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!

It looks immaculately constructed well done! 👍

I took in the waist on four pairs of summer PJs (bought!) for DD and DS. They are so slim that this is a regular event in my house. I just do a thin dart on the waist and straight over the top of the finished waistband. Life is too short to faff about opening waistbands on £8 PJs!

Now need to finish my bodge on my chamomile dress. Which is now going to be a top and skirt. Have drafted the pattern for the waistband for the top so need to cut it out in the linen and sew it on. Then to bodge the waist band for the skirt. Might go flat front and elasticated back so I don’t need to do a zip (although @2Rebecca your fold over approach would also work as there is tons of fabric!)

Then some PJ bottoms (Hudson’s again) in a lighter burgundy jersey withgrey ribbing for the cuffs. And then another go at the chamomile dress in lighterweight purple double Gauze.

Interested. I have to take in my PJs as well, still haven't got round to it. Don't you have get bulky fabric from the excess waistband?

I've taken in the waistband on PJ's - I've tried 2 different ways - putting in triangle darts and just putting in pleats in the waistband. I couldn't take in by more than an inch per dart/pleat without it getting too bulky. I do 2 darts on the back usually, only doing the front if I need to take more than 2 inches.

They are only 8 so two small darts isn’t really that bulky on their clothes and it’s very soft jersey cotton so not too annoying

Not sure it would work on adult clothing the same.

I HAVE MASTERED BUTTONHOLES!!!!!

Sorry for shouting but my Janome machine is pants at buttonholes (it’s a known thing by the looks of the interweb). But this little YouTube video sorted me right out.

You Need to watch for the lever hitting the back section of the button presser foot and then stop, manually pull the lever forward until you here a clock then continue with the buttonhole. Looks like the pressure on the lever from the buttonholer is just not strong enough to trigger the second bar tack step but this tip sorts it right out.

Revolutionary!!!

Great British Sewing Bee on Wednesday!

@NutellaEllaElla

Great British Sewing Bee on Wednesday!

Yay! I didn't get to wear my new dress to church as DS cut his head and we all stayed home except for the part where DH took DS to A& E.

Aargh. New needles fitted. Overlocker cleaned and rethreaded. Left needle now skipping more than before.

It has to be something I’ve done.

It works beautifully as a three needle machine so that’s how I’ll use it.

Did you put the new needles all the way up in the shank? The left needle should be slightly higher than the right one. Also - left needle tension on mine needs you to give it a good yoink up and around the tension disk before you thread it down to the needle or it's just not being tensioned enough.

Yes needles are as far up as they will go. I’ll try threading it again and check the tension disc

All checked and this is what I’m getting.

I’ll take the left needle out and use it as a three thread one

Is your looper threading ok? It almost looks like it's not even getting across far enough to catch on the left needle.

I thought it was the looper as well.

It started off working perfectly then gradually started skipping stitches and now this. It only cost me £50 so I’m not too bothered about using it with 3 threads as I only need it to neaten edges.

I’ll have another go threading the looper this evening.

I fell into a rabbit hole of looking at 'how is my serger broken videos' and couldn't find one that matched yours. There are people out there fiddling on with the timing etc and I could only think YIKES!

I’m not going to bother looking

I’ve had enough today but tomorrow I have to get on with some trousers for mum. I may have another go at threading it but seeing as it started well and deteriorated it could well be timing

It’ll do nicely for neatening edges with 3 threads. Eventually it’ll need a proper service at which point it may be replaced. It depends how much use it gets.

Ok so after watching Sewing Bee last night, i've decided that I need to make something from Broderie Anglaise fabric - is that likely to be a nightmare? Anyway, I haven't found a pattern I want to use just yet but am going fabric shopping on Saturday. If you vaguely had a long sleeve, gypsy type top in mind, how much fabric would you buy?

Also, this is a dumb question...but if you want to leave the sleeves open (like one of the contestants did), do you just neglect to sew up the side seam? Would you finish the edges like a hem?

Broderie Anglaise is pretty easy to work with, the only issue is if you get a lot of embroidery bits layered together in a seam, then it gets surprisingly hard for the needle to penetrate the embroidery. It pretty much behaves like the underlying fabric (nice stuff is on 100% cotton, less nice is on polycotton, but you know hardwearing and cheap).

As it frays - you'd definitely want to hem the edges if you were leaving a seam open.

I'd probably guesstimate 2m for a top, but if you buy 3, you definitely have enough, and possibly enough left over for a simple boxy top. The more scientific method is to check out a few patterns now online and look at the requirements charts. e.g this www.stylearc.com/shop/pdf-sewing-patterns/anita-peasant-blouse-pdf needs 1.7m

I nearly bought some broderie anglaise on my last fabric order but decided against it in the end. I ended up with some gingham which I now see is everywhere

Which website was that @Jins?

@NutellaEllaElla it was poundametre

www.poundametre.com/search?type=product&q=Broderie

The Friday Pattern Company suggests at least 1.5-2yards for the Sagebrush top, depending on fabric width, @nutellaella. All that fullness seems to be quite fabric hungry.

Thank you! I'm considering using this wrap top pattern, free from Peppermint magazine. A little longer in the sleeve, open if possible.

Not gypsy I know

But I don't think I would wear something too unflattering