Stitch and bitch thread #6. What a yoke!

[NutellaEllaElla]

The other thread is so painfully slow so lets hope a shiny new one will run a smoothly as a well behaved sewing machine. Pin your places here my lovely stitchers

I'm going to have to unpick the side seams and recut the angled turn up - they're puckering and aren't neat and lovely!

A job for tomorrow, I'm tired now and will get it wrong.

Made a vest/sleeveless top this afternoon. Tension was a bit off and the machine chewed one hem, but the fit is nice and I'm pleased with the French seams down the sides.
Next project is a wrap top in the same fabric. I've drafted and cut it, and will sew it tomorrow if I get the time.

I’ve got my sewing machine back from service, and the dishwasher has been mended - you all know which one makes me happier 😉

Finished up a skirt for DD, with inbuilt shorts (free pattern for ages 2-10 Here) I can see this being made annually for a few years - it’s cute, easy and doesn’t use too much fabric.

Hello everyone. Brand new sewing enthusiast here. Please could you let me know your favourite places to get all the sewing bits from. I have a machine and that it!

I mostly use my local fabric shop because they have a great haberdashery section. But I've also ordered from Sew Essential and Hot Pink Haberdashery.

For fabric it depends what it's for and what I'm after, but I've bought from Poundametre, 1st For Fabrics, Lamazi, Simple Life, Lush Cloth, Fabric Godmother and Sewing Studio Bath, and probably many more! Currently coveting some checked linen from Merchant & Mills.

I buy PDF patterns from individual designers or the Fold Line, and get them printed by Netprinter.

The MOST important thing to know is that pattern sizing is not the same as high street shops sizing.

If you are a 10, say, in M&S, Next etc, there is a good chance you will be sewing a pattern size at least one size up, and probably 2 sizes up. DO NOT LET THIS MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU MENTALLY!

Aside from that, independent pattern makers will often have their own pattern sizing.

So, you need to know your measurements.
Read up on fitting. You might need to learn about adjustments, you might not. Measurements will tell you!

Purchase 1 - a tape measure!

Then you'll need good fabric scissors, a seam ripper and decent pins.

Practice sewing straight lines on some old sheeting or other scrap fabric.

Lastly, nothing is impossible!

Oh, and put a piece of scrap paper under your presser foot when changing a needle. Then you won't drop it into your machine!

Wow, thanks for the suggestions everyone! Lots for me to look at once I’ve regained a bit more of my sewing mojo. That Butterick dress in the article @DollyParkin shared looks perfect, but sadly no longer for sale. Typical!

And don’t worry, I didn’t think you were preachy at all @TragicMuse . I agree with you that pattern work is important. I have some experience with pattern drafting and a few years ago spent a good few weeks creating a perfect fitting sloper...only for my body to change as soon as I’d completed it! I’d like to make another one some day, but it’s the kind of thing you really need to be in the mood for, just because of how long that whole process takes (or at least it does in the hands of a perfectionist like myself).

I learnt a lot from that first sloper and as we’re all sharing our body quirks - I’m 5 foot 10, with long limbs, narrow shoulders & back, wide-ish hips and “strong” legs. Finding trousers that fit me is an absolute nightmare. It’s my dream to find a pattern that I can get to work for me and that is actually flattering, but no luck so far.

Whereas I'm a 5'0 hourglass with 24" legs so nothing high street fits me for a totally different reason.
Everything curvy enough is too long, everything short enough is in the children's section too straight-cut.
I make things so they fit, but don't use patterns. I just figure stuff out and ask the internet when I'm stuck on a shape.

Thanks so much @dubyalass loads of places to check out!

That is brilliant advice @TragicMuse i had absolutely no idea about sizing! And such a good tip about needle changing.

It feels like learning a new language. I know nothing!

Welcome!

I love hearing about people deciding to take up sewing.

Was there anything in particular that inspired you to buy your machine?

@pastabest thank you! You all seem like such a lovely bunch.

Funnily enough I got my machine ten years ago! I did a short sewing course and really loved it. I was pregnant with my first child and had visions of making baby clothes during maternity leave. Ha!

Ten years and three children later, we’ve all recently got into watching the Sewing Bee and the children all want to learn to sew. DP is off to the loft today to get the oldest brand new sewing machine there ever was.

Needless to say I remember nothing of my sewing course other than some faint memory over hating bobbin changing, if that’s even a thing!

Welcome @lozengeoflove , this is an addictive hobby! What are you wanting to make?

I took it up for the first time a couple of years ago and haven't looked back but it is a massive learning curve. It totally IS like learning a new language, youtube is an amazing resource and there are often 'sewalongs' on there where someone is making something from a pattern you can buy and try yourself.

Whereabouts in the country are you? We may be able to recommend physical shops or sewing groups.

Understanding sewing patterns was a whole new thing to me. The little triangles are 'notches' and you can snip a little bit into the fabric there. Later you will use those notches to line up pieces of fabric together in the right place.

Also, Ease means how baggy or tight the garment is designed to be. A lot of ease means it's loose fit, not much ease means tight fit, negative ease is when a stretchy fabric is smaller than your measurements but obviously stretches to fit.

You might find your own preferred youtube videos, but for a good start https://www.youtube.com/@MadetoSew/videos

Here's a playlist full of beginner videos that might narrow down that list https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfxTlKMr7TsBD-VWGzkGgE5bd_JVvBkZy

Thank you @NutellaEllaElla , these are brilliant!
I’m in SE London and know of a fabric shop in Lewisham. Would love to hear any recommendations.

Welcome @lozengeoflove
You’ve already had good advice but I will add:

1. expect to fail - as I’m sure you’ve told your kids many times practice makes perfect and mistakes are how we get good at things, we’re not immune to this just because we’re adults.
2. Youtube has loads of resources, and Instagram has a fantastic sewing community. For example, the hashtags #sewingforboys and #sewingforgirls are good for inspiration on making children’s clothes.
3. take your measurements a few times over the month, things can fluctuate, and the fit of your bra can affect your measurements. Take your hip measurement (which should be the widest part below the waist, so might be round your bottom or a little lower depending on your shape) standing and then sitting - our posture has an effect too.
4. Enjoy yourself. Don’t sew tired. Don’t sew to a deadline. It takes as long as it takes and patience will get you a better result than rushing (ask me how I know 🤦🏻‍♀️)

For a beginner I’d recommend physical fabric shopping - seeing the types of fabric and the way they handle will help you select the right thing for your project.

I like glass head pins, they won’t melt if you iron them. Press your seams as you go, it makes things look 1000% better.

@lozengeoflove there are loads of places to buy fabric around London if you’re willing to travel.

Walthamstow market is a treasure trove of inexpensive shops, some have £1/m or £2/m fabric which is great for practicing without buying things you’re scared to cut into. There’s also Goldhawk Road near Shepherd’s Bush which has loads of fabric shops.

Dalston Mill fabrics is near Dalston Kingsland station, and they sell online. It’s good quality for a reasonable price but more expensive than the market.

I’ve heard of but not been to:

Rainbow fabrics and Simply Fabrics are in Kilburn.

There used to be Rolls and Rems in Lewisham, which has closed but the manager has opened Gennys Emporium.

John Lewis has fabrics but they’re often expensive and not a great selection.

Liberty has incredible fabric but £££££.

@SBAM I really need to heed your advice there in No. 4 especially. i just get really excited for all the things I want to make for holiday and give myself an impossible task! Fail every time pretty much

Facebook also has good groups, UK Sewing and shit, The Sewing Group (UK). For local advice, maybe the Sewing in the UK - Greater London group will be helpful, i'm not in that area so i joined a different one obvs.

Is this thread really slow or is it me/my computer?

Hi @lozengeoflove and welcome.

Everything I was going to say has been covered but I wanted to add that different fabric types can make a huge difference to a finished garment. I’ve made the same top in cotton shirting and in viscose and they look like two different patterns.

When you’re starting out I find cotton/linen types the easiest to work with as they are so stable. I love viscose but it’s slippery and changes shape and easy to stretch. 90% of my sewing nowadays is viscose because I love the drape but when I sew cotton again I marvel at how compliant it is.

Look at the fabric suggestions on the pattern pack. That will point you in the right direction for the garment you are making

@lozengeoflove as a fabric to start with I use calico. You can buy it very cheaply (around £3/m). I use it for toiles but it is also great for bag lining and cushion backs. It also takes dye beautifully.

Lots of lovely fabric shops to look at on this thread.

Having completed my 5 dress marathon for DD I made her a padded tote bag from leftover scraps. My first go at proper patchwork.

Next project is a skirt for DD then I will be making myself a shirt and trousers - ordered fabric today. Dalston Mills is my favourite online store. It is a bit more expensive but has a great range of fabrics and matching threads.

So after struggling with my printer to get the scalloped cami pattern printed yesterday... I was too impatient and so decided to hack the ogden cami pattern and make the straps thicker and crop it.
Tah dah!!! I love it and I'm going to splash out t on another meter to make one in a different pattern.

To all the new sewists / sewers enjoy! I'd say 50% of my wardrobe is me made now. Once you start it's difficult to go back to normal clothes when realise how bad the fit is/ how poor the construction and fabrics are.

I'm also very impressed with everyone's makes. I like sewing with cotton and linen and too slapdash to try any less forgiving fabrics with stretch! Also love the patchwork and how neatly the corners meet 👏👏

Ogden here as well today - tucked into last years Allegra shorts. I find the Ogden quite bra friendly but I do like the look of the wider straps.

In fact I’ve just realised that today I’m wearing 100% me-made. Ogden cami, Allegra shorts, Barrett bralette and Kiki underwear.
I think this is a first

The ogden is a top I need to sit down and spend the time making some proper adjustments to. I've made a couple and they 'fit' but just not quite in the way I like.

I think I need to raise the v at the back and widen the straps as it's not bra friendly for my 36F boulder holders and I probably also need to do a slight FBA even though technically my measurements don't indicate it.

What an achievement!

I'm avoiding my sewing projects following a frustration and slight temper tantrum. The weather is too nice and I'm enjoying the sunshine. I have bought more fabric though 😄