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
@bookbook
@FletchingStraight
@Tinuviel
@Karatema
@Brefugee
@kittykarate
@Greaterthanthesumoftheparts
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@123ZYX
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@FarEast
@Dellabob123
@Twobluechickens
@SBAM
@InMySpareTime
@Jins
@CrimsonAlligator
@MontyDonsBlueScarf
@Bouncydog
@Hoogieflip
@GonnaGetGoingReturns
@Subolooo
@SleepingisanArt
@GnomeDePlume
@Chewbecca
@Ingefae
@Rosenspants
@Cynderella
@PickAChew
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@Pastabest
@BlackAmericanoNoSugar
@Frumpyunicorn
@WickDittington
@Allthegoodnamestakken
@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
@SheWasASkaterGirl
@Isabelle70
@Twwodoorsaway
@FloofyBird

I thought I was having a successful sewing day, merrily making a Fibremood Gedda skirt with a kind of floral lace overlay. However, it is ridiculously too long and the nice bit of the lace is going to get chopped off if I take it up. Part of me thinks it could work as a dress. Agh, I just don't know!

Just thinking out loud but would love if there was an platform that could connect beginner sewers to sewing mentors or sewing club where people come together to sew. Unless there is something already that exist

There's an Instagram account called thesewcialdirectory which advertises local sewing groups

You could call it SEWr or something.

Circle poodle skirt finished in time for the fancy dress party tonight. I am pleased with how it has turned out and got to use the tiny hem turning tool.

That is so cute @Isabelle70

That’s very cute @Isabelle70. Love the colour too!

My Dalston Mill lucky dip denim bundle arrived this morning. I’m impressed with what I got! There’s 4 pieces of mid weight denim, all between 2 - 2.20 metres each and a mix of blue and black.

As two pieces are identical I definitely have enough length to make some trousers. I’m also planning a denim dress combining two of the pieces of denim (already have the Grainline Farrow lined up for that) and may be a skirt with the remaining piece. DH has requested a tool roll, so any remnants will go towards that.

This may be the best £30 I’ve ever spent! 😂

Please help! My waistband hasn't completely caught, but I don't really want to unpick as the fabric is really delicate and wasn't happy with me taking out the gathering stitches does anyone have any advice? Thank you

@CrimsonAlligator that sounds like a bargain!

I love the circle skirt@Isabelle70

I am not sure I know what I am looking at @Frumpyunicorn - is that the inside or outside seam ? Is it very fraying material ? Could you use wonderweb to 'stick' it down ?

Thanks @bookbook the photo is of the inside, so the outside is fine but I stiitched it from the right side but not all of the inside waistband has been caught in the stitching

Could you hand stitch the bits you didn’t catch @Frumpyunicorn, e.g, using a slip stitch?

Yes , maybe handstitch

I would hand stitch that as @CrimsonAlligator says - too risky to unpick.

@GnomeDePlume - this may not be your thing , or a bit drapey for the pattern , but saw this whilst browsing Fabworks - https://fabworks.co.uk/products/poisoned-pen-garnet-obsidian-jewel-jacquard

I actually managed some sewing today - pants for potty training for twin granddaughters using up bits left from making for DGS - so Lego in the mix 😀

Thanks everyone I hadn't thought of handstitching but will give it a go, the actual waistband will be reinforced as I will stich over the elastic when it is added so I just need to tidy the inside to stop it fraying

Those of you who have sewn swimwear, what kind of fabric do you use and where do you buy it from? I’m hoping to make a new swimsuit and a rash guard. Presumably I need powermesh or some sort of lining?

@twobluechickens for swim fabric I use Little Legs Fabric.

@bookbook that fabric is fabulous. Unfortunately I think it is too light but it would make a great lining for something like a waistcoat.

Love the pants! Is there something different about toilet training pants?

Those pants are so great!

@twobluechickens I have bought most of my swim Lycra in Abakhan’s bargain bins as it’s the one thing I like to feel in person first. I bought some from Pound Fabrics to use for contrast strips and that was nice. I use a variety of linings. Sometimes I line with the same fabric, sometimes specialist swim lining and sometimes powermesh. I used some stretch dobby from pound a metre in a toile recently and that worked really well so it wasn’t the disastrous purchase I thought it was.

I prefer the rubber swim elastic to the clear but I’ve used ordinary braided elastic in all my toiles and it’s still holding up.

Which pattern are you planning?

I love the pants @bookbook.

Thanks @Daffyyellow and @Jins - much appreciated. I am planning to sew the Made for Mermaids Reagan rash vest but haven’t decided on a swimsuit pattern yet (although I do like the Jalie racer back). Never done anything with swim fabric before but am quite excited to give it a go!

I'm also a purchaser of swim lycra from the Abakhan bargain bins - it's nice to be able to feel the heft of it, stretch it so you can see if the pattern goes 'weird' under strain etc. Linings - you can buy 'proper' swim linings, but I've basically only ever used the same material, powermesh or some online purchased lycra that was a bit too see through for use on its own.

The Elastic wars are real on the internet. On one group I'm in on Facebook, it's rubber elastic only, on the other it's "meh, braided is fine, yes chlorine will eat it, but it'll probably eat your swimsuit just as fast" I find braided is easier to sew with, so I tend to use that. You can get swim braided elastic if you're feeling fancy.

Not much exciting to report here, currently working on the avalon scrappy summer quilt and loving the 1/4 inch seam foot I bought. Once I have the two quilts I am working on done I want to attempt my Atelier Jupe blouses and also start work on some Christmas stockings.

I've made the wide leg trousers from https://simplicity.com/simplicity/s8378 using some scrap scuba. They are very very wide legged, but a nice comfy pattern. Made a bit of a hash of the waistband, so that will go on my 'unpick/fixer up' pile in the near future. I'll make them again in a plain black to take on holiday, as I like some easy, but not too scruffy pull on pants for evening wear.

Behold my enormous pants!