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
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Just a heads up that CLC prints are offering 15% off A0/A1 pattern printing plus free p+p over £5 until 22.10. I'll probably find things I want to print after that date.

Yeah it looks deliberate Jins. So, does just hemming armholes and necklines work for stretch then?

@NutellaEllaElla it certainly seems to work! I just copied what was on the original and that was hemmed. The original was ribbed with more horizontal stretch than vertical but quite a lot of stretch in each direction.

I’m glad it worked as although I can do neckbands I don’t really like wearing them

I’ve finished my Fibre Mood Tilly but it certainly won’t win any prizes for quality of construction! Made a lot of mistakes, not least making the button band half the width it should be (hence why I was having such difficulties fitting the collar earlier).

That said, it looks great and I will get lots of wear out of it. A few slight fit adjustments for the next one.

I have just been catching up on the last few pages of the old thread and now up to date on this thread. Very impressed with all the makes.

Got my Christmas bags finished for DD's sale of works to raise some funds for Women's Aid. Half a dozen wine bottle bags and some Christmas tote bags.

I made myself a jacket. Mainly because I loved the fabric I wanted to use for the lining. Still, means I now have something a bit warmer now the weather has turned.

Other than that I have been toiling away. Not always successfully, I made a toile for a dress for DD. The calico felt weirdly stiff, like cardboard. I eventually realised it had a fire retardant coating! Eventually got it finished but DD decided she would prefer a longer bodice with a bigger bust fitting so I am now on that.

DM asked me to make her a top out of a scarf. I made a wearable toile for her but managed to convince her that the scarf wasnt a suitable (or big enough) piece of fabric. So now I have ordered some fabric for her.

Anyone fancy helping me find a fabric?!

I am planning to make a Helen’s closet Pona Jacket but can’t find the ‘right’ material in my local shops so need to find online instead. Of course, I don’t know what ‘right’ is - open to suggestions!

I want to make a short length version with long sleeves in a mid weight no stretch fabric - don’t want it to drape like a linen. To wear with jeans and tops in between seasons I guess. Toyed with a Chanel style fabric or a little tweed like. Or a multi dotted marl. Or a corduroy. I’d like dark red/pink or mid blue I think. Or green. (Not brown, black, cream, white, yellow or orange anyway). I’m quite an inexperienced sewer so nothing too difficult to handle.

Any links to lovely fabrics to order online you have found most welcomed! Thanks in advance.

Ooh, I am now tempted by Dalston Mill’s needlecord.

I think she herself made it in boiled wool, which is pretty easy and forgiving for a beginner, and has the advantage of not needing lining or seam finishing because it doesn't fray. Not cheap, but cosy and will last for years.

Ouch, boiled wool prices!

For something mid-weight with no stretch and some body/no drape I guess needlecord, denim or cotton drill would all work for a more casual look. Dalston Mill usually have lots of colours and weights of denim.

Ive heard the Chanel style boucle fabrics can be tricky to sew with because it frays really easily - I have some of that type of fabric and I’ve not dared to do anything with it in maybe 8 years 🫣 because I think it’ll be awkward.

There is a nice looking red 4.5oz denim too. Would that have enough weight for a jacket?

4.5oz is pretty lightweight, more like a shirt weight I think. I made dungarees in 7oz which turned out ok, but I think thick denim like they use for Levi’s is around 12oz.

Ah, so probably would be too droopy for a jacket then? Floppy lapels. Thank you.

Chewbecca - is this too dark a blue ? https://fabworks.co.uk/products/moroccan-blue-lambswool-melton

Not too dark, no, but maybe too bright? (I am a 'dark summer' in House of Colour terminology). £40 for the fabric I need (2.2m) still feels quite ouchy! I've not spent more than about £15 on fabric before. I would spend more than that on a jacket though so 🤔

Pound fabrics have got some well priced boiled wool in some gorgeous colours
https://poundfabrics.co.uk/products/plain-100-boiled-wool-fabric-1?variant=39386912260119

I can feel myself getting tempted although if there’s one item my wardrobe doesn’t need it’s a warm jacket 🤣

I’m loving all the boiled wool, but as an alternative how about some cotton drill? Easy to sew and not too expensive. This one comes in wine red: https://www.minerva.com/mp/1130837/minerva-core-range-heavy-100-cotton-drill-fabric-black&variant=1095987

Well you will be fine with a Pona, it's short and unlined so no competition with all your warm jackets!

Loving the boiled wool but Still £22 a metre and I would have to buy 3m 😲

@Chewbecca it does add up doesn’t it?

I’ve only got one warm coat, it’s one of my mum’s and so far it hasn’t been worn 🤣. I don’t really feel the cold so I have either a cardigan or a fleece jacket. I’m in trouble if it rains though

Yes I feel a bit disingenuous for suggesting the boiled wool, because I've been considering it myself but the prices make me wince! Try Fabworks for coat fabrics, they often have a deal on.

I have a F2F job interview next Friday and have little in the way of smart clothes as a) all my recent interviews have been online or by phone, and b) my previous jobs have all been outdoors. Wondering if I can churn out a smart top over the weekend along with interview prep. I could wear my new Tilly blouse I suppose... Possibly a big bright/patterned for an interview though.

I've bought lovely coatings from Croft Mill, and various markets - I've found that the time it takes to make a coat, it's not worth buying anything but the best quality you can find - pure wool, or wool/cashmere/alpaca mixes. Preston, Leicester & Huddersfield markets generally have good fabric ends from the mills in the north-west & east midlands.

I once made a lovely red coat, bought the fabric for its pure cherry red colour, but it was 10% polyester. And it pilled. Most annoying, although I got a good 5 years wear out of it - I walk, don't drive, and spend a fair bit of time on cold railway platforms travelling for work. I like a longish cocoon style, or a 50s style swing style coat which goes over a tailored jacket.

Am gearing up to pull out another 3.5 metre length of red wool from my stash (I have a few lengths of red wool coating ...) to make another one - I'm working in Norway for a few days in late November & I'll want something cheery!

I think I might just bite the bullet on payday. I definitely need a coat for the autumn; I'm sadly a bit too big for the black coat I bought nearly 10 years ago, plus it's too short, and my other warm coat is too warm for this time of year (bought for a brief stint in the Midlands a few years ago, we don't get that cold here in the south west).

I think I've sufficiently justified it to myself 😂

I would second cotton drill as a jacket fabric. I bought loomstate (unfinished) cotton drill from Dalston Mills and dyed it myself £6.60/m plus dye. The one I made was lined (I wanted to have a go at lining) but the fabric has a good, strong feel to it.

Dalston Mills also do a loomstate denim which is heavier but the same price.

Dress Up Diana (relative of Resusci Ann) is also wearing a cross back apron I made for DM for Christmas.

@Chewbecca - just came across this on a site I use - https://northernmonkeymakes.com/products/red-checked-wool-mix-per-metre-sale?_pos=11&_sid=1cfb8dccc&_ss=r

Thanks so much for sharing. I do like the pattern but not really keen on 80% polyester tbh. I don't usually buy anything polyester.

Your lining looks fabulous gnome. I need to look more into cotton drill, new for me but definitely looks like the right drapey-ness.