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 is ponte, it's polyester and someone on here had the same but now I can't find where I got it. The band is supposed to cinch it in a bit (I had to cut out the darts but it is still a bit shaped) and the pattern is from Ottobre.

I impulse bought a mannequin on Facebook marketplace yesterday. I’m spectacularly ‘between sizes’ and have very wide shoulders so it was quite a gamble. It was only £10 though and I thought it would still be useful as it’s one of the polystyrene ones you can pin into.

So I was pleasantly surprised to find that it measured up perfectly around the bust and when I put my bodice toile on it the darts lined up perfectly as well.

It’s going to be so useful. If something I’m making fits the mannequin fairly tightly it’ll fit me slightly loosely. I can’t wait to pin a few pattern pieces on it to check sizes

Oh that's great!
I need more junk like a hole in the head and have no room in my sewing cave, so I'm resisting buying a mannequin!

It’s a black body on a nice wooden stand. It’s going to live in the bedroom as a decorative feature. DH doesn’t know yet 😂

Sounds perfect and what a bargain! I wouldn't know what to do with one.

I don't know why I feel sheepish to admit it, but i'm booking a private sewing lesson! I know that most things have youtube instructionals or blog how to guides, but i'm sick of reading and watching. I want someone the SHOW me some things in person and I have a thousand and one silly questions. I've found a local small sewing business owner whose offering an absolute bargain rate. I'm excited about it.

I think that’s a really good idea. I learned from my mum who was very good and I was lucky enough to have a teacher who had us all making denim skirts in our DT lessons. Don’t think any of us ever wore them but the skills we learned stuck.

Enjoy your lesson.

Would you mind if I join you? I am desperate for sewing chat as DH is fed up of me talking about seams and I don’t know anyone in real life who will debate fabric choices with me

Thank you, yes that's the thing, no one in my family sews.

Oh course not, you are very welcome @BirdsInTheAttic . Are you watching the sewing bee as well? There's a thread in telly addicts following it.

Oh that is good Nutella, I went on an overlocker course once that was really helpful.

Birds you're very welcome.

Thank you! @NutellaEllaElla I will look in telly Addicts - I am watching Sewing Bee and loving it! Your sewing lesson sounds like a brilliant idea.

I’m starting a course soon but I think the emphasis will be more on upcycling rather than making from scratch (can’t complain as it’s a free evening class).

I’m pretty much self-taught (thanks, YouTube!) but there’s so much to learn and obviously you don’t know what you don’t know.

I'm very close to buying a rotary cutter and self-healing cutting mat. should I? The reason i'm considering it is because I don't love drawing round patterns on fabric as the material moves a lot. It would save me time as well but the risk of accidentally slicing the main piece is real.

I bought a rotary cutter. I’ve never used it. I have cut my finger quite badly with it but it has never touched fabric.

I don’t draw round pattern pieces either - I just pin them on the fabric and cut round them. If the fabric slips I use more pins. If it stretches I use weights but generally I just use pins

Hello! I've just found this thread and would love to join if that is ok? I love Sewing but struggle with motivation. Last month I made up 3 long sleeve tops in a week and then cut out a Jalie Tania coat but with Easter holidays I've not had the time or motivation to sew it up.

Really enjoying the discussion and your photos. Hopefully will give myself a kick and I can add pictures of my finished coat in here soon!

Welcome welcome @DanielODonkey. You really work the boom and bust cycle! 3 tops in a week is impressive.

@NutellaEllaElla

Welcome welcome *@DanielODonkey*. You really work the boom and bust cycle! 3 tops in a week is impressive.

All or nothing, that's me

I need to get out of the trap of buying fabric and just looking at it and thinking about what I could make with it. And instead just... make the thing!

I love my rotary cutter. I'm left handed and I struggle with scissors even the proper left hand designed ones.

I have an A0 mat and an A1 size one. The A0 lives behind the sofa and it's really heavy so my A1 gets the most use.

In a thrilling update I finally got to Ikea for another peg board and also ordered pegs from Etsy specifically for Overlocker threads. Keeps them nicely organised. Would recommend. I've got ones from Ikea but these fit snug into the peg board unlike the Ikea ones which fall off as soon you take anything off it.

Hey welcome to the thread @DanielODonkey & @BirdsInTheAttic.

I've almost killed my cutter after under 6 months of use. It wasn't a cheap one, either.

I have a big A0 cutting mat that is useful even when I'm using scissors, though.

Apparently you are supposed to soak them from time to time to help them heal presumably. Agree the are good for using with scissors too as it’s a nice firm base the scissors can kind of glide over.

Meant to thrill you all with my pegboard pic!

Love the pegboard @Ulysses, looks so organised. And all the scissors hanging up 😍

Interesting to read what others do about cutting fabric - like @Jins I tend to just pin or weight the paper on the fabric and cut round it

Nice!

I’ve got to pin everything when cutting out. I’m too scared that I’d dislodge the fabric. I end up having to shift the pattern pieces and fabric around to cut them out as I’m short on space. A large cutting table is a dream for me!

I mostly sew in the kitchen so use cookery books as pattern weights. They are quite good as are not too tall and spread the fabric out quite smoothly.

Love my rotary cutter - I get much sharper corners and more accurate pieces than with scissors. And my mar lives behind my kitchen larder unit.

Love the sewing areas - I have to decommission mine after every session and put everything away which slightly takes the spontaneity out of it.

Have finished my chamomile top with self drafted waistband/deep hem. Love the fabric but I should have made a size ten with a bigger FBA. this has happened before. I do not match any pattern sizings and always have to size down due to my 32G boobs. I am not skinny by a long stretch but have fairly narrow shoulders which I need to take into account. I did do a toile but it was in v ought cotton and the linen just didn’t behave the same when seen. Oh well. Still very nice and a pattern I will make again. I may even think about adding a zip so I can put in some waist darts