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

I’ve never tried making a proper tailored jacket - I don’t really wear them. But I like the idea of it. Just not convinced that the something requiring precise cutting and sewing is the right match for my “sod it that’ll do” approach.

2024 was my year of the jacket, not tailored though. Cashmerette Fairfax jackets, many of them. I make them of prequilted fabric, I have enlarged the pockets to the middle front seam and the bottom edge and rounded the top corners. I have also made several as gilets - that have been very useful in the recent cold spell, as I wear them under the matching jackets! I have some Sherpa lined bubble cord to make another one, just bumbling over sizing as it will be more of an outer layer than the others I have made.

I'm waiting for my first instructions for a quilt along, but the designer is in the States so she's not even awake yet. I've done all the cutting, which took quite a long time as every piece is a different size. I'm more or less following one of her inspiration colourways but using my stash so not exactly the same. It's a nice slow pace, every fortnight between now and July. The only thing is that there isn't a FB group, just an Instagram tag. I find Instagram a bit unreliable, when I search for a tag I don't think it's showing me everything, but I also suspect that my preference for FB is an age thing.

It’s great when you find a pattern that works for you and fits into your life easily @Daffyyellow. Sounds like you found one in the Fairfax!

I’ve finished the outside of the Heather Blazer and am halfway through the lining. I don’t think it’s going to become a go-to pattern for me (the fit is off around the shoulders and it’s generally a bit sack-like in appearance) I suspected that might be the case though, so I’m not disappointed. The instructions are great, which is really what I bought it for. I think the end result will be wearable on days that I don’t care too much about what I look like…which is most days really 😂

That quilt looks gorgeous @BlackAmericanoNoSugar! I don’t have much experience using Instagram for sewing related things, but have used it for other things (e.g. painting challenges) and it works ok-ish.

On a related note, does anyone here use the Threadloop app? I only came across it a few weeks ago. It’s been useful for organising my stash and keeping track of what patterns I have etc. Similar to Ravelry, but for sewing.

@CrimsonAlligator Threadloop looks interesting. I may give it a go. Thanks for the tip.

Hi all. I’m still following your progress with none of my own to report

Weight loss journey continues. I’ve lost a few inches here and there but it’s slow at my age. Waist is an inch smaller though which is good. Curtains are next on the list then I’m planning on making some Cubic bags to organise my hair and makeup stuff. Can’t wait to make some clothes though

Hi everyone

I haven't got much to report either. I am making a skirt but progress is slow. I like the look of those bags @Jins they look really handy.

They’re cute aren’t they @Frumpyunicorn. I like the fact that there are 3 sizes. I think they’d be really useful for travel as well, especially for all the bedside table stuff that I accumulate. I like the way they turn into a tray.

Ooh I didn't realise they were 3 sizes @Jins, I was thinking they would be good for packing too as you can open it up but don't have to take everything out. I think I will invest in the pattern with the aim of making some before I go away in the summer

i have been sewing cushion covers in the hopes of reducing the stash. But urgh. I have ugly fabrics so ... i bought a few bits. Spent half a day making what i thought would look lovely, only for it to turn out a complete mess. I have a lot to learn about what goes with what in the patchwork world!

I haven't done any sewing since my repair session a few weeks ago. I have some more stuff to repair but no new plans for stuff really. I should get my head down and sew a few 'nice' tops as I'm away on a cruise with my mam in March, and I don't really have much in the way of stuff to wear.

I have been so tired this week that I didn’t want to do any sewing in case I made some stupid mistakes. But decided sod it tonight and am about to cut out some sleeves for my McCalls 7360.

For some reason I can't find the related posts to copy here, but I wanted to thank those who took time to help me with the beginning of my crochet cardigan. You may recall I was bamboozled by the written instructions because it gave them and then gave a summary, which I thought were further instructions!

I managed to sort out the granny square from a youtuber and in the past three weeks have completed the requisite 42 squares and am on to the stripes.

I may be back when I come to the sleeves, it's looking rather unclear!

I think there's a "knit and natter" chat, or something similar you might be thinking of? This one tends to be sewing based

Well that would be why I can't find it then...insert meno-brain quip here 🙄

@123ZYX It’s here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/arts_and_crafts/4908830-its-crochet-knit-and-natter-thread-11-so-much-yarn-we-need-a-yarn-barn?page=15&reply=141462913

@ChoccyJules you'd be very welcome to join us here, now you've found your way over. Hang around for a while and someone's photos will definitely tempt you to give sewing a go

@ChoccyJules you'd be very welcome to join us here, now you've found your way over. Hang around for a while and someone's photos will definitely tempt you to give sewing a go

Sleeves successfully attached last night. I have started doing it on the flat rather than sewing up the sleeve seam and then setting the sleeve in, it’s so much easier. Was tempted to make a start on the collar but they are always my nemesis and so I decided to leave it until the weekend.

I’ve made some good progress with my Heather blazer this week. Just the hem and the button to go. I’ve added some thin shoulder pads and sleeve head rolls (hand made, which made me feel like a tailoring pro!). Neither are suggested in the pattern, but this addition has completely transformed the way the sleeves look!

I can’t remember who else had this pattern in their queue, but there’s a reason why the pattern suggests knit interfacing for the collar and lapels. Lightweight interfacing cut on the bias may work too, but the slightly heavier one I used isn’t working that well. Another lesson learnt!

Is anyone else going to be stuck at home tomorrow with the storm? I'm planning on doing a lot of sewing unless we loose power in which case I have quilt binding to hand sew, cutting for a new quilt and a bit of crochet on standby.

I don't want to have my lovely machine that cost anarmanaleg plugged in with the risk of power surges bt I cut the strips to make about 8m of double fold bias binding today. I will probably fire up the pfaffy pfaff to stitch them together if I have a suitable bobbin wound.or else the little janome.

Failing that I have a sock in progress. A nice, easy vanilla sock because my brain is all over the place in windy weather.

Wish I could spend the day sewing but we’re only in a yellow warning area and it’s mostly gone through. Thought it was going to be miserable all weekend but it actually looks like lovely weather so probably no sewing for me!

We went to see Nosferatu yesterday and I’m still traumatised….

by the appalling pattern matching on Lily Rose Depp’s striped dress near the end of the film

That’s the kind of thing that would take up 99% of my attention if I spotted it@Jins 😂

That’s a helpful reminder for me to buy a surge protector for my machine @PickAChew. Thank you!