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

[NutellaEllaElla]

Continuing our supportive little group until we run out of material

They look lovely @SBAM. I'm making good progress with my jumpsuit but would like something sturdier for doing jobs and they look like they would fit the bill. I'd probably wear them all the time though.

I'm still waiting on my dungaree pattern and material, so I made no sewing progress this week. I did finish a crochet garment that was supposed to be a jumper but came out hilariously large, so is now a big over tunic with short sleeves. Despite my best efforts with the washing machine it hasn't shrunk any.

That is true @Jins. I suspect I would be the same. The machine I have is quite new, a hobbycraft basic but I keep seeing the machines with their 200 stitches and I cast covetous eyes on them.

@GnomeDePlume I think it takes a while to decide what you really want from a machine although coveting is absolutely fine too

My wish list was needle threader, thread cutter, lightning stitch, adjustable stitch length and width and one step buttonhole. I had a thread cutter on my Toyota but didn’t spot it in over 20 years until the day I packed it up ready for the new one. I’m still to try the needle threader but have used the other must haves and I’ve played with embroidery stitches and wondered where the hell I’d use them.

My hobbycraft basic is fine for lightweight fabrics but I am not sure it would be up to something like denim. But then do I want a heavy duty but functionally basic machine.

Dammit I want to be able to sew ducks, trucks and flowers on things!

I know what you mean. I was looking at the necchi in hobbycraft before I bought my computerised one and it didn’t offer much more than I already had in stitches.

Mine doesn’t have ducks and trucks but it has all the flowers, hearts and leaves you could wish for and letters of the alphabet should I wish to use them. So far I’ve not needed to

No, I can't think of an actual use for letters, ducks etc but the opportunity would be fun.

My pond a metre batik fabric has arrived. Pretty much true to the pictures. It is lightweight but good for summer tops.

• pound a metre

My pound a metre also arrived today - I got the same not-at-all-power mesh as a previous poster (it might end up being a dress up skirt for a friend's bairn). The lycra www.poundametre.com/products/3-metres-super-smooth-printed-jersey-fabric-55-colour-blend?_pos=23&_sid=479b2b949&_ss=r seems reasonable quality, though I'm going to have to careful with pattern placement to stop it looking like smoke-crotch and dirty bum if I use it for leggings.

It’s definitely not power mesh is it? The Ivory I presume?

Well I’ve thrown together my long cycling shorts in swimwear. I’m pleased with the fit, adding the gusset was a good call bearing in mind the use but the fabric is too stretchy for the waistband and I should have made it smaller. Any ideas? I’d prefer not to cut it off as the rise isn’t generous and I don’t think I have enough to cut another

How much is it too big by? If it's only a couple of cm can you put 2 darts into the waistband? That's what I do with trousers that are too big around my sway back. Or maybe dart in at the side seams? It won't be quite as secure as a smaller waistband, but should hold up.

Do you have a suitable waistband on a pair of running shorts or similar?

It’s not too big by much. I’m just worried they’ll fall down when wet. Darts in the back is a good call as I’m a bit sway backed.

I’m also thinking about putting a tie belt somewhere/somehow

@GnomeDePlume. Running shorts? I don’t comprehend 😂

I've also done the 'emergency bootlace' option with a pair of Under Armour leggings that seemed to be suffering from higher gravity than other clothes. They had a double layer waistband, so it was just a case of cutting 2 holes for the lace on the inside and threading it through.

😀

Make sure that the drawstring isn't cotton, if the knot gets wet it will set like concrete and you will have to wear the shorts forever

Aww, thanks all 😊
They’re a 6.5oz indigo denim from Dalston Mill Fabrics (the source of all my recent stash building - super accurate descriptions and everything I’ve bought has been very good quality)
@GnomeDePlume (I think it was you who asked) I have a Janome CMX30, it’s about 7 years old now and I’m still really happy with it. It’s dealt with denim, stretch fabrics and quilting.

I would like to learn to sew, I dont have a machine. Just really fancy having a go at something easy! Unfortunately I am not blessed with any artistic genes and crafty things do not come naturally to me. Hobbycraft offer classes, not sure if that is the best option

@sandwiches77 Have a look at LizzyCurtis.com. She does patterns with tutorials for as low as £1 (MIMs) These are, mostly, made in an hour or less. Great little makes that have boosted my confidence.

@sandwiches77 there are quite a few youtube videos on good projects to start with. Maybe start with something like a tote bag?

www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+sew+a+tote+bag+for+beginners

@SBAM thank you

I haven't tried the hobbycraft courses but I did some at Abakhan and they were very useful. The ones I did relied on some sewing machine knowledge, but I'm sure they did some beginners ones.

@Jins

It’s definitely not power mesh is it? The Ivory I presume?

Well I’ve thrown together my long cycling shorts in swimwear. I’m pleased with the fit, adding the gusset was a good call bearing in mind the use but the fabric is too stretchy for the waistband and I should have made it smaller. Any ideas? I’d prefer not to cut it off as the rise isn’t generous and I don’t think I have enough to cut another

Could you cut a little buttonhole into the back of the waistband and thread some wide elastic through? I do that with my grandson's leggings when they slide down.

@PerseverancePays that’s another option. I’d discounted it initially as it’s not swimwear elastic but after a night’s sleep I’ve realised that they are for paddleboard use and won’t be going near chlorine.

I’m going to experiment with making a tie belt from the offcuts today as that’s the least invasive option and if that doesn’t work then it’s emergency bootlace or wide elastic inside.

Or I could put weight on.

Where is this magical chlorine resistant elastic in the UK? I'm making swimsuits for my granddaughters that have some decent 'coverage' and all I can find is an occasional small package at ridiculous expense? Sorry to grump, swimsuits for little girls give me the rage.

Fabricland has several widths in white
fabricland.co.uk/product/elastic-swimwear-6mm-wide/

I got clear elastic from eBay but I haven’t used it yet
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLEAR-FRAMILON-ELASTIC-AVAILABLE-6mm-lingerie-swimwear-knitted-or-jersey-garment-/313328337902?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I think it's something that you'd need to shop around for - Hemline and Prym both do clear swimwear elastic, varying widths, usually 3m lengths. It works out about £1 a metre for the packaged stuff. Hemline also do a woven swimwear elastic, but I've never found that for sale in bulk sizes anywhere.

You can get big reels of clear elastic on Amazon and also on ebay. I often find that Ebay can be really good for haberdashery as there is so much more choice, but it's not always the fastest for delivery.