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!

That's looks lovely @NutellaEllaElla, love the combination of fabric and pattern. Well done. I've only recently become a fan of hand stitching but my garments take weeks to finish now.

I've completely lost my sew-jo! My culottes aren't finished and the fabric's really too stiff and not drapey enough to work. My eye is roving to making summer dresses, when I ought to be making trousers, like ones you made @kittykarate. What pattern did you use?

Our local sewing shop does sewing days where you can make up your own garments, I haven't been but they are really popular.

Thank you! I wore it to dinner with friends last night and was v proud.

You're not gonna get your sew jo back by making things you 'ought to be making' are you?? Just being a devil on your shoulder 😈

I know what you mean though, i love making dresses but don't wear them that much. I will look out for more fun tops to make.

It's so nice when you can show off what you've made.

I was about to order some red floral viscose from Rainbow fabrics but it's out of stock. The same fabric is twice the price on the Minerva website so that's the universe telling me not to. .

This was definitely intended for a dress rather than trousers.

I’ve just been checking out the range of viscose at pound fabrics
poundfabrics.co.uk/search?type=product&q=visc*
There are some lovely ones there.

Thanks @jins! I’ve just ordered some in blue. They had the red one I wanted too but was sold out. It’s such a bargain as well - less than 12 pound for 3 metres including delivery. Woop 🙌! I’m going to make a BHL Jenna dress and put on an extra gathered tier. I’ve got one in a black floral and I love it. I’ve been wearing it a lot recently but could do with something more summery.

Photos too!

I’m pleased you found something @Ulysses. I’ve had some lovely viscose from them recently. I’m really pleased with the plain black I bought although it does crease quite a bit

That’s a lovely dress as well

I love those sleeves and neckline, that'd be nice for a top too

Great dress @Ulysses! I like the sleeve details.

The trouser pattern I used was shop.made-by-rae.com/products/luna-pants. Really easy to make.

Thanks @kittykarate, I've got the Tilly & the button joggers which look very similar to these. I bought a pair of woven joggers a few summers ago and wore them to death. They were made from viscose too.

Coincidentally I just got an email from Rainbow fabrics about a remnants sale and I've now managed to get 3m of the red fabric I was originally wanting for £15 including postage.

Now I need another pattern!

@Ulysses love the dress, particularly the sleeves!

My elastic arrived for my waistband and got it in (after adding it to the front waistband first and then my bobbin running out half way through stitching the second line of zig zag - third time was a charm) Just have to decide on the length to hem the trousers - am thinking a couple of inches above my ankle.

They're a very versatile pair of trousers @Stretchandsnap, love them! I like the clean lines and the high waist, can imagine with a pair of Breton top and flats or a vest top and heels.

These are exactly the kind of thing I should be making but I'm going to go back to the 90s and make a True Bias Shelby dress. I love a tea dress and I'm really excited that I've got some projects in mind.

@NutellaEllaElla

Welcome *@Drinkingallthewine*. How did you find your local sewing group? I only started in lock down so have never met any sewists offline.

Hi! It started out as a quilting class almost 10 years ago, but people can bring any sewing projects they like really. A local woman started up the classes and I was on maternity leave. OH insisted I needed even just one evening a week where I wasn't Mum and could do some grown up stuff I love. So I signed up and refuse to feel guilty at what I spend on my habit.

Hello! I don't know why I haven't found you lovely people before, but better late than never

I an an upholsterer who got into sewing clothes last year. I try to rescue vintage fabrics (curtains, duvet covers, bedspreads, table cloths etc) but I also splurge on new fabric, most recently to make a double cotton terry onesie for my youngest who is too lazy to dry himself after swimming!

I also have an autistic son who needs clothes without pockets and labels, exact fit and specific fabrics and colours so he is sort of my inspiration and desperation

Looking forward to learning more from you guys!

Hmm I had a very average day sewing yesterday - I was making a tried and tested pattern (the top part of Tilly and the Buttons Stevie) but the georgette fabric I was using was fighting me every step. I have something wearable at the end, but there are just so many niggles caused by the fabric twisting when I was cutting it. It kept throwing itself off my table like a lemming!

I’m back home and raring to go so planned a laundry day tee with my striped viscose jersey. Laid it out ready to cut then remembered that I hadn’t prewashed it and with viscose I’m not taking any chances.

I need this to be next to use the white thread the overlocker arrived with then I can rethread it with black for everything else that’s planned.

So I’m enjoying the sun watching viscose jersey dry

After reading my love sewing mag I’ve a hankering to make a bra. I’m going to start with a simple one
madalynne.com/product/barrett-bralette-sewing-pattern/
Might as well go all in and do a set
megannielsen.com/products/acacia-underwear-sewing-pattern

Should get rid of some remnants

Hello @MrsBobDylan , I really wish I could upholster. That sounds really interesting using recycled fabric. I hope you find joy out of making clothes too.

@jins after looking at your megannielsen underwear link I've realised that the Flint pants are more the style I want my culottes to be and have bought that. It has an interest closure so instead of a zip you button it over.

I'm going to unpick the pair I partially and made up hopefully they'll be enough fabric and I've got some scraps as well. If not they will possibly become a pair of shorts!

Hope your Stevie works out @kittykarate, I've got a tunic version that I need to dig out as it's lovely for the summer. It's in cotton double gauze so fortunately very easy to use.

I lost the first thread so jumping back in!! I’ve just finished making a jumpsuit for dd in viscose linen and now want one for me. Enjoying catching up with all the makes!

Welcome back @Iggly, i'd love to see the jumpsuit. I've not heard of viscose linen before - does it crease less? That would be exciting for me because I just don't buy or wear linen because I won't iron

I have a couple of days off where I might do some sewing. I can't decide what though. I could finish a project i've been working jointly on with a friend. Or I could start a denim dress. Decisions decisions!

@NutellaEllaElla

Welcome back *@Iggly*, i'd love to see the jumpsuit. I've not heard of viscose linen before - does it crease less? That would be exciting for me because I just don't buy or wear linen because I won't iron

I have a couple of days off where I might do some sewing. I can't decide what though. I could finish a project i've been working jointly on with a friend. Or I could start a denim dress. Decisions decisions!

Thanks! I loved your top. Gorgeous.

I hope it creases less seeing as DD is 9 and a mess magnet 😂 it seems to have a lovely crinkly type effect. I’ll try and attach a photo

The pic doesn’t do it justice - it’s has lovely colours, very summery. I’ll try and get one with DD wearing it

Thanks @Ulysses - I just had a chair arrive yesterday and some 70s curtains coming for the reupholster soon!

@Iggly that jumpsuit is fab - I have three sons so no chance to make girls clothes. I made this towelling onesie for my youngest last week. I am going to make a grown up hoodie dress version today in candy pink stripes for the beach this summer.

I love viscose linen depending on the percentages of viscose to linen. I also love viscose twill and have a lovely length in my stash

Viscose is a strange fabric really. I have a lot of 100% viscose clothes, shop bought and made by myself and with some creases drop out and they’ll wash and dry perfectly on the hanger and with others the opposite is true. The viscose linen I have does crease but the creases drop out reasonably well.

@Ulysses I looked at the Flint culottes too but my go to culottes pattern is a McCall’s one that came with love sewing. More of a divided skirt as my Nan used to call them. There are some tempting patterns on that site so I’m looking forward to the emails from them (I signed up for the newsletter to get the underwear pattern free)