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.

That's great @dubyalass . Is the fabric a cosy colours?

is anyone going to the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show in a few weeks?

@pastabest I might be but I haven't booked yet. I went there last year and it was fab! I did a couple of workshops and bought a rather expensive sewing machine. So it wasn't a cheap day out.

@pastabest yes it is, the navy colourway. I also bought the dark green for a Talvikki sweater. A friend told me it doesn't wash particularly well but that was based on something she made a few years ago, so maybe it's better now. It's not cheap so I hope it lasts!

I've done a few sets of curtains back in the day (when the cost of my machine and the materials was still less than getting 1 set made for the sitting room, and I made a few more since).

The original sitting room ones were hard because they were blackout lined (streetlamp right outside the window) and interlined (single glazed, north facing window). The hardest part was finding enough space to lay it out flat to measure, cut and do various pinning jobs. (2nd hardest part was getting through numerous thick layers at a few seams...). But going slow and steady, measuring carefully and checking those before cutting, and figuring out the hem line once they were hanging - pinning them there and then taking down to sew that last seam.

And then turn a blind eye to all the mistakes....(plain fabrics are better than having to pattern match...)

Thank you @BiddyPop . On the whole I think the curtains should be relatively simple.

DH suggested blinds would be better for the dining room (bay window) but I reminded him of damage done by the cat last time we had blinds! We now have curtains but they are looking old and shabby.

Yeah, the sewing part of curtains is relatively simple, lots of long straight seams - the hard part is managing the large pieces involved.

I took up a pair of curtains last year and it was a real issue managing all the fabric on my dining table.

It’s nearly the weekend for me since I don’t work Fridays so hoping to recommence work on my trousers. I ended up having to order a denim weight twin needle for the top stitching so that’s now arrived and hopefully I can crack on.

I got so excited about the fit on the dress toile I made last week, that I ordered a trouser pattern from the same range (Simplicity Amazing Fit). I’m planning to sew up a toile for that this weekend....but what I really want to do after seeing some of the pictures on here is sew myself a sweatshirt. One week back into my sewing adventure and I already have more plans than I have time to execute them 😂

In my defence though, I actually NEED a couple of sweatshirts and the only nice ones I’ve seen in the shops are expensive. Surely it would make more sense to make my own...🤔

Sweatshirts are generally such a good bang for buck project too! Relatively few pieces, usually quite forgiving material and so many choices. I love a good hoody, but they feel so much more like hard work! Poundametre can sometimes get some reasonably priced sweatshirt material in - though guessing how heavy it will be based on an online description can be a challenge.

I've sorted out my sewing projects to take house sitting

• 2 x long sleeve tshirts from the Cashermette book - one is completely to sew, the other just needs hems. Cut from some jersey from poundametre that has made cutting out a bit of a headache as it was in sections going 'Band of solid white' 'Band of white with navy stripes' 'band of solid navy' Repeat.
• 3 x japanese knot bags to completely cut and sew for Xmas gift bags
• 1 x drawstring 'shoe' bag for Xmas gift bag use.

I agree with kitty that sweatshirts are a good project, relatively straightforward to sew, and can be quite economical. I’ve had some nice fabric recently from northern monkey makes, and they do some 2m cuts in their sale section which is enough for a sweatshirt in most adult sizes.
I used the waves and wild hot coffee pattern, seems like it’ll be good value as it includes hoodie, cowl and crew neck options, jumper or dress length and front kanga pocket.

Waves & Wild are a favourite of mine! I’m actually wearing a very snuggly Hot Coffee now, brushed back sweatshirting from last winter from Sew, Sew, Sew. Kanga pocket and a cowl.

Is anyone taking part in the up-cycling challenge on Instagram? I only know about it from watching vlogs!

I am making baby dungarees this weekend for great nephew. Press stud inside leg fastening so I can try out my new bit of kit: press stud pliers.

Im struggling to cut out my dress. I don't think I realised how much of a challenge it would be to pattern match something where the top and bottom are gathered at the waist.

You know what's worse than trying to re thread your overlocker? Trying to rethread someone else's. My mam's Singer overlocker almost ended up launched into the beck.

into the what?

I think beck is a stream or small river . . .

Sorry, up north so speaking the lingo. A beck is a stream basically.

I had a Singer and now have a Brother overlocker. What’s worse than threading it? Threading the needles! Even with bright light and glasses it’s still a challenge!

I'd never heard that before.

@NutellaEllaElla can you put a bit of piping between the bodice and skirt in a Co-ordinating but plain colour to break up the pattern of the join?

That's a great idea @InMySpareTime. I've got to line up the front and back skirt pieces first. Then the sleeves. Eurgh.

I'm halfway through the Love Level blouse from Dress Your Body (French pattern designer). I have made quite a few mistakes and my collar is too long for the fabric. I also initially forgot to cut the collar on the fold and couldn't work out why it was so short 🙄 Anyway I'm getting there now and it's nice to do a pretty challenging pattern. I'll post a photo when I'm done - probably early next year at the rate I'm going 😂

Ooh love that blouse, good luck with it!

After taming my mam's overlocker I finished my 2 t shirts. I'm never buying this type of 'blocky' fabric again, it took a lot of faffing to get anything even vaguely pattern matching.

I'm about 50% through making some Japanese knot bags, but they are a worry for another night.

I'm still here but haven't sewn anything for ages... hit a bit of a wall. I've cut out another brumby skirt out of some lovely lightweight wool and I'm thinking of doing a simple tatb frankie Breton style T-shirt to go with it.

I've lots of ideas but I've increased my work hours to nearly full time and it seems the result is no time left for actual sewing. I've also now entirely lost my sewing room which means even if I get a few minutes here and there it's too much of a faff to get everything out.

I'm also from beck country, didn't realise until this thread that it wasn't a ubiquitous name for a stream. I always think of becks as being more overgrown/shallow than streams though?