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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@GonnaGetGoingReturns
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@PickAChew
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@FloofyBird

It's quite substantial @CrimsonAlligator - more of a bottom weight. I bought mine for some pants but I'm contemplating a pinafore, now.

Oh no! Well at least that means my bank balance is safe for now @PickAChew!

The stall on the market too @PickAChew ? I know The Quilter’s Cupboard closed at Christmas and that would have been handy as just up the road from where we stay, but the lady in the market was so friendly and helpful! She recommended a sewing group in Pity Me, but I’m not local, unfortunately.

The sewing group in Pity Me is the one that used to be at Goldstitch, another shop that has closed down.

There's a gorgeous quilt shop in Birtley and I'm on an expedition down to Sew Fabrics in Darlington, tomorrow. Hopefully neither of those will disappear any time soon.

I love Sew Fabrics in Darlington! Bought a bolt end of some lovely floral fabric there last year. A proper Aladdin’s cave, particularly for jersey! I’m up near Swindon today and wondering if there’s any decent fabric shops nearby, not that I need anything!

A good chunk of my pyjama drawer comes from Sew Fabrics, @twobluechickens though they're not so great for woven fabrics for dressmaking.

I really wish there had been more of the one I bought. But yes, definitely better for jerseys.

@PickAChew You're in the same neck of the woods as me. Love High Street Quilting in Birtley, often visit Sew Fabrics in Darlington though I find the sheer size of the shop and the amount of fabric they stuff in there a bit overwhelming at times.

Have you visited Fabriques in Washington, @SewingBees ?@S@SewingBees
(waves. Apologises for the useless name tagging that makes it impossible to edit as you go, again)
We tried to on Monday and couldn't get parked anywhere near. The car park seems to have a fully mumsnet level of parking space wars going on. Not sure we would bother again unless we find out that it's unmissable!

I've seen a printer (for printing A0 patterns) mentioned on here before, but can't remember the name of it. Can anyone give a recommendation, please?

Is it a printer to print yourself at home or a printing company you're looking for? I always use CLC printing in Essex for my pattern printing. Decent price and very quick. I get the instructions printed in a booklet too, I think that's only another £1 and I find it easier than reading them from my iPad.

👋 sewliketosew
I think fitting is the hardest part of dressmaking tbh, something I have totally not achieved!
Have you considered a FBA - it is easier than it initially looks and it might help? Lots of tutorials online.

My best fitted blouse is the Patina blouse from the Friday Pattern Company. Love the collar.

I also use Instagram to research patterns, seeing how things turn out on all sorts of bodies is really helpful.

A printing company - thank you for the recommendation. I'm normally impatient and print at home on A4, but I want to try making a coat and it would be about 70 pages of A4

I have the afternoon off and planning on spending it and the weekend learning to shirring. Looks ambitious but I really love a shirred summer dress. I have a small chest and shoulders but a big butt and find them so flattering.
If that gets to much I’m starting on a second quilt

Shirring is really straightforward @Allthegoodnamestakken. Get a good straight line for the first row then you can use your presser foot as a guide for the rest. I usually chalk the middle row and sew that first.

Oh, I'm so annoyed. I bought some fabric from Simply Fabric and even though I knew it was narrow, it's so narrow. I knew it was 110cm width but forgot that that is quite a lot narrower than what I'm used to.

Grump.

I think it means I need to change what I'm planning on making with it - it's a dark green gingham (but not as thick a cotton as I thought either, the curses of online fabric shopping) and I had thought of a dress with billowy sleeves but not enough fabric. I could make a wrap top with it, possibly big sleeves too... I think that would end up being something I wear more than a dress.

Still. Annoyed with myself!

Lots of how to do shirring on YouTube, just watched the Tilly one and it reminded me of the Sewing Bee shirred little girl dress, now why didn't I do this for granddaughter rather than the other one I started! Can't sew at the moment as I have a blurry eye.

Disappointingly the sewing shop was closed for the day. I've had to content myself with a Burda magazine to peruse.

I'm a fan of clc printing, too. I put a big order in the other day.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm meeting myself coming backwards deciding what to try next. Has anyone done tatb nell blouse? I'm going backwards and forwards deciding.

I really like the patina blouse, also the remy raglan could be a winner. I'm just not sure what to spend my hard earned on!

Some more suggestions for you @Sewliketosew. It’s a comparison of lots of different patterns, which may help you visualise things a bit more. Unfortunately it doesn’t cover the three patterns you mention, but it may still be useful to look through for inspiration.

https://guthrie-ghani.co.uk/blog/laurens-round-up-of-woven-top-sewing-patterns

Remi Raglan is a very popular pattern, but I don’t think it will give you the semi-fitted look you’re after (others on this thread may be able to confirm or disagree with that statement!) Patina blouse has buttons as does TatB’s Nell, which also doesn’t look very fitted. Out of the three, the Remy Raglan looks to me to be the best bet for a beginner, if you don’t mind the less fitted look. It must be popular for a reason!

Another vote for CLC. I’ve also used Netprinter with good results.

Some great ideas here, thank you!

So the process of shirring is much simpler than I expected but the tutorial I used said use 1.5x fabric however my resulting piece is tiny think I’d need more like 2.5x fabric.
going to do another piece and have 2 side seams rather than a shirred tube with a back seam but it this something I’ve done or just a case of trial and error with the fabric type

You can 'tune' how tight the shirring is by changing the stitch length, I know I had to faff around a bit to stop it coming out really tight and tiny, but I can't remember which way I had to go. I think 1.5 to 1.75 would have been the ratio on my blouse, but that was just edges and cuffs, rather than a bodice.

I finished my trousers in the random dobby I bought. They will be good gardening trousers I think. I certainly don’t plan on wearing them where I’ll be seen by other humans 🤣. Not really sure what this fabric would be good for as it’s tough and handles dreadfully. I couldn’t even press it into submission. It’s destined for the rag bag.

This week I’m hoping to use up two lengths of cotton jersey and one floral viscose. All online purchases and all significantly not as described. One is lovely but needs lining, one should have been beige but turned up pink and the viscose is lovely but the colour makes me look washed out. All destined for nightwear or underwear so I’m in for a boring week