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 .

I got 3 sewing patterns 😁

A hem gauge and a presser foot for elastic for me.

Hope everyone had a lovely day.

@NutellaEllaElla

I did a quick google and it said it used to be called the Sapporo coat, which i've heard of but why would they change the name? Weird.

There was a big hoo ha about cultural appropriation as they had called one of the patterns in that range "kimono" or something. They was a big made up scandal & "calling out", a public grovelling apology and a rename of the whole "offending" collection.

Nz has got extremely & aggressively woke in recent years and papercut got savaged & "educated". Bloody awful.

I love my Sapporo/nova jacket.

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. I've got a couple of weeks off now after a fairly hard-going couple of months and sewing is featuring in my R&R plans. I've bought the Closet Core Carolyn pyjama pattern and am going to make the bottoms in cosy flannel. My intentions to make Christmas PJs for my girls went to pot so I'll have a new pair for myself. If I get on okay I am going to splurge on fancy fabric. I'd love to make them in satin silk.

Wow Jackie, I had no idea. How pathetic honestly. The same thing happened on the Peppermint pattern website where they removed the "Kimono-style" robe citing cultural diversity, respect blah blah blah. It's the purity spiral bull isn't it...

Ooh satin silk would be super fancy Ulysses.

I won't be able to sew until my website is up and my photo album of the year is made.

Hi everyone, I feel like I'm proper part of the club now . Got a new Brother for Christmas with a sewing box and kit, just after spending another £100 on fabric and bits and bobs. I have sewn a few bits before, my daughters prom dress etc. But very little, and I think I am not particularly good at it, but love trying anyway! . My first project is going to be a new look leather (look) jacket that I've worn for years and loved. I took it apart to use it as a pattern, wish me luck!

Your first project is a blimmin jacket! Go you! `welcome to the club

Wow @GirlInterrupted that’s quite a challenge. I hope it goes well. Show us pictures 🙂

Will do, but only if it works out😁 if its a flop, I'll never return, don't think I can handle the shame😂

I’ve done it. I have just bought my first sewing machine 😀
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00DAY5PSU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8
No one told me that I would have to spend nearly as much as the cost of the sewing machine on essential items to start sewing with it (scissors, pin holder, some fat quarters, sewing ruler etc, etc) 😮

Welcome to the club Annie!

Oh yeah you're likely not done there either. There's always different feet and other stuff

Have fun Annie! Do you know what you are going to work on? Yeah, it can be a fairly expensive hobby when you take everything into account. The satisfaction you get from it is worth it though.

I've got my PJ bottoms cut out, the pattern matching has been a bit of a headache. I've spent the morning watching a You Tube sew along so I feel a bit more prepared. There's some techniques I haven't covered before - pattern has a fake front fly and there's piping which I've only done a couple of times before. The pattern can be done using French seams, which is nice as my sewing space is in a bit of a muddle and I can't be faffed getting my overlocker to finish them.

Thank you @GirlInterrupted and @Ulysses I plan to start with a bag - does everyone start with a bag? I’d welcome suggestions for beginners projects. I definitely don’t need any more cushions!

I finally have my house to myself again, so the sewing machine is set up ready for Thursday when I have a whole day set aside for sewing. I plan to make a toile of the Assembly Line Tulip dress but I might also make a couple of tops out of some leftover jersey.

Welcome @AnnieSnap to the wonderful world of spending money sewing!

When I ran a beginner's course for kids we made a pin cushion, a cushion cover (folds over and overlaps at the back), a needle book, a really easy cooking apron (used an IKEA one as a pattern!) a tote bag and a quilted table mat. The first 5 gave them practice at sewing straight (more or less!), turning a corner, French seams and how to sew bias binding on. So they are all nice, easy first projects which give you practice at useful things to know.

My sewing group are about to move on to using a pattern to make a Kimono style jacket in the New Year and I've just started making mine so I'm aware of any potential problem areas.

Which brings me to a question for more experienced sewers ( @Jins and @dubyalass and anyone else around!) that I've pondered on since starting sewing: When it tells you to stay stitch edges, does anyone actually do this? Does it make a significant difference to the finish?

I do, though I've no idea if it makes any difference! I think it's supposed to help stop stretching during construction (?) but I've never not bothered. Also I've never made the same garment more than once so couldn't compare and contrast, as it were.

I always stay stitch. If you have a fairly sturdy fabric you may get away without doing it but if you are using something like viscose then stay stitching makes a huge difference.

That's really helpful. Thanks! I'm using a quilting cotton, which is fairly sturdy, so I think I'll not bother this time. When I make it in a thinner fabric, I'll give it a go!

I like to stay stitch because it's one thing that I know I won't do wrong

Thank you @Tinuviel 🙂
What on earth is Stay Stitch?

It's a simple line of straight stitch close to the edge of a curve like a neckline or arm hole. It stops the fabric from stretching out once you've cut the fabric. Cutting the fabric at an angle (inc curves) makes it more likely to go out of shape.

@NutellaEllaElla I have watched enough Sewing Bee to totally get that!

Well, that was quicker than I expected! It's a bit wider than I expected, so I might go down a size when I make the next one but I'm happy with it. I have a 3rd fabric that I might use to make a fitted dress to wear under it, if I have enough!