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!

@FreeButtonBee I sew in the kitchen too - I do have a wee sewing area but it has been repurposed into a desk for home working. It was meant to be temporary last April.

Loving all the scissors.

I find my board useful for pinning. I can hold the fabric down and fairly taut and slide the pins in with no slippage.

I sew in my kitchen diner. I use small tins of coconut milk and packs of yeast as pattern weights!

Storing my board has proved a pain. Used to keep it behind a chair but took a day to flatten it after someone pushed it down completely out of sight. It's now kept on the table that was going to be used for crafts until dh had to permanently nab that room for wfh.

I’m temporarily in the dining room until I can clear out the room I used to use for work. I’ll continue cutting out on the floor until my knees decide otherwise. I’m on a roll at the moment with a list of simple projects planned. When I reach the one that’s going to take more time/thought I’ll probably start moving my sewing station.

I have a whole attic which means it's always a mess.

I'm in the dining room which is open plan with the living room. I would hate to be secluded away on my own. I only sew on weekends anyway and DH doesn't mind me sewing away while he watches the rugby or something.

@NutellaEllaElla

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 love my rotary cutter. I also have a cutting mat - buy the largest you can afford and accommodate! With them I use a 24x6 inch acrylic ruler that has a big handle on - I use it instead of pattern weights as well as for cutting in straight lines!!

I put the order in, I thought why not try it? I also bought some clips to try instead of pins as my cats are obsessed with pins, run off with them and generally terrify me that they're going to swallow them.

I tend to use tinned goods as pattern weights, might try heavy books are pp suggested. I hate how fabric moves even when I pin the pattern down. I like to be extremely accurate.

I use big square washers to hold down my pattern pieces (in effect they're a 1/4 thick piece of metal, approx 2 inches square). I used to use tins, but then I found I was struggling to get my arm around them to do a nice even cut.

My cats are a nightmare too - they don't steal pins but they do jump on the table while I'm in the middle of tracing or cutting out, and pretty much slide off the other side taking everything with them.

Cats 😡

One likes to get between me and the task so I’ll go and feed him. The other is a sewing sort of cat. Loves cutting out especially and has a fondness for my seam ripper and low shank adapter. Often seen walking off with something she shouldn’t. I have to be really careful with off cuts of thread and threaded needles. They can cause real problems

Ds2 just pushes everything over and lays the placemats out where everyone sits. Quitevoften parks himself there with a biscuit that he transforms into many crumbs.

Ok dummy question but I bought a knit fabric and of course it isn't like store bought clothes which come with washing instructions or even the material type and I didn't ask. How would you pre wash it?

Do you have any clue on the fibre content? I tend to prewash everything on a wool wash at 30C anyway

I wash everything at 30 in the prewash. I use a colour catcher to see how colourfast it is too. My normal washes tended to be 30 unless whites/linen etc.

I wash new fabric at 40 degrees normal wash unless it's something like wool. It's what will happen to it eventually

I don't know the fibre content at all

I’m sure By Hand Land posted something on Instagram about burning the fibres to test to see what they might be. Might be worth a go? I mean findibg out the tutorial first before setting your fabric alight!

Let me just find my lighter
Maybe i'll have a google!

I’ve put in my buttonholes and mucked up the first as usual 🙈. Hoping the buttons disguise it but saving that job for tomorrow.

Oh noes, what happened?

Google would be wise!

My first one was too far over and the next too far down. I’ve unpicked both but some of the fibres are a bit pulled and there’s some remnants of the thread that too tight to get out. Both the fabric and the thread are white though so fingers crossed it doesn’t look too bad. I’m so annoyed with myself though as I was really enjoying making it up.

God unpicking button holes, well done you!

BTW It’s By Hand London and not By Hand Land - think I need to call it quits tonight!

Definitely put down the fabric at least!

I found the article byhandlondon.com/blogs/by-hand-london/the-burn-test-how-to-identify-the-fibres-in-your-mystery-fabric