Stitch and bitch thread #10. There’s a pattern here

[NutellaEllaElla]

Time for a new thread as the weather starts to turn.
Welcome back oldies and come on in newbies!

@Brefugee
@PickAChew
@BlackAmericanoNoSugar
@Bookbook
@Allthegoodnamestakken
@SewingBees
@Twobluechickens
@kittykarate
@Jins
@Chewbecca
@CrimsonAlligator
@InMySpareTime
@MeAgainAndAgain
@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
@Rosenspants
@OperationalSupport
@Twobluechickens
@Frumpyunicorn
@Hiddendoor
@PrincessofWells
@Isabelle70
@Daffyyellow
@Sewliketosew
@Lifesingflowers
@123ZYX
@Faffadoodledo
@MorriganManor
@GnomeDePlume
@Isabelle70
@DiggoryVenn
@Wilma55
@ZebraD
@Frankincenseandoranges
@Catnipcupcakes
@Tinuviel
@Karatema
@Nameohnameohname
@Outandabout43
@Thesugarbumfairy
@DuchessNope
@ShoAndSew
@Notthatcatagain
@Spaceman101
@Karatema
@Twwodoorsaway

My sewing plans for 2025 are:

Closet core Ginger jeans (according to Instagram I'm the only sewist who hasn't made these yet)

closet core Sienna coat, long version

I have denim and a lovely dark blue boiled wool for the coat, all the haberdashery but just lacked time to get started on them before now.

thanks for the bag recs, I'll have a good peruse. I really would like it so i can go to football with it on 11th January, but we'll see.

I have no real plans, i do have "things i want/need to make" and some small projects (making a cushion cover from a beloved fluffy jumper, a cover for the foldout bed that lives in my sewing room, a bag, etc etc)

it will depend on how my job search goes, how much of it i get done

I have been busy , so sewing time has been restricted .
I managed before Christmas to make a pair of pjs for my Lego loving DGS - he loved them
Am now making up beachcomber tunics ( Waves and Wild) for my twin granddaughters ,
Next in line - an IOU for my daughter for Christmas is another Halla Agnes swing dress . She loved the one I made her in autumn . We searched for the right material ( no point in her not choosing after all ) . Higgs and Higgs came up trumps . A tweak more expensive than other firms , but perfect . Not only that - I ordered it at 10. 30 on the Friday before Christmas , and it arrived on the Monday ! Fabulous service . Its washed , and ready to cut out when I have finished the tunics .
I have promised myself not to get stressed out if I dont have time to sew , but take it as it comes . I always seem to have a longer 'to do ' list , than time available .
@ShoAndSew - I have bought this bag pattern to make for myself - , the Ellie and Mac patterns do good instructions , so I am keeping my fingers crossed . I am wanting a larger WIP carrying bag for my crochet when I go to my craft club
https://www.ellieandmac.com/products/florence-foldover-bag-pattern?srsltid=AfmBOopuxBkYLuV1DuH6IFjACWJ1Bm8V7jKFExRsrizblTkCgwVmb6y-

I turned some jungle print french terry, that’s been in my stash for ages, into a Pogonip Pullover. This was such a fun project! I used needlecord for the trims and somehow ended up with something that’s a lot more wearable than I’d originally envisaged.

I really thought this print was destined to become a “house-jumper”, but I may now actually wear this where other people can see it…it’s wild, but kind of fun too 😊

That is fab @CrimsonAlligator ! I’d totally wear that.

Finished my I Am Patterns Sunshine jeans. They look great on the hanger but not on me. My mistake was to make them a couple of sizes smaller because I was using a stretch denim - they are just too small, plus they’re stretched over my belly and hips but not my legs so I look like a sausage bursting out of its skin. They would have looked better in my actual size. They’re also a little bit too long so I’d not add quite so much to the length next time. I am going to make them again, because the leg shape is great!

My NY resolution to use only the fabric I already have before buying more lasted all of 18 hours. Couldn’t resist some See You At Six French terry on sale.

@twobluechickens I think all purchase related resolutions should only be started after the sales have finished. The first week of February seems like a good time to start.

I like your thinking @BlackAmericanoNoSugar

I’m wavering too @twobluechickens. My resolution is not as strict as yours - just to buy less fabric than I use up. I’m currently being tempted by some retro corduroy, which would be perfect for the jacket I have planned for later this year. In fact, it’d probably be perfect for half the things I want to make in 2025.

I’ve also seen some gorgeous Oxford - dark blue with thin fuchsia stripes. It’d make a slightly unusual, but not too out there shirt. It’s so tempting 😂

Thanks both! This thread is just a means to enable each other, isn’t it?

I might have also bought a few patterns - all useful rather than ornamental but I don’t have the right fabric for those either 🙄

See you at Six on sale you say?

@Hiddendoor yes, at Make Fabric Boutique in Plymouth. Not everything, but some lovely things and not just SYAS.

https://www.makefabricboutique.co.uk/collections/fabricsale

Thank you @twobluechickens I shall peruse!

My newyears sewing resolution is just to try and improve the balance of stuff in (patterns , fabrics) to stuff actually used. I'm going to make patterns from my library, I have tons that I've bought and been too lazy to print.

So obviously i bought some cheap and hopefully not nasty fabrics on poundametre.

I did a bunch of finishing off/put off jobs between Xmas and new year. Shortened 1 pair of ski leggings, 1 pair of tikiboo leggings ( in theory could have made not bought these, but sourcing the fabric at a sensible price is hard). Shortened another pair of ski leggings in a weird way( taking out 2 inches above the knee) because they have a very distinct knee area which has never lined up on me, and they were bugging me for years. Shortened sleeves by 3cm on a 2nd hand cycling jersey (gone from orangutan to gorilla). Hemmed 2 lycra sports tops. You can tell I'm off skiing in a few weeks.

I quite enjoy having a pile of things to adjust @kittykarate. I’d have been happy with that lot.

Day 2 of 2025 and I haven’t bought fabric or patterns. I can’t remember which was the year of my self imposed fabric buying ban but looking at the stash I’m not sure it worked. My next project will be bedroom curtains. It’s a weird three window room so won’t be a quick job. I’m on the lookout for wide sheeting for linings but so far it looks like the linings will cost more than the curtains which doesn’t feel right.

Weighed in yesterday with a New Year, New Me attitude. Hopefully it will last long enough to drop a stone

Happy New Year everyone. I haven’t done any sewing over Christmas and haven’t made anything to wear for months, since a deeply unsuccessful pair of black trousers (my fault- the fabric was too heavy for the style). I’ve got my beautiful moth fabric still to use - I think it will become an Indigo but with several flounces.

My only resolution is to try to get myself onto a sewing class to learn about zips, because I really want to make a Peony dress.

I did a zip sewing class at Abakhan's - it was good, and for a short time I wasn't phased by zips. You do need to keep practicing them though, I'm back to being cack handed.

I can do zips in pouches, but for some reason the idea of doing them in clothing terrifies me!

The invisible zip foot always wrecks my work, so I end up doing 'semi visible' zips.

Tbh I quite like the look of visible zips anyway, but must admit I have no idea about the inserting of either kind!

I can put in zips really neatly but almost always muck up the ends. And in four pairs of trousers I've made, I've only put a zip in right once, on the first pair. I can't figure out how to get them in properly, one pair ended up back to front.

Really hoping the jeans have good instructions...

I should look for a class though, to make sure I'm getting it right.

Sharing this in case anyone’s interested in a free online class about zips:

https://www.craftsy.com/class/mastering-zipper-techniques

It’s really good. I worked my way through this early on in my “sewing journey” and not had many problems with zip insertions since.

Oh you gem, I'll use that today! Thank you!

thanks for the zipper class, i'm ok for everything except clothing.

What is French terry - when i hear "terry" i think of towelling.

French Terry has knit on one side, and the loopy bits you're familiar from terry towelling on the other, though they are softer in french terry. So it's warm, has a bit stretch, doesn't itch, is pretty stable and easy clean.

It's just a type of jersey/sweatshirting, @ShoAndSew usually loop back though I've had some that is fluffy on the back. Some of it is quite light but the see you at six is a little heavier.