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 .

It does look very big on the top but the shirring looks good. I wonder if doing some shirring on the shoulders would pull it in more so that you don't have 'sleeves'. It fits so nicely under the bust.

I'm very tempted by it but a little wary now!

I'm very impressed with your shirring! Great job there! I've looked at the website for your grecian dress and wonder if she's very artfully posing to give it shape!

Though her gathering on the shoulder seems to be much more severe than yours - it almost looks like it finishes mid bicep on her, so that would be like maybe 6 to 8 inches, yours look a lot longer.

The instructions say to gather and then join the shoulder seams. I wonder if it would work better to sew, then gather, or shirr a few rows back and front.

@Tinuviel sorry to hear about your sore thumbs! Are you still able to use a rotary cutter? A pattern designer I follow uses an old blunt rotary for cutting out paper patterns.

I dont mind the look of your dress, @NutellaEllaElla. The back seems a bit baggy but the front looks really good

Yes the shirring eventually went well, although it bloody hurts my hands from stretching it out to put it through the machine flat, if you have arthritis forget it.

I also agree that the fabric over the shoulders is too long but I did follow the written instructions. The pattern had notches,I gathered it down to 6 inches between the notches. But either the notches are too far apart or the gathering needs to be tighter than that.

I am also noticing that the photos on the website are of the front only which makes me suspicious.

Well if you go for it I hope you have better luck than me!

It looks so lovely from the front as well. You’ve got a great figure and it really accentuates it. Hopefully that excess fabric at the back can be sorted.

I’ve made a start on a toile for the Davenport Dress over the weekend using a very thin polyester. I’m hoping the real version is easier as the fabric’s thicker. Used the narrow hem on my overlocker as trying to do a 1/4 inch folded hem is impossible. Wish i had the patience to learn how to do one on my normal sewing machine.

Thanks, if I wasn't going away on Friday i'd play more with it but i'm seriously running out of time. We'll see.

@Tinuviel, I am sheepish to admit this but I have realised that if I make the shoulders/sleeves the shorter, correct length then the bagginess problem disappears. Of course. Dummy.

@NutellaEllaElla, that's good to hear! I'm going to have a go at shirring this afternoon on some bits of my Victorian ball gown! It might work better than the gathering I did before (which has come adrift!) At least there won't be too many rows needed.

If you have a brother sewing machine I'd recommend watching a specific YouTube video on threading the bobbin because it had me tearing my hair out until I found out that brother machines are special princesses.

Good luck! I do like the effect shirring has and once you get damn machines to play ball, it's easy too.

Finished my I AM patterns Cupidon wrap tip thing. I quite like it, though I think I made it one size too large. Nice pattern, though completely designed to be sewn on an overlocker, didn't have to get my other machine out at all.

I'm still battling my other sewing, anyone who says sewing kids clothes is easy is cracked- they're like adult clothes but much more fiddly

That's a lovely wrap, @kittykarate! I quite like sewing little dresses - I made DD lots when she was small. Sadly she doesn't wear dresses much any more (and would need adult sizes!)

I have some jersey to make my godson some trousers and a tee shirt but it's still in my 'to do' pile!

Greetings all, I've just got back on the sewing machine after a break to try to finish a knitted summer jumper (ahem, will be ready to wear next summer ). Trying an old Prima freebie, a slightly A-line shift dress that looks like it could be a really useful pattern if I can nail the fit. It's sleeveless currently but I might try to bodge add sleeves if it looks good.

Loving seeing all your makes, by the way. I've been eyeing up the By Hand London Anna dress on Instagram, might be first on the list for the spring.

I've made the Anna dress @dubyalass. It's a really nice cut. I made it for an evening do and haven't had much use for it since but it in a different fabric I definitely would.

(I have taken to knitting myself a jumper in the evenings too. God, it takes forever!)

@Ulysses it seems to look lovely on everyone and is a classic style. There seem to be lots of hacks too. I also want to find a denim skirt pattern and a reliable pair of trousers. Oh and a boiled wool coat, really fancy one of those for cold but dry days.

The Anna dress does look really lovely - definitely a pattern you could keep making in different styles/materials for years.

I've just got my Sewing Club box for this month - it's the Tilly and the Buttons Iris knickers pattern. Knickers is something that I'd probably have never tried making, as they are never really going to be a cost effective make, but I'm interested in having a go!

I've ordered fabric for the iris knickers, even though I haven't bought the pattern, yet! Just some cheap stuff from fabworks and plenty of it as I shall be making the big knickers!

I fancy making knickers but not sure about the elastic. Any recommendations?

I persevered with doing a proper rolled hem and it looks okay. it’s not perfect but good enough. I had to hold my fabric taut at an angle to keep it feeding the foot properly. I guess it’s one of those things you need to keep practicing at.

I had great plans for a drawer full of knickers and bralettes but the plans were abandoned when I encountered FOE.

Megan Nielsen acacia was my pattern of choice but I’m pretty sure I bought another one recently that had a variety of finishes. I’ll have to check when I get home

FOE?

Fold over elastic I think.

Yes, sorry - fold over elastic
I’ve tried and tried with no success. My machine really doesn’t cope with it and I’m not ready to upgrade in order to make knickers out of remnants

The other pattern I picked up was Sinclair’s Kiki.

Back home and dealing with a laundry mountain. This months Prima pattern is a nice boxy top with optional in seam pockets. That’s gone straight into the pile of patterns to make.

I also appear to have a pile of repairs and alterations my lads have collected for me. It’s good to be back

Well I'm getting annoyed with this Brome top, now. The instructions have lots missing, despite being lengthy and after carefully pressing them, yesterday afternoon, I've sat down to pin on the button plackets only to discover that they're a full seam allowance too short. I can fudge it, though that'll mean losing a little length, but it's still really annoying.