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 too tend to make similar things. I’ve learned from my recent sewing journey that liking how something looks on the model doesn’t necessarily translate to it looking good on me or it being something I reach for all the time. I just don’t bother with dresses any more because I don’t wear them, or I’ll only wear them with leggings in the summer (I hate tights). Am also trying to plan my makes to fill gaps in my wardrobe rather than just being a magpie for cute patterns. A few still get through the filter!

I have given things to friends or donated them to charity shops. Haven’t seen anyone wearing them yet, don’t know what that says about my sewing…

I always look up patterns on instagram and try and find versions on people with a similar body shape to me (also perimenopausal and overweight) to get an idea of how it may look. I also tend to toile new patterns too, so would probably give up at that stage if it was really bad.

Me too @Frumpyunicorn but I wish there were more tall pear-shaped women with the same style and taste as me 😂

Or stumpy legged arseless wonders who don't give in and wear skirts.

good tip about Instagram. I like some of the Tilly & The Buttons and the TAL patterns, but frankly they mostly have zero shaping so hang like a marquee off my giant boobs.

But thinking on it, in the 80s and 90s when i made most of my clothes i had a few patterns (blouse, top, short skirt, long skirt and a pair of trousers) that i made in loads of different fabrics and versions. I had so many clothes back then (office job) so i don't need to do it on an industrial scale.

Having scoured Instagram for examples I failed to find anyone even remotely the same shape as me (classic apple with broad shoulders) so I just keep making the same stuff and am forever grateful that I can sew my own clothes as shop bought are even less flattering.

Only one curtain to go. They are all up at the windows and all are unhemmed. They will probably stay unhemmed for a while. I told DH they need to hang for a good while so the hem stays straight. There was no room for error - I’ve only got 26cm left on the roll.

I have just made my first pair of trousers M7987. Made a bit of a hash with the back part of the fly zipper but it looks fine from the front. Definitely need to practise that skill a little bit more. I do want to attempt to make a pair of jeans, so will have to have it worked out by then

@ShoAndSew I know what you mean about TATB patterns but I do quite like the Drew/Billie patterns made using a French terry fabric.

Have you ever looked at Cashmerette @ShoAndSew? Their patterns are drafted for a larger chest.

I find that things get a lot easier if you have a few patterns that work well, but finding those can be a challenge. For tops, I tend to stick to the same few companies - Grainline and Friday Pattern Company for the everyday slob look (much loved by me 😂) and Atelier Jupe and Maison Fauve for something a little more refined.

Thanks for the tip @CrimsonAlligator I'll have a gander

Sewing plan for today is to do the buttonholes on my Cleo dress. There’s a reason I’ve been procrastinating about it. I can never get consistent buttonholes.

I'm another who uses the same patterns again and again. I know what I like to wear, and I want to wear it in all the different fabrics 😆

One thing I struggle with are zips - I've made 3 pairs of trousers now and only one with a successful zip. I can't figure out the instructions in my head and am overwhelmed with tutorials and videos and blogs and blogs.

Any suggestions for a clear zip tutorial?

I’ve finished the curtains!!!!! Well all apart from hemming and a bit of whip stitching which can wait.

I’ve celebrated by sending 7 patterns off to be printed. 3 swimwear and some tops

I'm struggling to find a top pattern that I like, but repeat make Tilly and the Buttons Indigo dresses (I add waist ties to give more shape) and their Safiya trousers. Both seem to work really well on this size 14 curvy hobbit.

You can measure from the top or bottom. If they are a tape/pencil pleat heading it may be easier to take the excess off the top. Then you keep the nice hems. Either re-use the heading tape or buy some new.

You can lay the curtains over a table and fold part of it up so the bit you want is flat.

I got a random piece of fabric in my Minerva summer bundle and can’t identify it at all. Slightly fuzzy with minimal stretch across the width.

I don’t like it very much and certainly wouldn’t make clothes out of it but may make dust bags for a couple of handbags I’ve restored or similar.

Any ideas what it might be from the picture?

Hmm, that’s intriguing @jins. What’s the weight like - is it heavy?

It’s quite heavy @CrimsonAlligator. It’s similar to some jacquard I have but not as stretchy. Maybe french terry weight. It feels like it should be an upholstery fabric

Have you tried a burn test on it?

I haven’t @PickAChew. I’m pretty sure it’s polyester. Might be worth checking if it’s been treated though as that would confirm that it’s probably upholstery fabric.

So tempting to burn test the lot but it will make great dust bags

OMG don’t burn the lot!

I didn’t realise jacquard can be stretchy. I’ve only ever seen the non-stretchy variety. Sounds like that could be a match for your mystery fabric? Non-stretchy jacquard.

i quite like the pattern btw. Looks nice, if a bit wintery.

It certainly wasn’t something I expected in a summer bundle!

I did get some lovely stretch denim in light grey which is ideal for LN crescendo jeans, and some gorgeous cotton in dark green with a sort of big floral print. About 1.2m of each so I can squeeze something out of them. There’s about 1.6m of pale blue polycotton (I think) which reminds me of some sheets my FIL had so that has gone in the toile pile. Finally there’s about a metre of pale grey linen-a-like which I don’t like the feel of much but I’m going to wash it and may make some gardening shorts. Overall not a complete waste of 9.99, even if I send the ones I don’t like to be ragged

I’m en route to London for the Stitch Festival. Pray for me.

Which saint do we need to petition for more cupboard space?

Google suggest St Barbara, patron saint of warehouses 😜

What’s the Stitch show? Off to Google that next…

It’s at the Business Design Centre in Islington, on until Sunday. Basically a big fabric and haberdashery shindig with all the big names. I have a list and I’m going to stick to it religiously. Probably.