Stitch and bitch thread #8. It’s all starting to unravel

[NutellaEllaElla]

Welcome back and welcome for the first time to any newbies. As we go back into autumn/winter mode, sewing days are more and more appealing as the wind gales outside. I enjoyed looking back over the last thread, there were so many beautiful patterns (so little time), such beautiful makes, that thread is an absolute goldmine for inspiration. Also such wisdom from you lovely lot! Thank you. I couldn't do it without you actually as no one around me sews and you have imparted such great advice, hints and tips.

@PickAChew
@kittykarate
@TragicMuse
@SBAM
@pastabest
@Jins
@Blackamericanonosugar
@CrimsonAlligator
@SleepingisanArt
@dubyalass
@Brefugee
@InMySpareTime
@Rosenspants
@rivercobbler
@Karatema
@bookbook
@Sewingdufus
@FletchingStraight
@SideWonder
@CarolynKnappShappy
@Chewbecca
@eldorado02
@PrincessofWellies
@123ZYX
@Storynanny1
@Tinuviel
@Wildernesstips
@Dellabob123
@florentini
@longpathtohappiness
@twobluechickens

@rivercobbler , well that's very exciting! I love my overlocker just for how beautifully neat my seams look now. I heard a lot of scary things about how tricky they are to thread, but honestly, I found a youtube video for my first which took me through it step by step which really helped and for my second, the shop took me through it and it's not difficult at all. Don't let stories intimidate you.

@Brefugee , ooh i'm not aware of those but might have a google around now. I really struggle to get enough light. If I didn't need to unpick so much it wouldn't be such an issue mind you. I currently use a rechargeable neck light.

I'm pretty sure there are light-up magnifying things, I'm sure jewellers use them. Must research more (maybe i dreamt it up)

Talking about unpicking: a friend recently turned me on to using a dermablade instead of a seam ripper. It's a game changer, especially for long seams

You need to unpick 3 or 4 stitches, enough to slide the blade head in, and then off you go. You need, as usual, to be careful of finer fabrics, but that's always the case anyway.

Because as i always say: if i didn't have to unpick some of it, did i even make it?

@SBAM that suiting does feel lovely doesn’t it? I’d planned some semi smart trousers with it but I need to test to see if it’s washable so it will have to wait for a while. I’m hoping to stretch two items from it as well.

I’ve got to do a bit of creative leftovers meal prep today but I’m hoping to get into my sewing space to make a plan for next year. I really need to use up some stash fabrics or at least decide whether or not to keep them.

@NutellaEllaElla I have heard the horror stories but lots of people seem to get on all right with them, so I figured I might end up in the latter category (the the help of the manual and YouTube and You Lot!)

the best tip i had for my overlocker was to keep practicing threading it and using it for rolled hems etc.

Alternatively the other really good tip was about changing thread by chopping through the old ones (near the cones), tying the new threads on, putting all the tension to 0 and pulling them through.

I'm lucky that mine is ready to go at any time (I do keep it threaded with a neutral colour) so i do use it way more than if i had to keep getting it out and plugging it in

My overlocker is a game changer, I love it.

My plans for today were cancelled due to the weather so instead I've cut out two more Frida blouses and will cut a couple of pairs of jeans out this afternoon. Off into town to meet a friend for a brew and might just pop into the fabric shop...

@Brefugee what neutral colour do you keep it threaded with?

it's a sort of silvery grey

oh thank you - Melanie Ham said that she keeps her machine threaded with dove grey as a neutral so that might be something for me to try!

gosh Melanie Ham - that's a blast from the past. I still make her zippered box pouch as gifts for people (although i found a slightly better way to sew over the zip ends). Such a sad story in the end.

Her 'Your first quilt' tutorial was absolutely brilliant. A very sad story and the comments on her videos all reflect how much she is missed.

I must admit that i watched the video her husband posted and it made me cry. She had a lovely peaceful end though.

I loved her quilting for beginners tips. I have never started one, but if i ever do I'll be rewatching those along with the Donna Jordan ones

Hi I am wondering if I can join you? I have always dabbled with sewing but taken it up properly for about 9 months now. I have made bags, children's clothes and table runners and now want to try making my own clothes. I am starting with the york pinafore, and have some fairly thin denim I am going to use. Would it be worth me doing a toile using an old sheet or is that a waste of time given the difference in fabric thickness? Thanks

Welcome FrumpyUnicorn! As its your first major project for yourself I'd err on the side of caution and make a toile, just to work on the fit, and to get the techniques nailed before you use your nice denim. (This is totally do as I say not as I do, I haven't made a toile in ages... but I do mostly work with stretch materials).

@Frumpyunicorn welcome to the club!

If you fit the measurements closely (including height) then I wouldn’t be too worried about a toile, but the York pinafore is a great first pattern (& full disclosure, I almost never toile, but then maybe I’d have more successes if I did 😂)

@Frumpyunicorn the York is 1 of my favs.

Definitely toile - whilst I love Helen’s Closet I don’t find their patterns fit me without a few adjustments. My first York was massively oversized and I took inches off the sides.

I will say that I'm a terror for fabric stashing, so I often have something that was relatively cheap (less than £10) but pretty enough to wear that I use for a wearable toile so I don't feel like it's wasted time/material. Or at least that's my excuse for having 4 crates full of fabric bought randomly from places like poundametre etc.

I actually buy fabric for wearable toiles. I use old sheets or similar if I’m just checking bodice or shoulder measurements.

Right - I need your help! DH and I have decided to have a big joint party for our significant birthdays and I have visions of swanning round as an aged goth as that’s how many of the guests will remember me. I need a couple of metres of drapey woven fabric (ideally viscose as I know how that works with the pattern). I’m after black or grey tie dye effect, not skulls etc as that’s too corny. I’ve found some jersey but I’d need a different pattern and thereby lies much dithering.

So has anyone seen anything that might work? Budget up to £15 a metre but ideally less

I like to aim for a wearable toile. I actually got such a nice duvet cover from a charity shop for this purpose, that it's been upgraded to 'too nice for a toile' and now I feel like I need more wearable toile fabric.

By the way, it looks like theres more than one sew a long on youtube for that pinafore @Frumpyunicorn , and welcome welcome.

I feel like sewing but not measuring myself. Any inspiration for non clothing projects? A plus if I already have fabric I can part with for it, we're on a health and finances kick this month.

Finished another Frida blouse last night and am really pleased with it. Dreadful photo taken in a really dark bit of the house! Fabric is a very pretty Liberty-style cotton lawn (and a third of the price).

Niice @twobluechickens

Shame.about your budget, @Jins as liberty can often hit the mark. This is the Harper City print tana lawn.

Lovely Frida blouse @twobluechickens. Is that your third one?

I’m a little embarrassed to say I’m still working on finding an alternative way to insert the placket on my Olivia blouse, which I started more than two months ago. I’m so slow and in awe of anyone here who can just whip up a project in a day or two! 🤯

Are any of these fabrics any good @Jins or are these too patterned for what you’re after? They’re all £15.99/ metre so technically a tiny bit over budget, but thought I’d share anyway:

https://www.minerva.com/mp/1274372/minerva-exclusive-marbled-memory-viscose-challis-fabric-slate&variant=1274358

https://www.minerva.com/mp/1273759/minerva-exclusive-twilight-eclipse-viscose-challis-fabric

https://www.minerva.com/mp/1273757/minerva-exclusive-palm-plantation-viscose-challis-fabric

Or this one for a cross between goth and crazy cat lady….

https://www.minerva.com/mp/1273761/minerva-exclusive-here-kitty-viscose-challis-fabric

@CrimsonAlligator it's my second but I have a third cut out ready to go! The fiddliest part is the collar, that has given me grief both times but once it's on it lies really nicely.

I'm also midway through another pair of Megan Nielsen Ash jeans but have ground to a halt with them, hoping to get them finished this weekend.

@CrimsonAlligator I think you’ve summed me up. A mixture of goth and crazy cat lady 🤣
I’m nipping to Abakhan to see what they have on Wednesday but if that draws a blank the gothy cats could well be the one.

Love that tana lawn @PickAChew and it’s on my list for a treat purchase. I’m not risking expensive fabric for this event though 🤣