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

[NutellaEllaElla]

Continuing our supportive little group until we run out of material

That is a lovely dress.

I’m moving slowly with the denim shorts but really enjoying them. It makes a big change from sewing viscose! I’m trying the allegro pattern from love notions as I decided I couldn’t be bothered with a yoke. I think the denim may be a bit thick in two layers for the elasticated waist so I’ll probably use a lining fabric

Super cute dress Ullysses

Lovely dress Ulysses. Makes me wish I was young enough and slim enough!

Hello all, delighted to find this thread! I have recently picked my cross stitch again, made some first forays in embroidery and AND made a zippered cushion with some old fabric that I had saved for about five years. I have an old sewing machine that I recently got serviced - it can see a seam and I don't understand most of the existing (limited) functions so assume I don't need a new one yet!

Looking forward to seeing with you all.

theold my sewing machine is also pretty basic. For some reason I can't get the one step buttonhole facility to work ( it's not broken, the repair man managed it fine) so forwards, back and zig zag is about my limit. But you know what? That's quite enough to make things!

I’m struggling with my shorts. Not because of the sewing but because DS2 keeps looming and wrecks my concentration.

I’ve just tidied the seams with the overlocker and discovered the looper tension is wrong. That’s DS2’s fault

I should probably have a look at my sewing machine's manual and see what it actually does!

Gah, is it just me or does MN like to refresh when you’ve written a fair chunk of a post? Annoying.
Anyway, I was saying that I’ve had a great day! It’s rare that I’m left alone on a weekend, but DH is away and I’d made no other plans to see anyone so I got to spend today exactly as I pleased. Glorious, I must do it more often. So I walked, did hot yoga then spent half a day sewing. My pencil skirt is so close to being finished I can almost touch it. I had to take in the skirt and lining substantially. The lining is all attached now. The waistband is half on, I’ve mostly got dreaded hand sewing to do. I’m so excited to be finally making moves towards finishing it now. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

@Jins, I’m sorry to hear your DS interferes so much with your overlocker. Such a nuisance!

Any sewing bee fans like me who loved Wednesday's Japan week may be interested that Japan Crafts a UK Japanese craft and material store have 10% off until tonight. I've just ordered material for 2 kimonos. I made a kimono for my son 2 years ago but then got the material from Spoonflower in the US.

The kimonos on that site are beautiful Rebecca. I bought Japanese cotton fabric a few years but haven't found a use for it. It's only a metre and is quite thick so would perhaps make a simple skirt. It's got a beautiful print of cranes on it and is distinctively Japanese looking.

I've just got the waistband to put on my shorts. It requires two button holes to pull a drawstring through and I've put sewed the first one on horizontally instead of vertically so am having to carefully unpick that. I think that is one of the worst sewing fails to do. I am still using my old machine and I'm missing the one step button hole maker, this is a four step one. It's okay though and I bought one of those 20 sewing feet packs off amazon and its amazing that the right foot can make all the difference. If you've ever swithered about buying them I would recommend it. I've got various rolled hem feet, edge stitchers, stitch in the ditch and an assortment of others that I've not tried yet for the cost of a single branded foot for about £20. They work fine for both my modern Brother and old Janome machines.

Ulysses I didn't know about multi packs of feet I'm off to look. They sound great. ( If they'd fit on my elderly Toyota)

I didn't either. I am not a fan of hand sewing and the instructions for the waistband of my pencil skirt say to hand sew and I think that would be a stitch in the ditch situation, but it seems there may be a foot for that? Interesting.

I'm not a fan of kimonos myself but I did love the origami challenge.

@FuzzyPuffling if your elderly Toyota is like mine they will definitely fit. The only things they won’t fit are the extremely elderly machines.
@NutellaEllaElla there is definitely a stitch in the ditch foot. Very useful indeed.

I spent a lovely evening hand finishing my shorts ready to put the waistband on today. They are too big but when the waistband goes on I think they’ll be ok, even if I only wear them at home

@NutellaEllaElla This is a stitch in the ditch foot. It came with my Brother machine so you may well have it already. It great for waistbands.

@Ulysses OMG I have one!! Thank you for suggesting I look, this is very exciting 😊

You’re welcome! Do you have another one with a G on it. Thats the edge foot, also v. handy.

Spent yesterday cutting out fabric for the McCall's 7910 after I fiddled with the fit (added rise etc). Using a cheap stretch knit from Poundametre and it's very heavy and difficult to sew! But just discovered that my machine has a lightning stitch which is great, although it takes longer to sew a seam that way. Not convinced that the fabric is going to do me any favours - suspect it will hug all my lumps and bumps rather than skimming them, but it's just a wearable toile so who cares! Also got a pair of Lander shorts to cut out as a test for making the trousers.

Finished the Chai tee from Liesl & Co and it's rather neat on the waist and hips, annoyingly. Going to call it a test run and have adjusted the pattern pieces for a bit more room from waist down. I can wear it, but I feel a bit fat in it!

The waistband is ON! Now just to hem and attach hook and eye.

That stitch in the ditch foot is marvellous, thanks to this thread that I discovered a. that one exists and b. that it came with my machine.

Jealous!! 😁

I just discovered a little box that came with the machine (that my MIL kindly gave me years ago) - thought it just had spare bobbins in it but it has at least 4 different presser feet :0

I've finished my pencil skirt! Yay.

Well done @NutellaEllaElla

Ifaintly remember a discussion on spray starch a while back, DH mistakenly online ordered me 6 cans instead of 1 so I haven’t needed to buy it in ages, but for those who were looking for the Dylon one Wilko stock it.

Jumpsuit bodice an absolute disaster! Let's just say "sideboob" and leave it at that. I think it is partly the fabric and partly the fit. So some adjustments to be made there!

To make myself feel better I made another Chai tee - this one a bit bigger on the hips/waist than the first one. Fits much better and I'm really pleased with it.

I’m glad everyone is find their sewing feet treasure!

The Vhai tee is lovely @dubyalass, it’s a really nice pattern. Might need to invest in it myself.

i got the Saguaro top finished in a flash, the shorts are proving a disaster. I’m now on waistband number 4 I think and it’s fortunate that I bought enough fabric with a plan to make another top as it’s getting used up on my failures. I think I’ll put it away for now. And take a few deep breathes.