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!

Ah amazing thank you.

That's a great site. I bought some from Rainbow fabrics that's on there that cost 3 times as much.

I bought a fitted bedsheet the other day that was on sale in Tesco for a fiver. It's 100% polyester but feel just like cotton. I'm going to make PJ bottoms from it.

I haven't seen the cones in Aldi and I'm in there all the time but you never know. The strangest things can turn up in those middle aisles!

I drafted the amendments to the cami pattern yesterday so today will be another mock up out of what’s left of my black sheeting.

Working through my next project list and decided that the sizing is doing nothing for my body confidence.

In bought clothes I’m a solid 10. Occasionally go to 12 for tops as I have broad shoulders. One of the big 4 patterns I fancy making would have me as a size 20!

Yeah they're so brutal! I daren't ask why they're like that. I try to take the emotion out of the numbers by just assuring myself that they're just completely unrelated to store sizes.

I've heard that using the opposite type of measurement to what you're used to helps as well - if you're used to inches, use cm and vice versa. Maybe re-naming the sizes? I liked one pattern that used size A, B, C etc.

Jalie patterns are just letters covering from toddler to plus size, so it's impossible to link them back to 'store' or 'pattern company' sizing.I think their size X which I use most of the time is probably equivalent to a UK 14 and a bit.

The problem with big 4 patterns is they're probably did their pattern blocks way back in the 1950s when people were a radically different build thanks to wartime diet and shapewear.

DH and I have a joke about fabric, we got a load for table covers/draping for our wedding from a London street market and everything was "£1 a metre, special price for you".

I wish we had markets near us. The fabric shops we do have are fairly pricey even for stuff like polycotton in comparison. I rarely make a toile and it’s usually much to my regret!

I've made eight metres of bunting using stuff from the cabbage crate. I did it properly too, double fabric, top stitched, bias binding turned in and sewn to make the hanging ribbon (because for some reason I had that amount of a sort of orangey pink in the haberdashery drawer).
It has taken ages and I got quite bored, but it does look pretty and I'm going to hang it outside for Easter.
Back to garment sewing tomorrow I think.

Love sewing arrived and I got a bit overexcited with one of the patterns.

Started thinking through my stash then noticed the photo of the back in the magazine

Will hang on to it in case any hacks emerge but with wraps exposing lower back and a zip I can’t see it being used

Well done @forgetthehousework, sounds like you put a lot of effort into them, real quality bunting!

@Jins, that's surprising to me that a conservative pattern would have a random cutout. Seems contradictory.

I know! I really thought that could be a goer for summer workwear until I saw the back.

Proper business at the front, party at the back styling by butterick there.

@Jins, that's such a weird pattern! Cut out at the back, conservative at the front. What might be a danger wrap for the bodice (as in... there's a danger of your tits being out if the knot comes undone).

So disappointing.

I'm not sure how you feel about printing pdf patterns, but there's a massive thread of free patterns where you might find something like that dress here

Great resource. Thanks!

My viscose challis just arrived and it’s perfect for a few cami tops. I may even squeeze a dress out of it

Great. Now i've seen more things I need to make. Am searching for free patterns now. Have come across this website (has anyone watched Project Runway? I think it's the same place they went to buy fabrics!) which has free patterns. They look to have more than just dress patterns but that's all i'm looking for right now.

I went to the Mood store in New York in October 2019 and bought some amazing tweedy brocade fabric that's been languishing in a drawer ever since. My plan was to make a Chanel style jacket but there's little chance of that happening anytime soon.

It really is the Mecca of fabric. There's some lovely patterns available on that link, really elaborate too.

My buttons and thread have arrived and I'm hoping to get my blouse finished this weekend.

How long did you spend in there Ulysses? I imagine it's a significant time and luggage weight investment!

Oh are you on button holes too? Any advice? I really need to get on with mine but have never done them before and am procrastinating. I'll practice but have 10 to do and can imagine it taking me forever.

No more than an hour probably. I was with DD14 while DH had DD8 but if I had been on my own I could have mooched a lot longer. There's just so much of everything and I think it's over 3 floors and it's all stacked to the ceiling. I remember being in awe of all of the trims and embellishments.

Buttonholes today too! I've done them before but think I really mucked up the first time and ended up splitting the fabric too far with a seam ripper. I've got a little chisel now which avoids this. I've got an expanding gauge as well to space them out evenly, but a normal seam gauge works well too. Make sure your markings are precise and start from the top down. When you are putting on your buttons do one at a time and fasten it before sewing on the next one.

Most of all though, I think you really need to be patient so that they are aligned properly. This is where I often fall short and need to unpick!

Does your machine have an automatic button stitch?

I have a four step buttonhole stitch on my machine but the diagrams of which bit of the buttonhole each step does are pretty clear. My trouble is that I tend to forget which direction the long sides go in.

I’d agree that precise markings are really important. I use a fabric pen rather than chalk for them. Make sure the needle is right in the mark at the start. It’s important to ensure the needle is at the right side to start the next step so you’ll end up using the hand wheel loads.

Practice loads first. I always find that I need to mark the buttonholes slightly smaller than the measurement of the button suggests.

Definitely start from the top.

Good luck and I can’t wait to see the finished item!

A seam ripper with a pin at the end to stop it going too far is also good.
I've got a buttonhole setting/foot on my machine.

Thank you, my machine has the 4 step button hole option.

I want to see yours @Jins!

G'ah I had to unpick 4 buttonholes before getting it right. The pattern I was using said to put them on horizontal but the facing is so thin that it went over them. I then changed to do them vertically and the first one was fine but my one step button hold went abit awry and I had to unpick that two. The rest were fine though.

I ended up using washi tape to mark them as the pen and chalk I tried to use weren't precise enough and it gave me a good straight line to readjust where the stitches needed to start. The foot I've got gives a cross hair but it's not exact enough.

Buttons tomorrow now. I realise I should have hemmed it before the button holes but it should be okay. I'll have to do a really narrow com as well.

*narrow hem