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

MISS, I usually MISS instructions like that, need to learn to proof read!

Looks like Sew Love Patterns are drafted for a height of 5'5, so pretty standard.

Happy weekending everyone. I'm having an absolute mare today with a square neck band situation and i've packed up out of frustration. I was hoping for a wearable toile but that's not happening now. 😡 In the past i've only really had success with using an simple raw edge fold and I guess i'm wondering if i should just do that again. I just can't get on with the double fold method. I don't usually struggle to sew straight but it always ends up wonky.

I've ordered a binding foot for my sewing machine but I don't actually see how that would help because how do you make sure the binding is stretched to the size of the opening evenly? It's not arriving until next week anyway.

Harumph.

Tomorrow I might start a different project.

My recent sewing is all theatre related. Pimping a calico cushion to make it look more regal, and sewing tab tape onto silver slashed curtain.
Also sewing a dowel channel onto a small backcloth of an aeroplane interior for a sketch (not photographed)
I'll take another photo once the aeroplane cloth and silver curtain are up in the theatre so you can see how big a project that actually was.

How about making a facing?

Won't. Let. This. Beat. Me.
I've got a binding foot coming this week so I imagine i'll have fresh woes next weekend . Alternatively I am considering just doing the raw edge fold which has worked like a dream for me in the past. No need to make this harder than it is, right?

I didn't know about this thread until I saw it mentioned in a Chat thread. I love a bit of sewing/knitting etc chat and am always interested in other people's projects so I hope you won't mind me joining in.

Some lovely new patterns on this thread!

I am slowly getting my sew-jo back and last week finished off a jersey top made from a few bits of French Terry from previous makes. It got worn today and will no doubt be a regular addition to the layering on chilly days!

I've tonight picked up a half finished Friday Pattern Company Heather Blazer which has been keeping my mannequin warm for a good 8 months. Made a good bit of progress which was pleasing.

I am also sorting out my stash and trying to figure out what to keep and what to get rid of. I've got several meters of ponte in burgundy, navy and black. I bought it with plans for making some dresses but I now work from home and don't need dresses. I'm thinking it might be useful for trousers. Has anyone got a favourite trousers pattern to recommend that might be suitable?

Welcome @MissMarplesNiece ! Looking forward to hearing about your projects.

I need to stop avoiding but when things don't go my way,I start to get annoyed and walk away.

MUST. NOT. BUY. MORE. FABRIC

seriously. I need some kind of intervention.. help!

Life is short. Buy the fabric.

I have been known to overlock the raw edge and then just do a single fold.

Does anyone have any experience of
FRISTER AND ROSSMANN Beaver 5 sewing machine? Or frister and rossmann in general as a make/reliability/ spare parts etc
I'm after a heavy duty machine that will actually go through 2 3 layers of canvas/leather but I don't want an actual industrial sewing machine. I've seen a few frister and rossmann advertised as good for leather crafts/tent making but I've never heard of them.

Or if anyone has a recommendation of a machine that will do 2 or three layers of leather/canvas for around £300 I'm open to suggestions .

On the subject of sewing machine feet, does anyone here use a 1/4 inch foot? It’s supposed to be good for topstitching, but not sure it’s worth the expense?!

I’ve made zero progress with my shirt this weekend. I got side tracked working out what fabric colours work for me, and which don’t after buying a few too many “wrong” colours in the past. I’m finding it surprisingly difficult to work out what to get instead.

I use a universal 1/4 foot occasionally and it’s very useful. I picked it up for very little money on eBay.

I use it less now I have my new machine as that has a clear acrylic foot with markings but if I’m doing important top stitching I use the 1/4 inch foot

@Roastingmychestnuts I had a F&R Cub as a teenager and it was a sturdy little thing, tolerated me and my woeful efforts at sewing although I never did heavy duty work with it. It was a proper little workhorse and I’m not sure why I got rid of it, probably didn’t use it enough. Very well made, all metal I think.

@InMySpareTime agreed. I’ve just gone a bit mad in the cheapo section on Fabric Godmother. Let’s see if I regret it when it turns up.

This is my giant curtain up in the theatre:

Wow @InMySpareTime thats massive! I imagine the logistics of sewing something that huge are quite complex.

Im currently making a patchwork quilt for a new baby niece, it’s only just over a metre long but manipulating that through the machine is hassle enough. I have made bigger quilts twice, but probably never again!

Blimey! Well done!

My fabric has arrived from Fabric Godmother, really lovely! A viscose lawn (the brush strokes one) and a linen viscose mix chambray.

I'm very impressed! You must be proud.

Lovely projects in the thread! I'm very impressed by the theatre curtain! I've just got back into sewing, having been too busy for weeks. I made a wearable toile of a cross-over top to wear to my dance class. It's a bit tight but I need to lose a few pounds anyway! I find it so hard to work out what size to make stretch fabrics.

I've also started on a 1920s hat in a purple felt.

I've managed to squeeze a bit of sewing in today and have finished a very unwearable toile! I learned a few things though so it was worthwhile. Before progressing with this project, i'll need to spend some time practicing with this new bias binding foot and i'm going to try a different neckline out of the options it came with as the square neck was a) a PITA and b) unflattering.

Stupid question, but can you use the binding foot with stretch fabric? And what about the fact that the binding is always shorter than the neckline? Usually I fill it with pins to evenly distribute it but the videos i'm watching don't pin at all??

Anyone doing the cosecha pants, new pattern out on the Foldline? I’ve just ordered, they look amazing.

I've seen it but based on the 'envelope' its not one that appeals to me if I'm honest - it's not really my style and I suspect it would be quite unflattering on my shape.

When you make it I'd love to see your take on it though, what fabric are you planning?

That's the great thing about sewing though isn't it, being able to choose the shapes and colours you like rather than being dictated to by what's in the shops/fashion at the time.

I lose track a bit sometimes about what is normal people in fashion and what is sewing people in fashion. I know they often can align but sometimes they really don't!