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 wore entirely me-made clothes today (excluding underwear and shoes) and felt quite proud of myself! Met up with a friend who is also a keen sewist and we wandered around the shops saying "I could make that". I can't remember the last time I bought an item of clothing, but it would have been pre lockdown!

That's amazing @dubyalass! You should indeed feel proud.

So coming back to the Gioiello Bow top that I previously abandoned... I got frustrated with it because I was supposed to make my own binding from the same fabric and I have the little bias binding maker gadget to do it, but my fabric is so soft, it won't be pushed through. Any suggestions for that? I was wondering about using spray starch? It would then wash out wouldn't it?

You could try spray starch but if the bias binding maker isn’t working for you it’s easy enough to make it the old fashioned way. That’s easier with spray starch as well

Thanks @Jins. Does anyone else find that stretchy fabrics don't go through the machine so easily as woven? I'm finding it harder to sew straight and also, the top and bottom fabric move separately. I have a walking foot but my machine hates it and skips stitches very badly. I took it to the shop a while ago to find out why it was skipping stitches so badly and it stopped when we removed the walking foot unfortunately.

My local fabric shop told me about stretch seam stabilising tape and said it was brilliant stuff. I don't know if it works for hemming but it's supposed to be great on necklines and side seams. You iron it on.

I have found that finer jerseys are awful for skipped stitches, whereas slightly thicker ones are fine. I don't have a walking foot and manage ok on a standard machine with the more stable jerseys.

Phew, does anyone else find sewing a bit exhausting? I'm taking a break from intense concentration. I've created the bow back, finished the front including the neck binding and have attached the front and back. Now I just need to insert the sleeves in the round and hem it. It sounds so little that i've achieved! I've not even been at it for hours and hours but my brain is a little fried.

Yes, 100%! I love it but I find it tiring even though I'm barely moving. So much concentration required.

Blimey, you lot have been productive in the last few weeks. I feel quite smug that I have now fixed my overlocker - I completely forgot about one tiny hook that the first thread had to go through.

I have made some slide style espadrilles today in some funky llama fabric. A very quick project, but my God the needle is vicious. I actually don’t like them much. I think my skin is too pale to have pale slides, but I can easily replace the sewn portion.

@NutellaEllaElla on the contrary I think it sounds like you’re more than halfway done. I’d love to see a picture if you’d like to share, I’ve been wondering about adding the Gioello to my (ever expanding) sewing to-do list.
I agree with dubyalass, it’s mentally tiring sewing for myself. For me, something like kids leggings require no brain power but I think that’s because the seams are so short and I tend to make the same patterns repeatedly for children so I’m not having to read instructions.
Well done with the overlocker and the espadrilles @Wildernesstips I’m a bit scared of overlockers, luckily so far my machines been ok with whatever I’ve thrown at it so I don’t have to be brave and try one!

Sure @SBAM, i'm hoping to finish it on Friday. It's only another toile though (was hoping for a wearable toile but it's a low quality fabric so i'm not sure if it will be good enough) and also, i've realised i've chosen dark fabrics which I don't think show the bow detail very well, especially not in pictures. There's a curious lack of Instagram pics of this top as well, aside the official Briosa page. For the Mayfair dress, there's dozens and dozens of people who've made it and uploaded their makes. I was surprised not to find the same thing with this cute top. - Aha! I wondered if it might be because it's such a weird spelling, so searched for it using your misspelling (sorry! 😚) and found ONE person who'd made it and shown it off on Insta. Still strange.

Ah, there's a few more here www.instagram.com/explore/tags/briosapatterns/?hl=en-gb

@NutellaEllaElla whoops, seems like I should have chucked a few more vowels in 😜 I wonder if the small insta presence is down to the spelling or the fact that the Briosa Facebook group has almost shut down?

Yeah I dunno, I can't find the FB group anymore which is a shame cos I was looking the look of a shirred dress pattern as well.

My haul of patterns from the simple sew patterns website back issues clearance. I'll definitely plan on giving the maxi dress a go!

Nice one!

Ive just screwed up. Started cutting my size only to notice that the paper is printed both sides and I should have traced. I’m not convinced the Amena dress will go well.

Ah balls! It's a pain when they do that, and sometimes how some projects end up feeling cursed.

@NutellaEllaElla totally with you on the mental drain that sewing can sometimes present. Especially if it involves things like a new pattern, precious fabric and instructions that don't make sense. Sometimes the thinking element takes me way longer than the actual sewing. However I do like the way it helps distract me from other things and is a good way for me to switch off to work related stuff once I'm home.

Nice haul of patterns @kittykarate

Any idea which you'll prioritise?

I've just started a Closet Core Kalle shirt. Have got a cheap (but nice) polycotton to make a wearable toile. I'm following a sew along as I was struggling a bit with the instructions and so far it's going together beautifully. I did forget to do a wide shoulder adjustment but I'm hoping that's not going to be too much of a problem. Doing my first ever burrito style yoke too, which a year ago would have been way out of my league. Nice to be able to measure a bit of sewing skills progress (here's hoping I'm not speaking too soon!).

Hope everyone else is getting on Ok with projects and life in general.

@Jins that's a pain. Is the pattern recoverable or past that stage now?

I think I'm going to go for the Threadcount 2 in 1 Gathered Dress first - assuming that I can squeeze it out of 3m The lay chart claims 3.9m but I'm sure as I'm 5ft tall I won't need all of the tiers and the lay out looks very pessimistic.

When I can be bothered to order a zip, it'll be the Threadcount Flared Sleeve Dresses (without the gravy catching sleeves).

@toomuchlikemyusername completely unrecoverable. I managed to find one on marketplace but the magazine should still be in the shops. Annoying though, especially as I decided to make that rather than a similar dress that needed lots of pages sticking together.

Jins, I reckon it's a bit cheap of them to print double sided. It's unusual and inconvenient.

I have urges to make a co-ord set (first time I heard this phrase on sewing bee this year) Like this but I do wonder if the elastic waistbands will be unflattering.

That's frustrating Jins. I have a love hate relationship with patterns and tracing. I tend to do it based on sizes being unpredictable. But super annoying to cut one out and find it's double sided.

I've seen a lot of people making that set @NutellaEllaElla Looks great on others but a definite no-no for me. My belly needs to be kept away from the public gaze and I can do without the bulk of a completely elasticated waistband (but the comfort factor must be fabulous!)

My Kalle shirt is coming along well. A very satisfying sew with lots of top stitching. Bottom facings have been a bit of a challenge but happy with it as a first attempt. I will size up and lengthen even more for the next version but this one will be wearable. Still time to screw it up with the buttonholes tho 😂

Ooh I hadn't thought of checking Instagram for other people's makes until your post so thanks for reminding me toomuchlikemyusername. I am phobic about showing my midriff too but it being high waist and just a little peek feels a bit better. I think the success of it would absolutely hinge on the fabric. And I do like the idea of a funky comfy holiday outfit.

I agree @toomuchlikemyusername the Saguaro set looks fantastic on others but I’m just not sure it would flatter my shape. I think @dubyalass was planning on making one though Nutella

@Jins I hate the double sided printing too, such a faff to be tracing things. The BHL Jenna was a magazine freebie so it was printed double sided and the front skirt was on two pieces as it’s wide. It almost put me off bothering to make it.
Saying that I prefer print yourself PDFs over printed patterns anyway as I can always print another copy if I stuff up alterations or lose a bit.

Is there a more flattering way of doing an elastic waistband that doesn't look so much like pyjamas?