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 .

@PickAChew I think you’ve solved the problem. I’ll dig out my unfinished sock bag and see if I can make a pair or two. I love sock knitting but haven’t done any knitting for ages.

Hope you managed to enjoy some sock knitting jins

I've cut out my cardigan pieces. Just waiting for some time to start constructing it. Is it weird that I get excited about the next project I have in mind, when I haven't even finished my current one? 😄

I cheerfully cut out the pieces for the Nova coat last night, marvelling at how I'd got it all out of an old 2m bit of needlecord rather than the 2.55m they specified. Except when I went to tidy everything away, I found the back pattern pieces that I had totally forgotten about 🙄

So now I need to order some extra needlecord in an appropriate colour to finish it off; hopefully I can make it look deliberate 😁

Such a tit.

Thank goodness for Fabric Land who have some for £4.99/m.

Oh what a pita

Oops!

I’ve done something similar. I was ever so proud of fitting my tempo sundress into a tiny amount of fabric. It took a while before I noticed that the skirt needed to be cut twice. Luckily I had plenty of fabric but I had to cancel the plans for the remnant piece.

No sewing, no knitting. Just full on graft at mum’s. Don’t think I had a drink today. How carers do this I’ll never know. I always had huge amounts of admiration for them but now I’m convinced they are superhuman

jins

Does anyone know Briosa patterns? They're free via the Facebook page. I'm love love loving the look of the Gioiello top but it looks complicated.

@NutellaEllaElla I have that pattern downloaded but haven’t actually made any 🙈 my ‘want to make’ list is spiralling out of control.
The version I have (the Full bust) doesn’t have written instructions but I’ve just watched the bow back section of the YouTube tutorial and it looks very thorough and clear.
If you’re reasonably confident sewing knits then I think you’d be ok. I’d maybe try it in a cotton elastane blend with the required stretch rather than anything with viscose though as I’ve found viscose knit slippery and shifty, prone to getting eaten by the sewing machine, and it didn’t have great recovery so bagged out while I was wearing it.

I just went to look at the instructions and it's unusual! Not your typical text and pictures but text and youtube sewalong video tutorials! I happen to be going in to Birmingham tomorrow so might swing by my fav fabric warehouse for some fabric . NOT THAT I NEED TO LINE UP ANOTHER PROJECT.
I have my cardigan to sew up hopefully this weekend.
Then a pencil skirt
Then a Rhapsody blouse
Then I have fabric which I had planned for pyjamas or another shirt dress but I couldn't decide.

So that's really plenty. But that top does look super cute

It does look super cute. And if you make the top version it would go very nicely with the pencil skirt you’re also making 😉
Is it Barry’s you’re going to in Birmingham? I’ve found some really nice stuff in there in the past.

Had my own skipped stitches drama, today. Cheap fabland cotton Jersey turned out to be at least part viscose, after a burn test. Never mind, perfect for the project. Feels quite nice, after a wash.

Machine wasn't having any of it, though. Frustrated, tried the gutermann extra fine hread I had bought for something else. Problem solved!

@SBAM

It does look super cute. And if you make the top version it would go very nicely with the pencil skirt you’re also making 😉 Is it Barry’s you’re going to in Birmingham? I’ve found some really nice stuff in there in the past.

Well that seals the deal! You're absolutely right .] Yes, I love Barry's and the knowledgable ladies there often steer me in the right direction when i'm about to do something stupid like choose wool when I need ponte.

Is viscose known to be tricky @PickAChew? I cluelessly bought a linen/viscose blend fabric for my mum's shirt dress and had to buy a walking foot to hold it together as it moved relentlessly.

Well Barry's came through for me again! The £2 a metre bin has had some proper bargains. I got a deep shimmery blue, and a ribbed black that looks like an off charcoal that was actually labelled dark green but it's hard to make that out. Anyway, I spent less than a tenner! DH was with me and started picking out fabric for a sport jacket but I told him that's not on my shortlist right now 😉😂

It's quite fluid, after a wash - was quite stiff, when I bought it. I haven't sewn with viscose for 30 years and never with viscose Jersey!

Not touching it, today, after a pretty disturbed night's sleep.

I bought some patterned viscose twill from Fabrics Galore last night - 50% off so £2.25/metre - going to use it for the Assembly Line Tulip dress although I haven't yet sewn with viscose so it might have me cursing. Also got a gorgeous printed viscose jersey from Lamazi Fabrics and am pondering the Kielo wrap jumpsuit with that.

Viscose is my favourite fabric but I hate sewing it and viscose jersey was particularly challenging. It’s worth it for the drape though

I will do lots of practice runs first! I've been wondering about a walking foot although it'll have to wait until payday.

I use Spray Starch by Dylon for viscose as it stiffens it. There are online recipes for making sure own but the aerosol spray is much finer than the spray bottles you use for that.

Not much happening on the sewing front here. DH was hospitalised with Covid for 11 days and got out yesterday. It's been a scary time but he's on the mend now, thankfully.

I have just bought a Cricut Joy in the Black Friday sales as an early Christmas present to myself so hoping to put my creative juices to designing patterns for that. OTOH might just become a fancy label maker.

I'd like to get some brushed cotton for PJ bottoms so having a look online for fabric.

Thanks for the spray starch tip! I know one of my fabrics is viscose Jersey and I already have some.

Gosh that is scary @Ulysses, glad he is home now.

What is a cricut machine? They seem to be very popular.

It's for cutting out things, so for making cards and vinyl for t-shirts/mug/labels. Some of the fancier models can cut out fabric too, even leather. I've bought a few personalised things on Etsy that have used them, like cake toppers for birthdays.

I've actually seen a better offer so I am now getting a bigger version for less money and more accessories. I think I may have gone a bit mad.

I've also purchased some checked brushed cotton for pjs. I've now got an idea for family PJs and using the Cricut to do a customised t-shirt us all. The past few weeks have been very hard and it's nice to do something that makes me happy and will hopefully bring a smile to everyone too, even if it's a bit naff.

I adore brushed cotton jammies

Glad your DH is on the mend, @Ulysses, that must have been terrifying.

I've never tried spray starch but I will give it a go. My Nova coat is turning out really well so far, although I should have done the back in a heavier fabric - I think the front (needlecord) will weigh it down on that sideso I might have to add an extra strip of heavier fabric on the inside to get it to hang properly. It's definitely going to be a wearable toile though, which is great.