Stitch and bitch thread #4 I needle the help I can get.

[NutellaEllaElla]

Continuing our supportive little group until we run out of material

Hello, can I join please? I have just got back into sewing after a 20 year lay off. Currently making clothes for an upcoming holiday. So far made 5 tops, a pair of trousers and a pair of shorts.

The top does look a bit like scrubs but hopefully will look okay when on.

Having seen them mentioned on here I have ordered some batik fabric from poundametre so I am hoping it will be okay.

Welcome GnomeDePlume ! I wish there was a mid ground between 'easy sewing that looks like scrubs' and "how many fucking buttons??'

I'm hoping that batik fabric will reduce some of the scrubs look.

In the interests of domestic economy I keep re-using the same pattern. I am hoping that by around the 10th top I will have got my head round the instructions.

Welcome GnomeDePlume. I’ve looked at that batik print a few times and one day I’ll succumb. Abakhan had a big bin of it next to the till the other day and if there’d been any in bluey teal shades I’d have handed them my bankcard.

Test fit of shirt on DH went well. No amendments to the fit required. So just four buttonholes and a bit of creative bodging on the facings and we’re good to go.

I’ve still no idea how the bottom of the placket is supposed to go together but the raw edges are now covered with bias binding

Hello all
I fell off this thread about a month ago thanks to a holiday and a sewing hiatus when I got back. Just caught up on the thread and had a genuine chuckle at @kittykarate comment about scrubs and buttons. So very true!

Anyway, have started a Safiya play suit from TATB for DD. She has 3 already which she wears endlessly in the summer so I thought I'd make her another one (inspired by last week's lovely weather, but not seeming so appropriate in today's freezing conditions!) while I ponder what to make next for myself (hopefully from my stash).

Printed sewing instructions make no sense until after you have worked out what to do on your own. Then you glance at the instructions and think 'oh, I see what that weird diagram was showing'.

@GnomeDePlume

Printed sewing instructions make no sense until after you have worked out what to do on your own. Then you glance at the instructions and think 'oh, I see what that weird diagram was showing'.

This is so so true. With no experienced friends or relatives, thank God for the internet.

100%! I'm so grateful for people who do sewalong videos or provide photo instructions. Written instructions just don't work for me, especially the sparse ones from the big 4.

I've got two more V neck scrubs/summer tops cut out, ready to sew this weekend.

The problem I am having is finding good plus size patterns. In shop sizes I'm a 26.

@GnomeDePlume it’s worth looking at the independent designers for plus sizes. All the indie pattern houses I’ve bought from go up to 3XL and some to 5XL. The hassle of sticking pages together is outweighed by better instructions, more options and better fit as well.

If you like woven patterns and you’re sewing for a holiday there are some possibilities on Love Notions. Hopefully the link goes to woven patterns
www.lovenotions.com/product-category/ladies-patterns/woven

Winter wear designs aren’t bad either and patterns are cheap as chips. Link goes to the up to 5XL patterns
www.winterweardesigns.com/collections/womens-patterns-up-to-size-5x-30

Sinclair patterns have height options which helps get a good fit. My favourite trousers pattern is poppy pants from Sinclair. I’ve made them smart, I’ve made them casual, I’ve turned them into shorts….
sinclairpatterns.com/

All the indie pattern houses seem to have a weekly special offer too and most have a couple of free patterns as a taster.

Peppermint magazine has an archive of free patterns and they generally have a wide range of sizes
peppermintmag.com/sewing-school/

I could go on forever but I’ll stop now 😂

Try Cashmerette for plus size patterns; Gertie/Charm Collective also has lots of options if you like the vintage look. The Fold Line online shop has a huge collection of indie and big 4 although I find their search function doesn't work very well. They do a monthly YouTube video on the latest pattern releases and always cover size ranges.

Muna and Broad focus on plus size patterns, not sure what size they start at but they go way beyond a 26. I'll have a think but I'd say the Fold Line is as good a place as any to start!

Jalie cover 2 years old up to euro 56/US 22-24 in their recent 'straight sized' patterns, and are bringing out a further expanded size range for newer designs.

@Jins
@dubyalass
@kittykarate
Thank you, thank you, thank you

My sewing for the weekend, Jalie Bella dress in stretch velvet. Easy to make pattern smaller size range as it's part of their dance wear range. You can add a leotard inside so you don't flash your knickers at the judges if you do a high kick ( I skipped that)

Very nice, it's a lovely fit!

I've finished a pair of Tessuti Demi trousers (no photo yet, will take one tomorrow). I've also almost finished their Alice top, but the sleeves are causing me a headache so I might have to attempt a bit of a fudge. Leaving it till tomorrow because I'm tired and just getting irritated by it. Nobody else seems to have reported an issue with making them fit so I wonder if I've sewn too small a seam allowance or something.

That's lovely dress Kitty.

I bought the tencel twill from Merchant and Mills I linked to upthread. I thought it would be a khaki green but it's more a deeper, forest green so it's not quite the look I had in mind. The perils of online shopping. Annoyingly there seems to be a fade mark along the crease where I've hung it up to dry and I'm hoping it comes out.

It does feel lovely though and I'm going to make the Olive jumpsuit by Untitled Thoughts. I've made them twice before but on both occasions the relatively cheap fabric has frayed especially on the straps. I am going to widen these. I'm off from Thursday till after Easter Monday so hoping to get some sewing done before getting away for a few days.

@kittykarate very good dress! The fit looks amazing.

I finished two more scrubs/tops over the weekend. Following recommendations here I have downloaded a pattern from Muna and Broad for a shirt. I have some unbleached calico which I have washed and dried to use for this.

@kittykarate very good dress! The fit looks amazing.

I finished two more scrubs/tops over the weekend. Following recommendations here I have downloaded a pattern from Muna and Broad for a shirt. I have some unbleached calico which I have washed and dried to use for this.

Lovely dress Kitty!

Some great projects on the go by the sound of things. I’m still trying to reduce my stash but inspiration isn’t rushing my way at the moment. I’m going to have a break before tackling the final version shirt for DH in the hope that fresher eyes will understand the placket instructions better.

So does anyone have any suggestions for jersey advertised as stretchy but actually barely has 10%?

If it's got that little stretch then I'd be digging in my woven top pattern stash for something that isn't very structured (because we know buttons will still ping open in the little stretch it has) - something with a tshirt shape like jalie.com/products/gisele-round-neck-blouse-sewing-pattern or the Merchant and Mills merchantandmills.com/store/patterns/paper/the-tee-shirt/

Next up in my sewing box is the TatB Dungarees pattern. I'm 5ft tall so in about a months time I'll be uploading a picture where I look like either a telly tubby or a grumpy toddler.

I was thinking about using a woven pattern as well. I’ll give it a wash and see if it drapes.

Looking like a tellytubby or a grumpy toddler is a look that could work for me

Ooh, another member of the tellytubby club - I’ve just started dungarees too (waves&wild heydays in indigo denim) I’m 5ft8 but I reckon I’ll still look like a toddler. I’m hoping they’ll be good for gardening though.

My New Years resolution has been well and truly broken. Popped in Abakhan to get 2m plush elastic. Came out with a bag full of swimwear Lycra, proper stretchy jersey and some cotton for linings.

The Lycra was a semi planned purchase as I’ve just been given a paddleboard and the idea of standing up in a swimsuit was horrifying so I decided to make some Capri length leggings. Then I saw some patterned Lycra that went with it so I’ll be making a top of some sort. I picked up the E&M floral dreams tank when it was reduced and that might work.

Not wanting to enable you further @Jins , but have you got a pattern for a rashguard? There's one in the Sew Your Own Activewear book, but there's also an option for one on the Surf to Summit pattern. blog.fehrtrade.com/gallery/964/surf-to-summit-top-surfing-rashguard-version/

Also Jalie (among others) do one jalie.com/products/valerie-swim-shirts-rashguards-sewing-pattern, but if you just want a top without faffy zips, it looks like any tight raglan t shirt would work.

I don’t have a rashguard pattern but it looks easy enough to adapt a raglan pattern which I do have. I’m more likely to throw a basic oversized tee over whatever I’m wearing if needed. Midriff disguise is critical. I’m a fairly strong swimmer although much slower in open water so I’m not too worried about swimming with layers of looser clothing.

I’m very much fair weather only for water sports in the UK as I can’t bear wetsuits and neoprene.

You have enabled me a little bit as I’m busy putting Jalie patterns in my basket