Stitch and bitch thread #5 This whole thing is fabricated.

[NutellaEllaElla]

Welcome back seamsters! It is soon to be September and Autumn is on its way.

@kittykarate I’ll cross that off the list then, flattering/supportive of a large chest is my main aim! I don’t think TaTB patterns fit me all that well anyway, I’ve made the Bertha and Nora cardis and both look overly large and sloppy despite following the size chart. I suspect they’re drafted to flatter someone who is more Tilly-shaped.

@Toomuch2019 very cute top, and well done on inserting a zip (& curved French darts? - very impressive for a first garment) Your neckline looks so flat and perfect.
I agree that it’s a little wide on your shoulders, perhaps a size down and then a full bust adjustment if you need a little more boob room would get you closer to the fit you’d like? What pattern have you used?

I’ve not sewn a one piece swimming costume but I’ve sewn a tankini, a bikini and some swim jammers. I find swimwear Lycra pretty easy to work with. Much easier than most stretch fabrics. I’ve used clear swimwear elastic but if I can get away with making a band with Lycra I do that instead. I’d agree that getting the fit right is a bit tricky

Jalie have some nice swimsuit patterns.

I’m thinking about the legsuit for when my serious swimsuit finally gives up on me

Thanks @dubyalass - only £2/m from pound fabrics and lovely to sew with!

Thank you @SBAM I am definitely pleased with how it turned out trying lots of new things. It's the Tilly and the Buttons Orla top although I didn't add the collar and shortened the length by an inch as the pattern comes up quite long.

The idea of doing a bust adjustment scares me a bit - think I need to watch some more YouTube to get comfortable!

Great work @Toomuch2019 ! Adjustments are a lot less scary than they initially appear and worth learning if they’re adjustment you are likely to need on most patterns.

I finished my toile and the fit is surprisingly good. There’s a little bit of tightness across the shoulders and the darts are about 1/2 inch too high, but I think I can live with that even if that means having to fight my inner perfectionist.😂

Lovely top @Toomuch2019

Cashmerette have a swimming costume that has different cup sized options SBAM though I haven't tried making it. I also second the Jalie recommendation - they do good activewear, though I will say their swimwear requires a bit more thought for bustier bodies - I tried to make their most recent crop top bikini top, and I could not get the fit correct.

Great work on your top Toomuch2019

I’ve got the RAD patterns corner swimsuit pattern and think that there’s a Cashmerette pattern that looks good. But body shapes and tastes will vary greatly as to what we would each choose.

Today I’ve finished my crochet project - a very simple striped scarf in Hufflepuff colours for DD1 as we’re going to HP world later this week! Still got leggings for her and a top for me to make before that. Anyone else a last minute maker?!

I haven't managed much recently except backing my XSt bookmarks with cotton and interfacing - but those are done after 3 years working on the bundle of small designs. (Only 9 bookmarks but I am very time poor).

BUT

I have checked my materials stash last weekend, in preparation for loading my car this weekend and taking a lot with me to a family house for a week (almost) alone. 1 DSis is insisting on coming for the long weekend and I need to work remotely for 2 days. But I should have about 4-6 days of relatively uninterrupted sewing/cooking/yoga/sleep time.

So I plan to make a couple of sets of placemats and napkins, a table runner, a tree skirt, a load of small pouches and zippered purses, tote bags, a stuffed animal and felt food, and possibly a few stuffed tree decorations. If I get through all those (as presents), I may even tackle a top for myself.

Then again, I may spend the week sleeping...

Oh @BiddyPop 4 days of sewing and yoga sounds amazing, you’ve got a long to-do list though!

Sleeping isn't a bad plan!

I found when making my cushions that the first one took ages and then I hit a roll.

Sewing is very relaxing for me. Practical problems have to be overcome but they can be overcome. DH thinks there is a black hole in my sewing room because I disappear with an airy 'I'll only be an hour' then three hours later he phones me (sewing room is on the second floor) to ask me plaintively if I plan on stopping for dinner.

I am thinking about making curtains for our sitting and dining rooms. No idea where to start though.

@GnomeDePlume getting yourself off to a curtain maker would be my advice 😂 I’ve made a few pairs of curtains from scratch, and altered a few and I hate it - never again!
My daughters curtains are slightly different lengths, but as you can only tell when they’re closed I’m not altering them.

Oh I hate doing curtains as well. So much fabric to wrangle. Back when they were fashionable I made a set of full length lined curtains and tailored swags and tails, coupled with a Roman blind for our bedroom. Never again! Well I might make another Roman blind one day but never curtains.

I made some envelope fold cushion covers very rapidly to ‘dress’ FILs house for sale. I think that’s as far as I’ll go with household sewing nowadays. It just feels like a chore whereas making clothes doesn’t.

I’m still faffing around deciding what’s next up. I’m pondering a jersey top pattern that came with one of the magazines but I’m also considering making another Barrett bralette to replace one from earlier this year which is starting to look a bit tired. This feels like unashamed luxury - I usually run bought bras into the ground

Curtain makers are expensive! I've never tried it myself but would consider it worth a try at least.

I have made simple curtains before: I made curtains for our conservatory a long time ago. Floor to roof, that was a lot of fabric!

The problem is deciding what fabric to use. Do I go for print, plain or stripe? I love prints but worry they will look horribly dated instantly.

Is velvet so far out of fashion as to now be classic?

@Jins it sounds like you have the experience, are you free this weekend?😁

@GnomeDePlume i think I might be busy 🤣

There are some great books on curtains etc which I used when I made the bedroom ones. Perhaps libraries still have that sort of thing.

My advice is measure and calculate widths then go back and measure again a few days later

Thank you @Jins I will do some reading up. I will task DH with measuring, definitely his forte.

Another thought re fabric would be to dye calico. It does take dye beautifully. When we are ready to repaint the wall we could then do a colour match.

I'm debating making curtains for my new place - there's a large window at the front which is too wide for ready made and the fabric I like is £££. Damn my expensive tastes. Hoping I might see it in the sale somewhere.

I finished my Sheridan sweater and I love it. The cuffs were an absolute git to sew but I hate gathering at the best of times.

I love that sweater @dubyalass . I really like the neckline.

Thanks! I love the neckline too. I fancy making another in a boiled wool.

That's a good idea!

@GnomeDePlume a good print never goes out of fashion! I think I must be in the minority here, but I actually enjoy making curtains - all those straight lines are great! 😄

Well I finished DD1’s leggings and my top just in time last night, today we went on a Harry Potter Studio Tour. It was fab.

Tomorrow I am looking forward to Waves & Wild’s new adult cardigan being launched. Quiet day home (sewing) after a very busy day and lots of driving today!