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

[NutellaEllaElla]

Continuing our supportive little group until we run out of material

Thank you! It was actually quite a straightforward make, just large pieces of fabric to wrangle. The pattern is very flexible. It can be made short or long with a huge variety of pockets and either boxy sleeves as I made it or with placket sleeves.

DH hopes to finish the sewing room today. He is almost as excited as me to finally get my sewing clutter somewhere other than on and around the dining table.

Ooh session 2 of Making the Cut is on Amazon prime! Episodes being released weekly so I might wait to binge the whole lot if I can

I like the idea of 'Making the Cut' as it is much more of a design challenge , and less crazy than Project Runway's "Hey kids, lets make a runway show out of the contents of these dumpsters" but you know... it just is soooooo serious.

Design is deadly serious Yeah there is a lot of drama which is unnecessary, I much prefer the Sewing Bee vibe in general.

What is interesting on Making the Cut is actually seeing what is sold on Amazon, as the interpretation of their wearable look. Sometimes it looks great, sometimes they look like something I have put together.

I've just realised I'm mere weeks from a holiday, and I don't have any swimwear that fits. So that's my plan for the week - will give the TatB swimming cossie a go.

Wow that's very brave, have you done swimwear before? Have you got fabric already?

I've realised that my pj shorts have a fly which requires a button hole and I really don't want to do one. I don't think my fabric would take to it very well at all and plus, it doesn't really go with the delicate aesthetic. The waistband is elasticated anyway so I don't need the fly to open. Could I just sew the fly shut and put a pearl bead thing there as a decorative touch instead?

That’s what I’d do @NutellaEllaElla

Funnily enough I’ve been working on swimwear today. I’ve made a bikini using Sinclair Kiki briefs pattern and an adapted Barrett bralette. I’ve used swim elastic in the briefs but ordinary elastic in the top because I won’t be swimming in it. It’s purely for garden sunbathing duty. I’ve got enough of the fabric left to make a sturdier top for actual swimming if I decide I need one.

if I’m honest it’s not 100% successful. I’ve made the bralette 3 times and the fit has been perfect but in swimwear fabric it’s a bit on the tight side and there’s more than a hint of underarm fat. 🤣

I would be tempted to go for a snap fastener Nutella

a pretty one like these pearl ones from hemline perhaps?

www.minerva.com/mp/1191102/hemline-snaps-press-fasteners-refill&variant=1125953

I've broken my fabric buying ban BUT I didn't just fabric buy willy nilly I decided what each bit was going to be for - more A/W 22/23 planning

I've got some black ponte Roma to make a TatB Billie jumper dress.

Some striped ponte Roma coming for a midi sleeved top to go under dungarees/pinafores and finally some cream coloured Swiss clip and some cream viscose to make some sort of blouse/cami to go under blazers for work.

I was really wanting to do #braugust this year but I don't think it's going to happen.

They're perfect thank you @pastabest
I love love love a jumper dress so good luck with that.

Do you need any special tools to apply those snap fasteners?

Just be wary, I had a nightmare using those same snaps when making baby clothes as a gift so be sure to test them out on scrap fabric first. It might be an idea to interface your fabric if you can to make it a bit thicker otherwise it might be too heavy especially if it’s delicate fabric you are using. Mind you I had the opposite problem trying to get them through multi layers and the little spiky bits kept bending.

I cut out my toile fabric which was a bit of a pain as it was a leftover peice so some of it is against the grain. I didn’t have enough for the pockets which is a pity as I’m hoping they’ll work out for wearing out in the garden. I’m needing a kick up the bum to get sewing during the week. I could have done it tonight but have been procrastinating instead (as usual).

I think I got a little gadget for them @NutellaEllaElla. I’ve got a proper metal one for Cam snaps, the plastic type, but I’m sure I used a little thing with a normal hammer for these metal ones. I’ll see if I can find out what it was.

This is it Snap gadget

I have finished my cami top and shorts. As PJs they are suuuuper cute but the cami top looks nice with jeans as well so win win! I just bought some cheap dainty domed buttons to keep costs down.

I've got time off tomorrow too so I think i'm going to try to finish my Gioiello top. Must tidy up my half finished projects. Finish or bin!

I've picked up my Gioiello top (toile) again and just inserted both the sleeves. I just have to hem it now but need to rethread my overlocker first so thought i'd try it on and I LOVE IT! The material was dead cheap and I was worried it wouldn't be wearable but it's fine and the top is just gorgeous! (the keyhole isn't my thing so I just made it round at the top) I can't wait to make it out of my fancy fabric which has a shimmery blue vibe to it that will be lovely for Christmas time. I could see me making this top out of other fabrics too, it's just beautiful!

It turns out that cutting out fabric after a double Bailey's is probably not the brightesst idea. My digits remain intact though so no major harm done!

@NutellaEllaElla 😂 glad your fingers survived!
Id love to see a picture of your top if you feel like sharing.

I will share but need DH to help as the it's all about the jazzy back and he's currently doing heavy lifting in the garage.

Not the sexy weight lifting kind either.

Hey everyone, I hope you are enjoying your bank holiday weekend!

Do you think i could hack the Tempo sundress by Lovenotions, to look like this (but without the bottom tier)? I wouldn't want the gathered effect thougt so I'm thinking I could potentially just extend the bodice down to lengthen it to a midi dress?

Just do a straight hem on the bottom seam instead of the weird extra tier.

That's the look i'm going for but need to hack an existing pattern. I was thinking the Tempo sundress but I don't want a gathered skirt, which is why i'm wondering if I can take the bodice and extend it from there. I might have a play if I can, though i'm supposed to be doing other stuff this weekend so not sure if i'll have time.

Having made a couple of tempo dresses I think you’d struggle to get that look at the back because the shirring creates gathers which flow into the skirt. You could definitely reduce the amount of gathering to flatten the front but you’d need to maintain the width of fabric at the back to be able to get into it.

On the plus side Tempo is quite high waisted so that gives you space to play with by lengthening the bodice.

i think hacking the Ogden cami would be closer to that look. I’m sure I’ve seen something similar this month as it’s Ogden month

Oooh thank you @Jins you might be right on the money with the Ogden cami hack suggestion! Loads of people have done it and posted on Instagram and Ogden themselves have published a blog post detailing how to do it as a slip dress! I'll want to alter the neckline and will search for that online as well, but could I be right in thinking that I can just draw it on the pattern for the main and the lining and it should be ok?