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 guess I could measure them both and get them to match up?

Has everyone melted? [Grin]
Not much time for sewing this weekend but I'm still hoping to finish my Saguaro top if I can

I can't use my sewing room until the heat breaks, it has a massive south facing window and gets too hot. I've had the curtains shut all day and the window open all night and it's still topping 30 in there.

Yes it’s the same in my sewing room. There are things I want to be getting on with but it’s just too hot.

I’m making good use of my recently made shorts and I need a couple more camis 🤣

Not quite melted but my poor plants are all scorched and droopy. I’m really looking forward to this rain that’s forecast.
No sewing time for me recently as I’ve been away - very pleased about how much me-made my kids are wearing but I don’t think I wore anything home-made the whole holiday.
I will be rectifying this, but I don’t want to rush into making something that doesn’t actually suit me (like the dungarees that I’ve only worn twice. I look like an overgrown toddler in them).

Oh, and about your top - if the waistband is elasticated then I’d just trim it to be the right size once you’re happy with the wrap sections.

Making steady progress with my Ilford coat. It's in denim so much use has been made of the foot lifter gadget to get over large seams. Thank you so much for that tip!

I know it is supposed to be a relaxed fit but it has come up enormous! I will be able to wear all the clothes I own under it in winter!

Still to do are buttons/buttonholes and pockets. I am on a new sewing machine so doing lots of buttonhole practice before I commit.

I will say that this is not the weather to be sitting with large amounts of fabric in your lap even with the ceiling fan going full blast!

We have rain! And I have a day off so all good for getting stuck into some sewing. I’m making PJs in lawn cotton.

I’ve cut out the pieces and I’m going to work on the piping first. I’ve had to make bias binding using quilting cotton to colour match the fabric and I hope it’s not too bulky. My other option is to make it flat so I’m going to test it first. I’ve heard it can be a challenge making sure the the flat piping is sewn evenly which is putting me off it.

What is this 'rain' you speak of?

I understand now. We have rain as well!

Ah we finally have some proper rain now too!

I have fought with my fabric at the waistband, unpicked etc but I have been victorious in the end! I am so close to completing the outfit now.

No rain for me yet, despite storms promised since Sunday. My craft is being disrupted.

I've bitten the bullet and re-cracked open a new pattern, one I've attempted to toile and then gave up on it for 8 months as it seemed I was too large.

Anyway I've lost 1st and re-read the pattern and actually it would have fit all along (I'm currently a small size 14 in RTW). You fit it from the hip measurement rather than the waist measurement apparently!

So I'm now halfway making the I AM sunshine jeans in a dark red/wine corduroy in the balloon style. Its got belt loops so if I do lose a little more weight it will hopefully still fit.

Some of the I Am patterns are a bit out there but those look like a nice pair of jeans, @pastabest

My one foray into jeans making went swimmingly until. I fell foul of the fabric not having enough stretch. I will have to try again, some time, as I really need some stud free jeans (allergic)

@PickAChew I picked up some charcoal grey denim from pound fabrics. It has a reasonable amount of stretch and was £4/m. I recommend it.

Work is going to start on my sewing room this week. DH is going to make me a 1m by 1.5m table with storage underneath. Wood has been ordered and DH has tidied his garage/workshop in preparation. It will be lovely to sew without having to put everything away because the dining table is wanted.

It's French isn't it I AM? Certainly I've had to translate nearly all the reviews on Instagram.

I'm making good progress with it, I only get about 2 hours here and there to do any sewing so it's always satisfying when something takes shape quickly. I've done the back legs and pockets and the coin pockets for the front.

Next... zips and flys (eek)

Lovely topstitched pockets there @pastabest

No sewing for me as DH enters week 10 post op and is starting to get bored. Days out are ok but we actually had lunch in Abakhan yesterday and I didn’t bother going into the fabric section at all 😥

Gorgeous cat, @kittykarate ! And lovely colour, @pastabest .
@Jins going to Abakhan and not going into the fabric section? Isn't that illegal or something?
I've been too busy to do any sewing recently but I've managed to do some more crochet on my blanket (and trying to get DD to finish her bits of it!)

Gorgeous colour and very neat, @pastabest 👍

Wow @pastabest that looks beautifully neat, I would ruin that pocket with my wobbly top stitching! I've recently used the stitch in the ditch foot for edge stitching and that's saved my bacon at times.

@kittykarate I absolutely have a thing for big fat ginger cats! I love them 😍 Did s/he inspire your name?

@Jins Are you ok? Should we be worried?

@GnomeDePlume Lucky you having a bespoke handmade sewing table underway! Is your DH quick with these sorts of projects or are you likely to die waiting?

Honestly, I don't know why this Saguaro top hates me, but I bent my last fine needle securing the waistband in place today. I wondered if it objected to a) being a fine needle sewing through elastic or b) me stretching it out as I went putting pressure on it. I have bought more needles and finished that bit so when i'm not tired, I just have hemming the sleeves to do and the outfit will be complete. I have already decided to make shortie PJs out of the substantial remnants and hopefully doing my first Ogden cami!

I agree with PPs that really is top notch stitching and a beautiful colour @pastabest .

@NutellaEllaElla that is frustrating with the needles.

I have high hopes of DH. He does tend to crack on with DIY projects. He also has the incentive of getting my clutter out of the way. I have rather taken over the dining table.

I'm thinking ahead to winter and I know I've been wanting to recreate this Sezane short sleeve top but with long sleeves. Does anyone have any advice on how to do that?

If you have another top with good length sleeves, turn it inside out and use it to extend the template for the sleeve on the original pattern. Remember to add seam allowance for the cuff.

Good advice there. It always surprises me how much pattern pieces for long sleeves taper down to the cuff.

It did feel strange not going into the fabric section but DH was with me and he just looms and asks me what I’m looking for and it puts me off. 🤣. It also gave me a chance to emphasise how I hadn’t been able to get on with sewing with him around.

In other news I’ve decided to semi-retire at the end of the year. I’m self employed so cleared my diary for June and July to cover DHs recovery and now I find myself unwilling to build things back up again. So I’m aiming to complete existing projects and start tapering my client list.

It's a ready to wear top so I don't have an original pattern, I could find a regular long sleeve top pattern but don't know how I would do the lace up bit.