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
@rivercobbler
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@FletchingStraight
@Tinuviel
@Karatema
@Brefugee
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@SBAM
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@Jins
@CrimsonAlligator
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@Allthegoodnamestakken
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@SheWasASkaterGirl
@Isabelle70
@Twwodoorsaway
@FloofyBird

Am going to try cutting out with rotary cutter, dress for 4 year old so should fit on my cutting mat. Am used to rotary cutter for patchwork but not dressmaking. Any tips?

@wilma55 I cut out smaller pattern pieces on my cutting mat. I use a combination of rotary cutters (I have a large and a small - the small one is better for tight curves) and scissors. I tend to start with any straight lines which I do using a ruler and rotary cutter.

If you're right handed cut with the pattern piece to the left of the blade (and vice versa) that way you can see if you're being accurate.

@Wilma55 use pattern weights to hold the pattern down onto the fabric (or tins of beans etc if you don’t have weights).

I’ve never adapted to a rotary cutter although I should really make the effort to try again.

Toile finished and it’s definitely too short in the body so it’s a bit weird round the neckline when I put it on. Easy adaptation though. This was £3 for 3m Lycra from POM. It’s not advertised as swim Lycra but it feels very similar so good for toiles

I changed my cutting blade the other day. Blimey what a difference 😁
I'm making a Waves&Wild bucket hat, thanks to whoever posted the link yonks ago,cut it with the cutter (first time doing that, I usually only use it for straight lines, and it was pretty good.

@Brefugee I also changed my blade last week and it was revolutionary! gone from hardly cutting through a single piece of quilting cotton to flying through a 3 layer quilt!
I just need to bind my quilt now and its done and then I can have a go at some more clothes

I am so impressed with the swimsuit @Jins I really need to try as all swimsuits are too short for me but I am not quite there yet!

The pillowcase pyjamas shorts were a fun pattern although I managed to get the print upside down! I also found a free kids vest top pattern online so will be making a few pairs of summer pj's for the girls

Wow some inspiring makes here.

Please let us see the quilt once finished @Allthegoodnamestakken.

I've cut out the dress using rotary cutter. Found even new blade didn't always cut right through. Also couldn't manage the notches. Generally though think this is the way forward, thanks for the tips!

No Sewing Bee till tomorrow 😔

Yes. Don't do it like they do on sewing bee. I'm amazed that some of them still have all their fingers. Keep them behind the blade and cut away from yourself, rather than sideways, where possible, as you have more control.

If your fabric is at all shifty, pin the notches, corners and any sharp bends rather than just rely on weights. I weight in between pins, often with a steel ruler, and use another ruler to hold the fabric outside of the pattern piece steady (see above point about not slicing your fingers off. It tends to ruin the fabric)

Oh, and always use scissors for notches. A rotary cutter isn't accurate enough for that.

I use a rotary cutter but have some small fabric scissors bought specifically for cutting out notches! I find if the fabric is very slippery then using clips to clip the bits I have cut out to the paper helps keep it all in place as well as weights

I love my rotary cutters. I have a 45mm one for everyday fabric cutting, a 28mm one for tight curves and an old 45mm one for paper! I use pattern weights and also a large acrylic ruler (with a large handle attached with suction cups) for straight edges but also to hold pattern and fabric in place. Also buy the largest cutting mat you can fit and afford.

All this talk of rotary cutters has inspired me to dig mine out. I’ve decided the only way to find out how much to add to the length of the swimsuit pattern is to cut the toile in half. 🤣

I’m determined to get a good fit as i can use the amended pattern pieces as a guide for the future.

I need to line up the next stashbusting projects as I’m hoping to reduce the stash by at least one item a month

Also buy the largest cutting mat you can fit and afford.

beware that you need to store it flat though otherwise they develop waves. I have an A0 one which is big enough for most patterns for me (i have cut out a dress on it. Haven't sewn it together though)

@Wilma55 I probably should've name changed before joining the thread so I can more happily share my makes! perhaps I need to reappear under a new name!

Put the binding on last night in teeny tiny stitches to ensure it was secure and realised I had lined it up to wrong side of the presser foot so theirs no room for it to fold over to the back. So now I have meters of teeny tiny stitches to undo. That will teach me to sew while exhausted at 10pm

Too short in the body by nearly 10cm!!!!

I think I’ll convert it to a tankini at this point. Crop tops and high waisted bottoms are in I’m told

Anyone else get sewing withdrawal symptoms?? I can’t get to my machine until Friday night and I have things I want to finish/start! Then have guests staying until Tuesday so it won’t be until the middle of next week before I can really get on with things.

I have a love hate relationship with rotary cutters, but agree with everything Daffy says re using them . I tend to only use for straight cuts , not around curves . So a lot of my bag making , and also neckbands/waistbands etc on stretch material pieces. These are what I have out today for making pants from scraps for my twin grandchildren ( they are due to start potty training , so will need loads 😂)

Oh , and I picked this up in a charity shop for £2 and unopened ! I have some nice cotton lawn somewhere in my stash…

I've just started a project that took me ages to cut out (big, shifty fabric that creases, grumbling back!) , @twobluechickens and it was a relief to finally get my machines back on the table, today. I've missed them.

Anyone watching The Repair Shop? The pattern matching on this shirt is amazing!

Oh wow. I don't bother with big patterns because it uses so much fabric.

I love spotting pattern matching. DH was laughing last night because I was going on about the pattern matched pocket and shoulder seams on the shirt of his favourite woodwork podcaster, Peter Millard.

Mrs Millard, if that was you, I take my hat off to you!

last year i hemmed (roll hem on an overlocker - boy that thing paid for itself that day) a bridesmaids dress for my daughter, this year 3 (daughter and 2 friends) so now i feel as though the overlocker was worth it for just that alone.

I have been thinking how to hem a silk ciiffon fabric i have (I'd like to make a skirt) but even that overlock hem seems very heavy for the fabric. And then i saw this video and i just want to try it right away.

Will practice first though.

I need to make a circle skirt for a fancy dress 50's skirt. I don't believe I will find any nice fabric wide enough so if I just join some? As it's fancy dress it will be ok?