of thing.

Spent the day tracing off 2 patterns, and then cutting out a TatB cardigan from the Make it Simple book. I'm using some cheap scuba I got from poundametre.com as I wanted something more 'spring' weight so will see how it turns out.

I’m struggling to decide what’s next. It’s been a week or so since I touched the machine.

I’ve found the Ogden cami pdf. It’s sunny today and I’ve got quite a lot of small pieces of fabric so I’m going to see if I can put a couple together while I decide on the next project

I'm putting off sewing things as the overlocker is currently threaded with white thread, and I hate changing the colours.

Oh me too.
I finally got round to putting my old overlocker on FB marketplace.
Told myself I need to at least mend my bike leggings tonight as I haven't touched my sewing for days. I'm working on two things that both need black overlocker thread too and I have it threaded up black and I still haven't done it.

I've not been very impressed with my pattern cutting for my more recent project. The instructions said to cut two of the same panels at once but I don't think i'll do it again, too much movement even with pins and weights.

I'm thinking I might hand under stitch or catch the facings when I finish.

I now have a list of projects and have just added another as the V&A museum have provided free patterns. I like the Mary Quant mini dress but there's a few other nice ones too.
Anyway, i'm hoping my Lidl second hand overlocker is up to the two denim projects i'm planning....

I'm afraid I don't fancy your overlocker's chances! I don't really use mine for denim any more.

Is yours a cheapy overlocker as well?

It's not a heavy denim...

My old one was. I've given up on that too.

Oh dear, it's not sounding good.

Just get a nice denim needle for your sewing machine.

Got one coming in the post soon hopefully 😊

Am such a beginner (just starting to try and teach myself!) that most of this thread is gobbledegook to me but thought I'd ask for advice anyway!

Been teaching myself using this children's sewing book: www.amazon.co.uk/Sewing-Machine-Book-Step-Step/dp/0241197228?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 and following a drawstring bag pattern and hand sewing little felt motifs to make them feel a bit more "mine".

They've all been cotton so far and have worked as well as I could have hoped, but I had a go with velvet and I had to give up as the machine just wouldn't let the fabric go through nicely and it just kept sewing over and over in the same spot!

Any advice? What did I do wrong?

Am so envious of all the amazing projects on this thread! I dream of being able to make some clothes one day.

One of my bags!

Velvet is very thick and tricky - was it actually velvet or stretch velour, would be another question?

If it's not stretch, then a thicker needle will help, loosening up the presser foot (there should be a wheel above the presser foot to raise it) and ultimately a walking foot.

@drspouse on second thoughts, it's probably velour! The description on eBay of the fabric I bought says 'Velvet Velour Fabric Plain 4 Way Stretch Polyester Elastane Dressmaking Material'! I was confused by their use of the word velvet!

Gosh, that sounds like a tricky fabric Sandwichlunch as it's got all the things in the name to make you worried. A walking foot might help with the stretch part, just to keep the fabric moving. You might want to try using a ballpoint or stretch needle. The presser foot might need raising to allow the thicker material to through.

Does it get stuck all the way through a seam or just at the start? If its at the start, sometimes with a stretch fabric I have to encourage it to move by gently pulling on the thread tails as I start off. It's usually because the fabric is starting part way along the dogs (because you're starting off) and it's not getting a good grip.

I agree with the other comments. I resisted buying a walking foot for ages but it really has transformed things.

I’ve just finished my test version of the Ogden cami. shop.truebias.com/product/ogden-cami

What a flattering neckline and a relatively straightforward project. Inevitably I’ve twisted a shoulder strap but as it’s a tiny bit too small and spaghetti straps aren’t my thing I’m going to retrofit a wider shoulder strap and see if I can relax the fit slightly. It’s been made out of black sheeting so would be useful as a gardening type top but I’m not too concerned if it has to go.

For the final version I’m going to lengthen the facing and run elastic through the bottom so it acts as a hidden support and means I won’t need a bra. I’m also going to lengthen the top slightly. Overall though I can see me making loads of these

I’ve got the Ogden cami and have made a couple. Agree about lengthening the facing - mines finished far too short but was a good fit otherwise. I’ve extended one into a little dress. It’s nice in the summer as a pool cover up.

I’m now waiting on buttons for my Fibremood Norma plus more thread. I ordered some Overlocker thread on Amazon prime but it’s far too bright a green rather than the dark green as described.

Apparently Aldi do overlocker cones sometimes, has anyone ever seen them?

I’ve seen the Lidl ones but not Aldi.

I’ve found a metre or so of really soft, drapey patterned fabric that turned up in a bundle I bought to use for test makes. It would be great as an Ogden but it’s a bit see through and if I use it for the facings the pattern will show through. I’m pretty sure it’s polyester but it feels lovely and I’m tempted to try it.

I’ve got an old polycotton sheet. Would it work for facings or should I just forget the whole idea?

I’ve just bought a load of viscose challis so I’m obviously thinking of summer. Pound fabrics tempted me with a couple of floral prints

I probably mixed up my supermarkets, i'm terrible for it with Aldi and Lidl. They're interchangeable in my head. I've never ever seen them in Lidl though! So annoying.

I am wondering what people use for their toiles? I did a bodice in old pillowcase but might need to actually buy fabric for next time.

I bought a load of sheeting fabric and some stuff like this poundfabrics.co.uk/collections/one-pound-fabric/products/white-daffodil-flower-bunch-polyester-fabric

I know most people hate polyester but I don’t mind it too much so I test my sleeveless top patterns in polyester.

I bought a pound fabrics bundle in the early days and got a couple of usable poly mixes and an almost fluorescent lilac cotton lawn. I really can’t wear lilac but I’m thinking about dyeing it