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

Any suggestions for fabric shops in Newcastle? I'll probably only have a few hours and will be on foot, but I fancy a bit of shopping!

Newbie here! I'm venturing into full size sewing for the first time since 1982 (sewing teacher at school hated me and that was the end of that!) I've sewn in miniature, clothes for barbie, various other dolls (and bears) and still make little toys and memory bears but full size clothes - no.

I'm using an old duvet cover to start. I've cut out with scissors using pins to hold the paper pattern in place. Going forward, if I survive my own version of Sewing Bees Pattern Challenge, would it be better to use a rotary cutter on a cutting mat? Pins or weights? Advice gratefully received. Thank you!

@SleepingisanArt welcome! What pattern are you making?

If you can make bears you can make clothes, soft toys are fiddly (& prone to looking decidedly wonky the one time I tried to make one!).

Pins/scissors and weights/cutters is a personal preference I think. I like weights and a cutter when using patterns I’ve printed myself as printer paper is a lot less flexible than the standard pattern tissue paper so pinning it in place can be awkward and skew the pieces.

In your shoes I’d be tempted to get a cutting mat even if you decide against a rotary cutter because I left lots of divots from pins in my old desk and it looked awful.

Ooo thank you SBAM. I'm trying the Elani Tunic from Style ARC. Directions are sparce but as it's simple I think I'll be ok! I'm plus size (the curse of big boobs, wide back and shoulders and now the menopausal tummy) but at the moment the pattern pieces look huge! I measured me and used their size guide.... So the old duvet cover is being used as a free source oof fabric and once I know if this will in fact be the right size I'll treat myself to nice fabric.

Now I'll spend some time 'researching' cutting mats......

There's only John Lewis in the city centre, now, @dubyalass and it's not that inspiring!

Ah shame @PickAChew ! I am stopping in Darlington on the way up tomorrow and it looks like there's a great fabric shop there (Sew Fabric) so I'll get my fix there instead!

Sew fabrics is fabulous, @dubyalass !just remember not to stand still and ponder for too long if you enter the dress fabrics cave at the back (entrance to the right of the checkout desk) because the lights in there have motion sensors 🤣

Ooo I’m working up In Newcastle later in the summer. May have to arrive early for a bit of a browse ….

Hahaha noted! I will probably have to post everything back to myself as I've got limited space in my suitcase, but their selection looks fantastic.

So many things I want to sew this weekend, I don't know where to start!!

Definitely a top or two
A Style Arc Richmond skirt
A Muna and Broad Whitlam skirt
Another Woolfork dress or tunic
Some more Arthur trousers...

So on the basis that I already have one dress and one pair of trousers and feel woefully short of skirts and tops I think maybe that's where I need to start?!

The Whitlam is a column skirt for knits, I'm thinking go a size larger for a bit more of a drapey/slouchy line and less of a fitted look. And then just pull in the waist with the elastic. I have some lovely striped jersey.

The Richmond is a woven, with a utility look. I need to choose fabric. I do have some stretch denim and some red corduroy. Among other things. I think I'd like some khaki twill or linen.

Tops would be a cream linen mix and a pale-ish blue viscose.

I will probably have to post everything back to myself as I've got limited space in my suitcase,

I may have done this from various locations across the world ... I have sometimes not filled my suitcase because I know I will need the room for fabric.

My husband is very supportive of my sewing (to be fair he's happier when I don't keep all the mini critters I make). He's currently hysterical. Unable to breathe. He's had to go upstairs.....

I put on my completed tunic (cut out yesterday, stitched today) and asked his opinion. The laughter started because 'it's a duvet cover' and me decked in a huge floral pattern may have been too much for him..... But apparently its good and I should buy some proper fabric..... Will he ever recover?

It's a hazard of being a sewist! Same with yarn if you're a knitter.

Popped into Sew Fabrics today - what an amazing selection of jersey and viscose, plus lots of quilting and home furnishing fabrics too. I ended up buying some pretty cotton rayon for a top but was otherwise restrained as I didn't have much time. Lovely folks who run it too.

Glad you found something nice there. If there's a pattern I fancy but won't necessarily find time to make up immediately, I always check to see if they have it in, if I'm visiting. They've really stocked up on indie patterns over the past couple of years.

Most of my recent toiles have little grey elephants on. Ds2 had duplicate duvet covers so I have a lot to get through!

@SleepingisanArt who cares if he recovers, you have a new obsession now! (Only joking - but you’re doing well if your first sewn garment is actually wearable, mine was a disaster)

@dubyalass and @DollyParkin we popped into Breda in the Netherlands last year on the way somewhere on holiday, and the market had some lovely fabrics (& gorgeous bakeries too). I’m still disappointed in myself for being restrained and not buying any fabric. I’ll have to go back.

@TragicMuse that’s quite the to-do list! You must be a speedy sewist. I’ve just looked into the Whitlam skirt - looks interesting. Muna and Broad patterns do look to be very thoughtfully engineered.

Oh I won't do it all this weekend! It's my wants list! I need to start with some taping together of pages!

Hopefully I'll get a skirt by the end of the weekend!

How's progress @TragicMuse ?
Frustratingly, i've been too busy to sew at all. Next weekend is looking clear though.

I’m still disappointed in myself for being restrained and not buying any fabric.

I was in Beijing fr work just before the pandemic erupted and managed to buy NO fabric. I was very strict with myself ...

Oh Heavens! Inspired by GBSB I bought the Noodlehead Buckthron backpack pattern. Picked up canvas and lining from Pound fabrics, so not too pricey. BUT I’ve just bought the webbing, interfacing and all the hardware, she’s, not cheap!! This better work!

I still have some brocade fabric that I bought in Shanghai in the early 00s, the kind of thing you'd use for a cheongsam. It's not my style at all nowadays but I don't really know what to do with it. Might make a nice waistcoat I suppose? Not in any hurry to get rid of it.

dubyalass do you have enough brocade fabric for a lush dressing gown?

It didn't really happen - my grand plans went to shit really - the teenager has been hard work!

Maybe next week...

Happens to me all the time. Not the teenagers but thwarted plans

No sadly! I think I was planning a skirt but I am no longer the size I was back then!

I bought a packing case full of fabric when stationed in HK and shipped it home. Necmver turned up 😭

I live near the NL - most towns have really good fabric markets. I have to be very careful