Stitch and bitch thread #9. I have pressing concerns

[NutellaEllaElla]

Welcome welcome!

I've not made anything for ages after I screwed up the same thing twice. I'm gonna have another blimmin crack at it though! I've reconnected with another hobby and work is seriously getting in the way of everything I want to do, darn it.

@Daffyyellow
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@kittykarate
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@FriendsDrinkBook
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@InMySpareTime
@Jins
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@FloofyBird

It's a lovely breezy looking dress, @jins.

That looks perfect @Jins

Thanks! It’s a lovely breezy, swishy dress that’s incredibly easy to sew. One for my holiday to Turkey later this year I think. Another length of fabric leaves the stash - I’ve had this piece for about 4 years with the vague intention of making a jumpsuit 🤣

I’m not sure what the next project will be but I’m enjoying the challenge of stashbusting. The pile is going down slowly but surely

I love that dress @Jins ! I am back from holiday and looking at my Jemima dress which now only needs the hem doing. However it is too big....has anyone taken in side seams using the pinning whilst wearing inside out method? I also really want to avoid it looking lumpy around the hips which needs less taken in than around the waist, so careful blending needed.

I’ve done it @Rosenspants but it did end up a bit lumpy at the hip. Tack it first and see how it looks.

I haven’t got much to show yet as I’m still waiting for the thread! I haven’t even received an email to confirm it’s been dispatched. I’ve just ordered a second lot from Amazon and paid for next day delivery. I refuse to wait more than 3 days to thread this machine 😂

You can use ordinary sewing thread @CrimsonAlligator. in fact I first threaded mine with 4 different colours to work out which thread went where. Might help the wait?

You can definitely use 'normal' sewing thread. The only reason people buy 'overlocker' thread is it is cheaper by the metre, as it can be a bit lower quality than a good quality sewing thread and the loopers use so much thread compared to the needles. I tend to only buy matchy colours for the needle threads and just use black/white on my loopers if its on the inside of the garment (rather than being a visible rolled hem)

@Jins @kittykarate say what?! Mind blown 😂 Thanks for that!

I’ve just bought some bulk looper thread for my coverstitch and I’m so happy with the result I might invest in some for the overlocker. Apparently it’s the proper term for woolly nylon - who knew?

I’ve also reduced a lot of coverstitch teething problems by using the spool nets they helpfully supplied. I’m going to get some of them for the overlocker too! It keeps the thread feeding from the top of the spool

I’ve managed to squeeze a Sew House 7 willow wrap belt out of the remnants of my kinjarling and I’m really pleased with the combo.

just tiny scraps left

So annoyed, the white cotton patterned fabric I purchased for a hotel/beach dress is see through! I have cut it out too, tacked it together to see what it's like and nope can't wear that.
The fabric will be fine for a top so will have to look in my stash of Prima patterns.
Do you normally unravel some of the fabric to see what the thickness is like before buying?

I hunted high and low for a non see through white fabric but it all needs lining really I think

White is particularly bad for 'easy,breezy,summery' ending up as too see through.

I usually clock how see through a fabric is when I'm hanging it out on the line when I'm pre-washing, too late as I've bought it!

@kittykarate should I have prewashed? I haven't made any clothes apart from a bit of fancy dress for about 20 years.
I never used to prewash back then.
I have a pool bag to make, hopefully that might be a bit more successful.

@Isabelle70 pre washing is useful because fabric often shrinks on the first wash. By pre washing you get the shrinking done before cutting pieces to size.

If you've already done your cutting out, try to just do gentle low temperature washes.

The amount of shrinking depends on the fabric, so you might not have any

I have made a pool bag! Based on the size of my current cloth weekday bag and the size of a folded towel. And pretty spot on from my inspiration photo 😁
Now to tidy the trail of destruction over the floor and chairs……

Love the pool bag. I’m making a crumb quilt for a baby as this weekend’s project. The weather is so awful that I’m glad I’ve got something to keep me busy.

Great bag and the dark bottom will help it not to get quite so grubby looking.

I have the Heather blazer ready to start but I’m a procrastinator!
I made these Style Arc separates from a sale price £10 duvet cover from Dunelm.

Fantastic sewing everyone!

I have just taken advantage of the pattern sale at Hobbycraft and picked up a couple of summer jumpsuits from McCalls (7330 and 8119).

They look great, @nameohnameohname .

I am on a cutting spree, this week. I cut and sew in batches as I need to clear the table for cutting and I quite enjoy being able to finish a project off and get stuck straight in to the next. Today, I squeezed a shirt, needing over 2m of 150 wide fabric (and with a not particularly inefficient suggested layout) out of 1.5m of 135 wide fabric with a dodgy bit that I had to avoid. It meant having to cut the inside yoke in 2 pieces but I manged it and didn't even have to leave off the pocket.

Lovely top @nameohnameohname

This weekend's projects.

I was planning to do a bit of sewing this weekend but I’ve worn myself out gardening and now the cat is on my lap and it’s game over 😁

I sewed my mostly wearable toile for my Seasons of East dress. More boob room needed in v2, and the front needs tacking up a bit further to reduce bra flash.