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!

No there are no notches and the fabric doesn't appear to have stretched - the pattern is mismatching too. It might be a poor quality drafted pattern.

It sounds like it's drafted for different sizes.

This neckline has taken me longer to do than they had to make their breton tops on sewing bee, this week. (and there's a little bit at the back that esme would wince at, where I didn't quite catch the first lot of stitching in)

That does look like it must have been intricate work @PickAChew

I'm within a hair's breadth of finishing my beach wrap. I had to attach the collar using a pin stitch which was super slow and I remain unconvinced about it as a decorative stitch. Anyway, it got too late to carry on so i'll finish tomorrow.

@NutellaEllaElla

That does look like it must have been intricate work *@PickAChew*

There was a lot of it to gather. So much that I made the rookie mistake of sewing my raglan seams twisted!

I must have used about 30 clips to pin the binding and still had to re-do a bit

I have my eye on this, from the latest magazine, for the piece of lightweight linen I have. Probably without the sticky outy bit because I stick out enough already. The yoke will be perfect for the sashiko I've been wanting to do. www.fibremood.com/en/patterns/671-harmony-top

Very interesting pattern.

So, here's the finished article? Can everyone spot the classic rookie mistake?

You'll just have to walk with your arms up in the air 🤣

🤦🏼‍♀️

Oops @NutellaEllaElla - still looks great though!

I received my fabric today and the green background is much darker than expected and don't like it so much for the dress. I'm not sure what to use it for now. Very annoying. Do you all buy your fabric online? I think I'll have to find a shop instead or I'll end up wasting a lot of money!

Thank you, I can't decide if i cba to unpick and sew the sleeves the right way round. I'm not great at 'unseeing' the flaws!

Sometimes when I buy online I buy samples first, especially where the colour is particularly important. I've found better choice of fabric designs online than in store even though I have some excellent fabric shops near me.

Did you put the right sleeve on the left, is that the issue? It's a beautiful top and such a gorgeous fabric that I would fix it before you lose that momentum. I say that as someone who had at least 2 or 3 garments languishing because they've got something not quite right about them that I need to go back and sort out a year or two down the line!

Online fabric shopping's a bit of a lottery and getting swatches is a sensible idea if you've got the patience. Shame about the green, there's a definite distinction between summery green's and those for the harsher months.

That top's gorgeous @PickAChew, love the gathered neck with the binding. Gathering's been a bit of a nemesis of mine. I've found using a different colour for the bobbin helps though.

Have the waist band to put on culottes and then zip. I had to unpick a fair bit myself yesterday as I stitched the trouser parts the wrong way around, so it was like an awkwardly shaped skirt rather than two tubes. Not something you can really live with!

The sleeves weren't side specific as they were just rectangles. I was just totally careless and didn't think about it being directional fabric. Despite chance being 50%, I got both sleeves upside down.

I honestly didn't notice!

It's a busy enough pattern I think most wouldn't notice. Think I might leave it. I've got plenty more projects to bodge get on with!

I do imagine what Esme and Patrick would say! It's the same with baking though, I imagine Pru and Paul Hollywood critiquing it.

It is a lovely top @NutellaEllaElla. What did you do in the end with the wider back piece?

I’ve not sewn for a few days...I’m going to try again tonight when the kids are in bed and finish my top. I’m pretty sure it wont fit me now though from when I started as I have piled on the pounds in This lockdown. Oh well, I like to sew anyway so it’ll be one for when i get back in shape

Thank you. I eased the pieces together. I have since read something that says that the front and back of tops are often different sizes? I dunno. It worked out in the end I think.

Shame if your top doesn't fit, got any give in the side seams to let out?

Stash raiding Tshirts for me at the weekend. I made 1 short sleeved one from a Simple Sew magazine pattern 'Staple T shirt'. hmm..this just isn't quite right - the neckband is slightly too long and doesn't sit. Also it's quite long, I took an inch out of the length when I traced the pattern off, and it still finishes below my crotch.

The other was a Jalie Raglan Tshirt - easy sew, would make again.

Trousers for mum scored high so I’m filled with confidence and ready for the next challenge - altering the neckline of her favourite M&S blouse which has a stand up collar at the moment and she wants it to be more like a t shirt shape.

I’ve just pinned it onto a board and it’s not going to be easy

I have started making some pyjama shorts.

@NutellaEllaElla

I have started making some pyjama shorts.

Optimistic!

There will definitely be more of these but I've completely trashed any chances of a warm spring Bank Holiday by finishing it.

Optimistic about good weather, BTW. Not a reflection on your sewing🥶

Ooh I like that top @PickAChew what pattern did you use?

My next project is likely to be more tshirts made up from stash material, and these shop.made-by-rae.com/products/luna-pants as they are the next project in my sewing subscription.

@kittykarate it's a hack of the fibre mood Jane dress. Once I got past the headache of pressing and cutting out a fabric with a natural crinkle, it was a real pleasure to sew, both the fabric and the pattern. I had my machine speed set to git slow for much of it, though!

Those pants are cute.

My next task is some owly Jersey pyjamas.

Finally I got round to the laundry day tee dress. I love it.

Excuse the photo. It’s not showing the swinginess very well