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!

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Finished my second McCalls 7360 and really pleased with it. I’ve somehow managed to put the bottom button on wonky which is a bit annoying, so I’m redoing it. I think I said for the last one that the sleeves are surprisingly slim, which is OK for me but someone a bit stockier or more muscly might find it doesn’t fit.

That’s a nice looking pattern @twobluechickens.

I’ve just bought Friday Pattern Company’s Donny shirt as I really need some summery tops for when the weather eventually warms up. Also have some Scout Tees already cut out.

I’m intrigued by the difficulty rating on the Donny (intermediate). The Heather blazer is rated advanced beginner. I can’t really see how a short sleeved top with no closures would be more complicated than a fully lined jacket. Guess I’ll find out!

I am here too, I juggle both! Or rather, at the moment, fabric and patterns await my attention...

Sorry, that was for @123ZYX

I juggle both too! I feel terribly conflicted when I have both a sewing project and a knitting project on the go at once 😂

I have finished my closet core Sienna jacket. I love it very much but have no photos yet.

However, I now have quite a lot of boiled wool left over. It's too thick/rigid to be made into trousers. I've no idea what to do with it, there's maybe half a metre t0 a metre of the stuff.

Any ideas or suggestions?

I’d love to see your Sienna jacket @Hiddendoor. It’s on my list of potential jackets to make next. It’s a long list!

Re. the boiled wool, how about some sort of bag? Noodlehead have a wool & wax tote, which looks rather nice - https://blog.noodle-head.com/2017/03/wool-wax-tote-pdf-pattern-is-here.html

@CrimsonAlligator I'm planning on wearing it out out at the weekend so will try and get some good photos then!

I found the pattern fairly easy to follow, any struggles I had were really down to trying to manipulate the thick fabric round corners for the collar. For the first time ever I did a toile and took soom bulk out of the shoulders which improved the fit. I even pressed seams - I never do that!

That bag looks great - I've got some durable cotton drill that could go well with the wool... just need straps... good suggestion, thank you!

Oddments of wool are good for making a pressing mat, too.

I have a quilted gilet and a sock on the go at the moment. No conflict. The gilet demands that I carve out some time and space and then tidy up after myself but I can pick up the sock, sit and knit for 10 minutes then put it down again, though I'm just about to turn the heel so need a quiet hour with good light for that. The portability is why I learned to knit in the first place.

I have loads of oddments @PickAChew so I could probably make pressing mats, tailors hams and all sorts and still have enough for a tote bag for each day. I over estimated the fabric need!

Impressed with the sock making!

You don’t usually press seams @Hiddendoor?! I feel like I spend more time doing that than actual sewing! You’re a rebel!

Anyway, here’s my almost finished Heather blazer. As you can see I only iron seams and don’t bother with the actual creases that bring the overall look down….

All that’s left is to sew up the gap in the lining. I had a go at that over the weekend, but failed so miserably and became so grumpy that DH has volunteered to do that for me.

Making a blazer almost made me feel like a competent human being. But sewing up the lining made it clear that I definitely have my limitations! 😂

That will look lovely after another appointment with the iron, @CrimsonAlligator . Lining fabrics are the work of the devil.

I even pressed seams - I never do that!

Pressing seams as you go on anything is the difference between something looking well-made or obviously home-made. I even press seams on t-shirts when I make them. The finish is miles better and the material gets worked, so that it holds the shape.

Oh I know. But I just can't be bothered. The iron is all the way over there in the cupboard and so is the ironing board. And then I have to set them up in the kitchen and then I have to press the seams...

I'm a lazy sewist. But I know I am so I don't mind. However, I knew I wanted a smart finish on this coat so I made the (admittedly very small) effort. But just this time. Never again.

@CrimsonAlligator that's lovely, really good fabric choices!

As a quilter I find not pressing seams a bit shocking. I even have a separate sewing iron that is always out and plugged in ready to go, just need to turn the socket on. Not to mention a wool mat, a tailor's ham, a spray/mister bottle and a clapper (although the clapper is a bit of an escape artist, I don't know where it is currently).

Beautiful @CrimsonAlligator . Gorgeous colour.

See, I love ironing out seams. I love the crisp clean finish I can achieve. It's partly why I tend to only sew wool, cotton, linen, or silk. They iron soooo well.

I've just started sewing up a new wrap dress (cut it out last night). Goddammit I've now ironed the belt and front bodice pieces and fine they already look better.

Humph.

😂

See. It's so satisfying, isn't it? 😉

It is. I'm going to have to iron everything I sew now. How annoying.

😆

It’s a slippery slope @Hiddendoor …😂

I love the fabric you have used for the lining. It is gorgeous.

I have managed to alter and cut out the pieces for my bomber jacket but I got side tracked and ended up organising my fabric stash. I found some pieces I forgot I brought. Course I had to look up some patterns to use up the material!

Lovely @CrimsonAlligator. I do like a fancy lining.

So I’m using my break from sewing to get prepared for when I start again. I’ve sorted fabrics properly now I have my Kallax unit and boxes and my patterns are all filed away sensibly so I struggle to find the right one.

Yesterday I decided to use my projector to trace a few off with limited success. The projector works well, I just need to find the best place for it so I can get the scale right. After faffing about with it I’ve decided to get a few printed as I want a number of sizes. Not such a cheap job anymore.

Little bit of exciting news for me re plan printing. Google threw up https://www.planprinting24.co.uk/ which is well priced but quite new as there are limited reviews. They are part of the Hobs group who I used for plan printing for ages (and my parents before me). I checked with them first and I’ve sent a trial order. 5 patterns on 15 sheets of A4 came to £19.50 inc VAT and delivery.

Will let you know what I think