Stitch and bitch thread #3 Sewing is harder than it seams

[NutellaEllaElla]

And i'm very glad to have you clever sewists to selvedge what's left of my dignity .

Finished a dress - supposed to be a quick sew but it was anything but! Nice though, I'm really pleased with it. Simplicity 1609 I think. Needs washing to get rid of the crease!

My mannequin has bigger tits than me, which makes it tricky to get the bust right

That is a super cute dress, love that colour! It always takes me 10 times longer than I think it does for other people.

I inherited the fabric and thought it would be perfect for this pattern! I think it’s an update of a 60s pattern.

That is a lovely dress and a gorgeous colour.

I'm a pretty slow sewer. Even if I had a distraction free couple of days to dash something off in, I don't think I would get the same enjoyment.

That bloody thread, though . If it arrives tomorrow, it won't be until lunchtime. DH has been taking Fridays off through the summer holidays but I lose this Friday morning because I need to take my new varifocals back for a re-measure because they're just all wrong. I have up on them, the other day. Near vision is great and I've enjoyed not having to reach for my reading glasses but it's too high up! Distance vision is so out of balance I've had 2 weeks of migraines and fell over pretty badly, at the weekend because I'm just so disorientated. So I'm back into blurry vision.

Urgh, so annoying. My varifocals need updating but I am worried I'll have the same problem so I'm putting off getting new ones. I can get by with the current ones but it's the near vision that needs sorted as I'm struggling to thread needles or read measurements on patterns.

I am not feeling very motivated at work today and am just thinking about sewing. I might get to do some this evening if the weather is still and our walk gets cancelled. If not I can sew tomorrow hopefully.

One of my favourite summer dresses was getting threadbare, so I replaced the skirt and the front of the bodice. Left the band and the shirring at the back, but otherwise it's a totally new dress now. I even made the straps wider as they were too thin before not because I couldn't turn thin straps inside out to sew them.

I took an interest in this upcycle involving shirring. I have a super slouchy, baggy pink top that I love to slob about the house in. DH hates it . I would like to try shirring it, as shirring is still comfy and it could improve the top hopefully. I've ordered the elastic thread but won't start on it until i've done the 2 shirt dresses.

By the way, i've been enjoying "Making the cut", the fashion design show that Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn present, after they left Project Runway. It's far from Sewing Bee but i'm finding it to be really enjoyable and they all make Toiles!

My tencel/linen blend fabric from Merchant & Mills has arrived that I'm going to be making a pair of shorts from. It's gorgeous but I've bought the bare minimum so going to be ultra careful to make sure I cut the pattern pieces out correctly. One to do over the weekend when everyone else is out of the house and I can concentrate.

Saying that the weathers turned a bit but I'm intending them to be a summer staple.

I'm going to give it a watch @NutellaEllaElla. I loved Project Runway. Quite liked the one that Alexa Chung did on Netflix as well. I remember one of the contestants that ended up winning Project Runway had only learned how to sew a few months before she entered. Was super impressed at her fearlessness!

I LOVED Next Fashion, gutted they didn't commission a second series.

Loved it so much I didn't write the name out correctly. Next in Fashion.

Finally managed to get a picture of the rejuvenated dress. It was all greeny-purple before.
I'm especially pleased about the pattern matching on the patch pocket, one of the perks of dressmaking is that you need never be without a pocket!
I also made a matching face mask with the offcuts.
It needs a good iron but I'm packing it for holiday next week so no point.

Would help if I actually attached the picture

It looks great, I can't believe you basically replaced your dress! Very talented.

Great work @inmysparetime. There's a lot of joy in restoring something you love.

I am binging on Making the Cut Nutella. Shame the seamstress work is done off camera but I love the process they go through. Imagine having access to all that fabric and those industrial sewing machines!

drapersdaughter.com/collections/fabrics/products/nani-iro-birds-eye-d-double-gauze-fabric-soft-blue

I have this fabric and want to make a summery maxi dress, but I'm struggling to find a pattern I like. I love the fabric so much that its making me very very fussy about committing to a design!

I understand your dilemma, that fabric is very special. Have you tried looking on The Foldline for ideas?

The green and black print viscose has arrived and I'm really pleased with the green in it. It's such an easy colour to misrepresent on a screen and end up too gaudy. I've got 3m so plenty for a long shirt style dress, maybe the Lyra by T&TB. I've got a similar RTW one which is far too big so thought I could use the pattern pieces to get the proportions for taking that one in.

That is gorgeous @witheringrowan

I think it needs something very simple that can show off the print at its best.

I sewed on a collar for the first time today. I think it looks good for a first attempt. Unfortunately I did snip the main fabric accidentally while grading seams but it is in a hidden spot so am just securing it. Does anyone complete a project without mishaps??!!

Not so far! Something has gone wrong on everything so far!

Hey, I'm trying to attach a cuff to the sleeve and I don't understand instruction 36. The previous instructions had me make one edge longer than the other so how can I enclose it under the pressed edge?! If this makes any sense your doing well. If you have any advice I'd greatly welcome it.

Hi Nutella. I'm new to the thread. It's a couple of decades since I last tackled a cuff, so I'm not an expert like lots of the posters, but just in case you've not solved it, I read the instructions like this:
Once you've sewn the raw edge outer side of the cuff onto the sleeve and trimmed/graded the raw edges on that seam, turn the sleeve inside out.
Flip the cuff down so it's in its proper place, rather than folded back as it was for sewing the seam.
Press the sleeve/cuff seam back on itself into the cuff. That should tuck neatly under the cuff lining that has already had its seam allowance pressed under.
I don't know if that makes any more sense than the printed instructions?
Good luck

I made the muslin of my Sabrina Slims trousers. I definitely need to adjust the waistband and make it a little smaller but mostly happy with them.