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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Does anyone embroidery here? Want to get into it, does have any sources on how to get started and to learn

I used to, before my hands became rubbish. We were actually taught the basics right the way through primary school but I picked it up again from a book, as a young adult well before t'Internet was any use.

Cloth kits has some nice kits, some beginner friendly https://www.clothkits.co.uk/collections/embroidery-kits-1

If you are a member of a library, the online apps like Libby and borrowbox have embroidery magazines included for a good free way to get ideas.

I do embroidery. I like the little kits by craftpod which don't take too long to complete, and I am also working on a bigger design by Stitchdoodles. I have a book but mainly learned by you tube and Internet tutorials. I find it much easier than cross stitch as you can be a bit more free in your stitching but I have got to the stage where I need a really decent daylight lamp to do it

I've used Trimits embroidery kits a couple of times. One I got from Hobbycraft then the second direct from their website. They're nice kits but you might need a bit more support how how to do some of the stitches than they provide, but that can be found easily online

I want to make a linen blouse or dress, probably for next summer at the rate I sew. Linen is expensive to buy by the metre.
M&S has some pure linen flat bed sheets in the sale. There are four colours at £13 for a super king size, which is 310cm by 275cm.
So, double the standard width of 150cm (60”) by 275cm, or the same as 5.5m of standard width, or £2.36 per metre.
(I could buy a smaller sheet if I didn’t need that much fabric.)

Would it be a silly plan to use a linen sheet to make a dress?

can you get a feel of the fabric before you buy? Don't forget linen is a lot more floppy after multiple washings.

I'd probably try it for that price, even as a wearable toile.

Just popping in from poolside to say that Love Notions Allegro bottoms pattern is the feature Friday pattern today
https://www.lovenotions.com/product-category/feature-friday-sale
Its one of my most made patterns

I bought a linen tablecloth for £25, purely with the intention of sewing something from it so I'd say it's worth a shot. It might be lighter weight and a bit more see through than much of the linen currently available for dressmaking but that's no bad thing for some styles.

Hello all, was on the previous thread but rejoining under a name change so I can actually share some makes without fear of outing myself! I figure if someone goes the the length of reading the other threads to figure out my name thats just as awkward for them 😅

@Yalz I have bought second hand bed sheets to make toiles before and use as quilt backs. I may actually take a punt on one of those bedsheets to make some napkins, I really want a set of pure linen ones but its is just so so expensive

@ShoAndSew , @PickAChew , @sewsewsewyourboat thank you for your helpful comments.

I’d have to order online, and I have done now. I’ve also ordered some pillowcases and a bottom sheet to use as they were intended, so I’ll judge the quality from those. It’s easy to return things to M&S, if Evri turn up when I’ve booked them.

If you’re also considering ordering I’d do so quickly as the cheapest colours are likely to sell out quickly.

Ooh that’s a find @Yalz! I’ve just ordered a king size sheet. Some of the reviews mention that the fabric is quite thin, but I consider that a bonus for the project I have in mind - a long sleeve linen shirt to stop myself from burning to a cinder on my next holiday 😁

@CrimsonAlligator , I think what’s thin fabric for a sheet might not be too thin for dressmaking: I agree that it can sometimes be a good thing in clothing.

Also, white linen can look finer than the other colours. Good luck with your lined shirt.

Also, I don’t know if this is of interest to anyone, but Minerva currently have a sale on on nearly all of their Art Gallery Fabrics. Lots of poplins and some challis as well.

I spent a long time looking through all their amazing designs yesterday, only to settle for something relatively dull. It’s a shame that what I like and what actually looks good on me don’t always align!

I bought second hand linen patio door curtains to make my DD some maternity dungarees . They were plain cream , and I dyed them bottle green for her . They sewed up well , but may have been a bit heavier duty than sheets 🙂

Hurray for the curtain dungarees!

Did you wash them first, to be sure they wouldn’t shrink?

Yes , I did . I dyed them after making up (checking they would fit and she would wear them ). I used cream thread to sew them , which didn’t take the dye - doesn’t look too bad ! - this was the waves and wild heyday pattern , and I added stretch jersey at the side seams with poppers for extra room ( she had twins 😀 )

Those look amazing @bookbook I have the waves and wild heyday pattern (for me and the kids) but not got around to them yet ..

I ended up ordering a sheet, too, even though I'm not buying any more dress fabric for a while. £12 for king-size was too good to ignore. If I don't fancy it all for dressmaking, it might be a good backing for the quilt I'm making. There's possibly enough for that and a remy raglan in a king-size sheet!

They look great, @bookbook

Help please! I’ve cut out a Remy Raglan but I don’t understand a single bloody word of the instructions for sewing it together!

It has French seams along the sides and raglan seams so they are sewn wrong sides together, first. Then you turn it right sides together, as usual and your raw edges end up enclosed.

I've not checked this out so it might be terrible but this may help. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKsD2N4ZZGOkCMy1VBPnHou-00vqmHGq9&si=Ak4U6Jq4z0niv0Ym

Thanks @PickAChew I managed to work it out and have finished a wearable toile. I bias bound the neck, rather than making the facing. Some of the seams are a bit thick and clumsy but I learned a lot and will definitely make it again. I cut a straight size 14 and the fit is perfect. The neckline is a bit high and severe and I can only just get my head in the head hole, even though a have a tiny head!

It’s a really clever construction.

Just looked at some pictures and my neckline has come out much higher - maybe because of the bias binding?

Apologies for wittering on to myself. I cut off the neckline and rebound it and it’s quite a bit better now.

It’s definitely a pattern I’ll try again- I’m going to try to get some plain black nice quality viscose for it.

Yesterday I was looking for some fabric I know I bought - about 8 years ago - and couldn’t find it but sorting through the boxes and boxes of fabric I too am on a fabric-buying ban. For the next 20 years or so …

And a pattern buying ban. I have a book case full of patterns from the late 70s onwards.

Am making a really nice shift dress with long sleeves and collar in some lovely dark red wool I bought at Preston market about 15 years ago! When the outdoor market on Saturday had stall holders who had end of roll fabrics from really wonderful Yorkshire wool mills. I bought fabric I later saw in Jaeger and other “designer” clothes.