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.

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My taking a punt stores are poundametre (have had some fabulous bargains but recent purchases have been dire) and poundfabrics (much better)

I buy most of my viscose from an eBay seller, luckylucky67. It’s described as Pakistani linen but it’s definitely viscose. I favourite it then get an offer of 6% off the next day. I’ve had some lovely stretch fabrics from them as well.

Everything else is Abakhan. Usually the bargain bins but off the roll if it’s for a particular project. If I’m spending more than about £5/m I want to see and feel it.

I’ve just discovered Knighton fabrics and have a couple of items in my basket. So far I’m resisting purchase because I’m trying to destash.

@twobluechickens adjustments to swimming costume patterns are a bit like a dark art but I’ve worked out that for length adjustments you adjust by half of the amount you need. I highly recommend getting some cheap swim Lycra for toiles.

Now I’ve got a simple pattern adjusted to fit me I feel more confident about trying something more complex.

Thanks! I am tall and often have to add an inch or two to tops so will try it in increments to get the right fit.

Elastic finished. If I was being ultra fussy I’d alter the armscye to make the straps further apart at the front. A thousand curses on wide shoulders. That’s a job for another day though. I’ve used braided elastic for this one but in future I’ll use a mix of rubber and clear swim elastic to get the tensions working better. This is a swimsuit for a couple of lengths in the hotel pool or a dip in the sea. I don’t think I could swim any significant distance or at decent speeds in it.

Anyway the photos show the first toile (which is now a high waisted tankini) next to the current one.

edit. The way the photos have uploaded shows the adjusted one on the left and the original on the right

Picked up some ridiculously wacky fabric at the weekend, couldn’t resist at 2M for £4 and it’s 100% cotton.
any suggestions on what to do with it, I think it might be a bit much to have as a dress but perhaps a top or skirt.

Ooh I love that fabric and what a bargain! I’d probably make a dress with it but 2m may not be enough. Love notions tempo sundress would be my choice as the shirring at the back would look very interesting. Otherwise it would make a fab maxi wrap skirt.

If anyone is after black viscose can I recommend this. I bought a shorter length last week and it’s as good as any I’ve bought elsewhere for more money

Just posting to say I too love that fabric. It’s gorgeous!

If I could wear patterns, I’d make a short sleeved shirt and not give a damn about what other people think. It’s amazing 🤩

That fabric is fab. It would make great camp collar shirt.

@PickAChew has nailed it there. A camp collar would be fab. I retract my skirt suggestion.

This reduces the difficulty by having dolman sleeves https://www.lovenotions.com/product/melody-dolman

Or the vivace dolman works well with bigger prints https://www.lovenotions.com/product/vivace-dolman

Thankyou, its only 44" wide so a dress would be a squeeze, although I usually wear a 10 in patterns so sometimes get away with it for certain designs. Will take a look at the shirts. I do quite like the idea of it as a skirt though, fear it may be a little to much right next to my face.

Excellent swimming costume and I like the whacky fabric - a shirt would be brilliant.

I'm cross with myself because I've just cut out a dress in a mustard fabric that was given to me and then remembered I haven't got any matching thread. And I've got a stinking cold, so don't really feel like going shopping. I'm at that stage of feeling ill where I'm bored, but not really well enough to do much, so a bit of sewing would have been perfect

Has anyone been a member of gertie patreon, was wondering if it's worth it

I'm not a member as her sewing style isn't very 'me', but it looks a decent deal if you like her style especially as you get access to past pdf monthly patterns when you join even on the cheapest tier. With Patreon you can join and cancel fairly easily, so you can try it out, if the new monthly patterns are duds, download the previous ones you like and unsubscribe.

I love that fabric too!

Almost finished my Paola jacket. Really pleased with it. Just need buttons so will peruse my stash tomorrow and nip into town if I can’t find anything I like. Also need to reinforce the pocket tops so will be attempting to bar tack three layers of denim - wish me luck!

Does anyone have a discount code for Knighton Fabrics?

Love that fabric @Allthegoodnamestakken

I have 1.5m of this fabric and can't decide what to make. Its a bit deeper in colour than the photo, a deep plum.It's a poly viscose I think and has bit of weight to it. I fancy some puffy sleeved top like the lemont but not 100% that the sleeves will sit up puffy, not sure if it'd be better in poplin.
Otherwise I love the camp shirt type styles, almost a but 50s but still no buttons or zips for me yet. Friday pattern company has the Donny shirt which could be good, though with the checks it'd be easy to mess it up.

Any suggestions for an autumn top?

My jacket buttons are too big for my buttonhole maker 😬 so that’s a new challenge. In other news, I churned out a pair of Assembly Line pyjamas yesterday in a jersey I’ve had in my stash for years. Very pleased with them although now considering a coverstitch machine because doing the hems was 🥱 Possibly excessive given I don’t do much in stretch fabrics but so tempted!

Oh no @twobluechickens! Are snaps an option? Hand made button holes? (I’ve been watching too many tailoring videos, so perhaps ignore that second suggestion 😂). I personally love the look of bound buttonholes, but not sure if you can easily add those once you’ve sewn everything else up, or how difficult those are to make full stop.

How did you find sewing up the jacket apart from the button issue? I have a jacket on my sewing wish list, but go between “that’s WAY too difficult” to “it’s really just like sewing up a shirt but with thicker fabric, so nothing to worry about!”. I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle?

@Sewliketosew that fabric looks like it would be a good fit for the Donny. With a fabric pattern like that, the main thing I would focus on is making sure the horizontal lines line up on the front. I personally wouldn’t worry too much about the vertical lines matching. The pocket is a different matter - I prefer to cut pockets on the bias when working with check, so that the lines on the pocket run diagonally. It solves the issue of needing to match things perfectly, but does bring a few other challenges. I’d suggest doing a quick google on how to cut and handle bias fabrics, if you’re going down that road.

@CrimsonAlligator I think handmade buttonholes might be my only option, or I could try with a very narrow zigzag stitch on the machine. Off to do some googling. If I make it again I’ll try bound buttonholes as they look beautiful.

I have found it a really easy sew, the hardest part was the flat-felled seams but that was because I used a very fray-prone fabric. I also bias bound the facings because I like making work for myself 😂 A few seams needed a hump jumper but with a denim needle it was pretty easy.

Could you do two sides and one end of a half-size buttonhole then turn it round and do the other half the same way?

Satin ballet shoes. The side seams have come undone. 2 rows of stitching on each side of the shoes about halfway back from the sole to the top binding. Any advice on thread, needle etc to mend using my sewing machine - I don’t hand sew!

My yellow dress is finished. It is very yellow! It's definitely going to need a biker jacket to tone it down a bit. No pic now but maybe when it's out in the wild.

I don’t know, but I’m going to give it a try on some scrap fabric! Will report back…

I think I would buy new buttons!

@Chewbecca the thought has crossed my mind 😬