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 .

Bravo on the stripe matching too @PickAChew, didn’t notice that first time.

It is indeed my birthday and so far it’s been a lovely morning.

With such big stripes, it was impossible to match the raglan all the way round without seriously twisted sleeves. I have the pattern traced off full width to make it easier to not cut on the wonk.

I was going to walk into town, this morning but the forecast is a bit grim so I'll have a finishing off day and clear out my ironing basket. Still need to be-button that brome top.

Happy birthday, @jins.🍰🪡🧵

It’s up and running. Slight problem with bobbin initially but all sorted now. It’s seriously fast.

Practice stitches going well. Alphabet not so well

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I’ve had plenty of birthdays now and they seem to come round too frequently 😂

Oh that's really pretty. Sounds like great birthday gift.

Nice stitches, @jins. The alphabet probably needs the fabric to be stabilised.

What machine did you get, in the end?

It’s early days but for £149 this is impressive value. (I saw one in my local store for £129 which is even better)

The decorative stitches are sensible and ones I may use. The stretch stitches work as they should. It’s fast and it’s quiet.

Not a bad impulse buy

It’s the Necchi NM2000 from Aldi @PickAChew and it was a complete impulse buy.

I’d just decided to stick with what I had

My most useful purchase, this month.

@PickAChew, Ooooh! a button hole cutter. I saw those demo’d on Sewing Street and wondered whether it was worth purchasing.

Ahhh! I could do with one of those! My little snips died last week after many years’ service but they weren’t the best tool for the job.

Yeah I want one of them too, I use a stitch ripper. It's a good stocking filler as well, where did you get it from?
How does everyone finish their button holes? I was getting annoyed with frayed threads but since I used fray stopper that seems to have done the trick nicely.

I just ordered it from Amazon after realising that nothing I had would pierce those buttonholes without breaking or piercing me, too.

Sew essential have some, though www.sewessential.co.uk/sewing-tools-and-gadgets/sewing-tools/cutting-tools/buttonhole-cutters

Ooh there was something that looked like a small chisel in stepMIL sewing box that ended up with me when we cleared the house. I had no idea what it was for. I’ll see if I can find it in the box of stuff

Happy Birthday for yesterday, @Jins! Glad you're enjoying your new sewing machine!

Thanks @Tinuviel. I am enjoying playing with it but need to see how it performs as a dressmaking tool. Hopefully soon

Oh I'm getting quicker! I've all but finished the black version of the petrol blue toile that I'm keeping above. I started it last week on Saturday so I've done it cutting to hemming in 2 days! I know the make is supposed to be quicker after the toile anyway but I'm proud.

I'm hoping I have enough of my black ponte to make that Sinclair cardi next.

Day and a half actually

That is a super easy dress though to be fair

Very belated Happy Birthday as well Jins

Ah thanks!

Still no sewing for me. I’ve turned into a full time carer for mum (along with my brother) as her care needs can’t be met through the agency. Hoping that there’ll be some positive news tomorrow as I’m cream crackered.

I’m desperate to make something - anything. I find sewing very good for calming me down. Unless fold over elastic is involved 😂

That sounds challenging, @Jins. I've been making fabric gift bags for Christmas, which is nice and calming. I've also made a Christmas stocking and have some wash bags planned out of some laminated fabric I bought yesterday at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate.
It was a fab day - did a couple of workshops and bought a rather expensive sewing machine! Not sure yet when it will be delivered but am very excited! It's a Janome; I had a good look at Bernina, Brother and Pfaff but absolutely fell in the love with this one. It's good for quilting as well as dress-making and comes with a quilting pack and they threw in a couple of extra feet and a pack of bobbins for good measure.

I hope you find a moment to do something creative, @jins. Maybe something small and portable eg some hand stitched ornaments.

I've done all my little finishing off jobs so I'm allowed to start on my next batch of Jersey - a couple of Tabor tees.

One of this jobs was closing the second toe of a pair of socks that got almost finished, last summer. I buried my nose in the wool and felt inspired to dive into one of my boxes of squishiness.