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

[NutellaEllaElla]

Continuing our supportive little group until we run out of material

I’ve done a toile of the Mirri and would suggest that you check the length from neck to crotch before you cut it out - I am tall but short in the body and I still need to add a couple of inches to the rise. Pretty easy to sew though.

In case anyone is interested the Ballad blouse is reduced to $5 for feature Friday.

I’m waiting for a few bits of haberdashery to finish a few projects so rather than start my shorts I’ve made a sleeveless cadence blouse out of one of my mum’s summer skirts. Thrifty and sentimental 🤣

I need to stick pattern pieces together before I go much further down my to do list. I’ve got 4 printed out and haven’t found the energy

The jumpsuit chat reminds me of the v9075 jumpsuit I made out of lawn cotton, which was just too short in the rise and gave me a hungry bum. Lawn cotton wasn't a great choice in the first place but that missing 2cm or so made it practically unwearable. I still have it in mind to change it into a dress as there was a lot of fabric in the culotte trousers.

I'm getting into holiday mode and I'm going to be going through my existing clothes to see what needs to fixed and mended. I've sorted an H&M t-shirt that I bought in the most beautiful green shade into something much more flattering this morning. I had to redo the neckline as well which was a faff. I've found a playsuit that I made up about 4 sizes too big as I cut out the wrong size obliviously. It was practically finished before I realised my error and it such a nice fabric that I'm hoping to fix it this weekend.

Happy sewing everyone.

Place marking

Can everyone please give me a (gentle) kick up the bottom to get on with my project?
I cut the pieces for my Jenna top, then I’ve started cutting shorts for my son and printing and taping a T-shirt pattern and a jumpsuit pattern.
I’m putting it off because I’m nervous about stretching the neckline, having wonky darts and handling the bias ‘skirt’ portion properly.

I have a lovely piece of heavy -ish crepe fabric, three metres of it, in navy blue with white stars on it. ( Thank you Pound a Metre)

What shall I make with it? Dress? Jumpsuit? Flippy maxi skirt?

I just can't decide!

SBAM gentle kick.
If you don't do it, you'll never know, and it could quite well be fabulous!

I've made another dress using New Look 6096, which has turned out well. I made the maxi version of A. As before I altered the way I did the top, so it's lined but managed to cut the lining of the sleeve while I was trimming the seam allowance! I fudged it and it looks fine! I also did my first rolled hem, which mostly went well! The variety of feet on my new sewing machine is fantastic!

I'm now making DD a short version of the jumpsuit I made a while back in a nice cotton, ready for our holiday. I also need to do a quick alteration to a dress I bought in a sale at H & M last year - it's too much of a plunging neckline but I think I'll be able to join the seams with a satin stitch.

Progress to report with the denim shorts - all cut out, markings transferred and ready to start as soon as I can change thread in the machines tomorrow.

Haberdashery arrived so I finished the Barrett bralette. The powermesh lining makes the seams much less bulky but the Lycra lining seems more comfortable somehow. I’m really impressed with how supportive it is, I didn’t really expect much in the way of support

I'm the world's slowest sewist but what about challenging yourself to do 15 minutes of it. Do you have an occasion you can wear it to?

Ooh nice, it sounds if it heavy weight it might be more suitable as autumn/winter wear. I like jumpsuits and with 3 metres you've got more than enough.

I'm altering a T&TB Seren dress I made a few years back in a rush before going on holiday. It's needing a lot of tidying up and I've managed to find a piece of left over fabric to make a new waistband. I also need to shorten the shoulder straps and hem the skirt properly. I've overlocked it but didn't get as far as hemming it. It's a viscose so I might try a rolled hem. I think some of the buttons could do with adjusting too. The perils of doing things in a rush.

@FuzzyPuffling your crepe sounds lovely, I think I’d go for a jumpsuit for autumn/winter - something elegant but everyday.
@Ulysses I’m impressed that you’re fixing things - I always have the best intentions but things languish. Fixing just isn’t as fun as making.

You’re both right, it could turn out great, I have no real reason to think it won’t and we have a family party at the end of July and I love wearing handmade when I see my grandma as she’s the only other family member who sews. So, I will make a start today!

@Jins perfect weather for denim shorts, let’s hope it sticks around once your are finished!
@Tinuviel gorgeous pattern! And we’ll done on the rolled hem, I found it tricky when I tried one to keep things feeding evenly through the foot.

Thank you SBAM and good luck!

So I ditched all my housework plans today and spent about 5 hours sewing, and it’s more than halfway done (joining Ulysses in the slow sewing club - couldn’t be on sewing bee as I’d never finish a thing in the timescales they have).
Just a zip and hem and a bit of internal finishing to do! Thanks for the encouragement 😊

My Sewjo has returned, I made a pair of linen shorts (with patch pockets) for the summer, and the skirt bit of a Halloween dress. I don't use patterns, so the bodice will need some thinking about.

@SBAM gorgeous fabric and style!
Short jumpsuit is finished and she's happy with it! It's a bit big on the back and I might fiddle with it when we get back but it's fine for now. Just my plunging front dress to sort out tomorrow (along with a thousand other jobs round the house!)

That looks fab @SBAM ! It works really well as a top (unless I'm mistaken and it is a very short dress!) You might find that you could do without a zip like I did. The first one I made with it and realised I never actually needed to use it and could pull it over my head so I omitted it the second time.

My mending has flummoxed me in several ways but getting there now. I also ordered more cotton double gauze from PoundFabric and it came yesterday. I'm not sure whether to make another Saguaro set for my holiday or a pair of pjs instead because the material is so comfy and get more wear out of the them.

Well done on getting your @InMySpareTime. Im curious that you don't use patterns. How does that work? I'd love to be a more adventurous with my sewing. I'd also love four hour of uninterrupted sewing - it's the stuff my dreams are made of!

@Ulysses I spent a while pulling apart old clothes before ragging them, and learned the sort of fabric shapes that make up garments, then I just started trying stuff.
I have the sort of mind that can put flat things together in 3D so I just sort of imagine the whole thing together and make it.
I am only 5ft tall, so have done a lot of adjusting bought clothes to make them fit.
Once you've taken a bit of the middle out of a dress so the waist hangs in the right place you get a fair idea how dresses are constructed.
Don't get me wrong, I've made some terrible garments too, but I love having (even terrible) clothes that actually fit me, and not those Amazonian flat-chested giants that shops seem to design for.

I struggle with the 3D concept so I think that's marvellous that you can do that.It's a real skill. I'm 5'4" and some stuff is ridiculously long on me so get that. I bought a vest top and it needs at least 2 inches taken up at the shoulders so it sits higher. The armholes show half my bra!

I'm the other way round! I'm 5'8" and size 14 so not excessively tall ( you'd think), but broad boned and long limbed, so waistlines are always too high, sleeves and legs too short, rises too short etc etc. I think that's why I make things, so I can get a better fit.

I'm a pattern follower, but sometimes fiddle about...adding sleeves or combining two patterns or using existing clothes as a draft. Definitely not clever enough to make from nothing! That always impresses me.

Sounds like we’re a similar height and proportion @FuzzyPuffling and it was definitely a quest to get things to fit my height (&bust) that got me sewing. It does make me overly critical of the fit of clothing in shops though.

@Tinuviel thank you. I hope your daughter is appreciative of her custom jumpsuit!

I’m in awe of people who can just draft patterns like that @InMySpareTime Was it Chinelo on sewing bee a few seasons ago who did the incredible freehand cutting?

@Ulysses i was a fan of skimpy outfits when younger but even then this would definitely have been a top and not a dress😁 I cut 5cm below the hip notches, and I might hem with a bias binding facing to maintain length. It’s quite form fitting around the waist so I’m pretty sure I’ll need a zip but I don’t mind putting one in. Haven’t done one in ages so I could use the practice.
A double gauze Saguaro set sounds lovely, do you follow purplesewingcloud on Instagram - she’s posted a lovely one recently.

I've mended my dress and added a new waistband, repositioned the shoulder straps and made them shorter and have made a rolled hem of the skirt. It's a viscose challis so really lightweight and drapey and a fiddly fabric to work with. I really could have done with some spray starch. I need to add in a button hole now and a button for the waistband, but if I could really be bothered I would change all of them but there's 15 I think so that's unlikely. I'm wearing a pair of shorts I made last year and need to move the button over, so going to get that out of the way too.

I haven't seen purple sewing clouds stuff but she has lovely makes. I think I am going to make the Saguaro top and shorts this time, and I might have enough leftover to make a plain camisole top, bit like the Ogden Cami but without the facing and wider straps.

I ended up changing the thread on the buttons on my dress from white to red and it's much better. Such a little detail has made a big difference. I'm glad I've taken the time to fix it.

Oh that’s such a cute dress