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

gosh blimey, I very rarely (if at all) use universal needles. I'm a big fan of ball point. I'll check the links, thank you.

I may try a QAYG if i find some not hideously priced fat quarter bundles when I next go shopping

I’ve had plenty of help this morning. Well she’s purring away and happy so we’ll call it helping.

My sewing essentials drawer contains a clothes brush

Such a gorgeous cat @Jins She looks like she’s decided she owns that piece of fabric 😁

What’s your new machine @PickAChew ? I’ve been fantasising about a second machine recently. It should probably stay a fantasy, as my machine is pretty decent, but still….

It's the Janome MC6700P that I've been lusting after for a long time, @CrimsonAlligator - is it sad that I like looking at her when I'm not using her?

OMG, that’s the exact machine I identified as the “logical progression” from my current machine…when I allow myself to dream.

It looks amazing and from the extensive research I’ve already done into it, there are very few if any negative points. I’ve looked at Pfaffs and Berninas, but they all seem to have at least some quirks. This one looks it just gets on with the job!

Is it as amazing as the reviews suggest?

It is so far, @CrimsonAlligator and I'm particularly enjoying the HP foot for piecing. It's great for tight curves, too and I can see it being very useful for setting in sleeves. Changing the stitch plates is easy.

The 9mm accufeed feet feed jersey as well as a standalone walking foot without all the noise. The IDT on my Pfaff proved to be pretty poor at that as it doesn't stabilise the fabric either side of the needle.

I don't miss a free arm as I rarely used them, anyhow and I have other machines if I do desperately want one.

I also considered the juki dx7 but after watching some videos decided that were a few things I didn't like about it. Ugly and plasticky, for a start, and despite all the fans on Sewing Pattern Review I saw a few things fail in the demonstrations. They can also be fussy about thread.

I also seriously considered a straight stitch only machine. Between the brother, janome and smaller of the juki models, only the juki hit the spot but the lighting is poor on it and it's expensive in this country yet dirt cheap in the US. The brother has no speed control (though I've found I'm barely using it on the MC6700p) and the janome has giant, expensive bobbins (great for quilting, less so for dressmaking) and no extension table. Bernette have released their own re-badged version of the janome but not over here.

For some good demonstrations (amazing how many videos just point at stuff and rabbit on) there is an intro on The Sewing Studio and Montavilla Sewing has a series of short videos presented by someone who doesn't sound like she drank all the coffee, this morning.

That looks an amazing machine PickAChew . I have a Pfaff and I am 90% happy , just a few quirks as you say .I have been incredibly tied up with life recently , but finally managed to get the hoodie finished for my DGS’ birthday in a couple of weeks time. Just needs s good press. I can now slow down and faff around about what to do next 😀

That is fabulous, @bookbook !

Someone.else here has the same machine and I though it was you, so a good thing I didn't at you!

hah @PickAChew 😀 , I had very specific things I needed - the biggest being a drop in bobbin , as the arthritis in my thumbs made putting one in on the front of my old machine was getting tricky , constantly dropping the bobbin into the casing 🙄. And a bonus of the IDT system , so no need to buy a walking foot .

There is something satisfying about the front loading bobbins but they are pretty fiddly. This one is a top loader and uses the standard J bobbins which I already have loooooads of, many almost full of thread. I've not had much cause to use the bobbin winder, yet!

And the bonus of being able to see how much thread is left. Some of the higher end front loading machines tell you when the bobbin is running low but they're a bit like fuel tanks and tell you long before you only have maybe a seam length, maybe not, left. No fun at all!

Makes my heart sing to find this group xxxxxx

Has anyone crocheted any of the woolthreadpaint patterns?

I have just had a quick look @toyotatallula , as I had not heard of it - it all looks like crochet ,( which I also do a lot of ! ) and looks lovely . There is a knit and crochet thread in the arts and crafts section where you may be more likely to find someone who has used them 😊

Not sad at all! I’d be exactly the same with a beauty like that. I’m bad enough with my stable of low end machines.

Love the hoodie @bookbook. Something I’ve never tried to make.

Thanks for sharing that video @PickAChew. More for me to drool over!

Love the hoodie @bookbook. Your grandson is so lucky!

She does a whole series of videos, @CrimsonAlligator so there is plenty of drooling to be done!

If anyone likes Itch to Stitch, they have a sale finishing today. 30% of most patterns, 20% off others automatically applied at checkout. They're my favourite pattern designer because lots of the tops are done by cup sizes

ITS have some lovely designs but the fit of the things I've made has been way off in ways that would be an absolute clart on to adjust.

Watching videos on how to make the Phen shirt. Was going to cut it out tonight but now have the cat on my lap so am stuck here for a while!

That's a shame. I'm lucky that they seem to be designed for my body shape so other than grading between sizes for skirts, they don't need any adjustment. I've not tried their trousers yet, though

I’ve not tried any ITS patterns, mainly because they aren’t photographed on a range of body types. Perhaps I should have a look at Instagram. I’m getting to the point where I’m making the same old patterns up as I’ve done all the adjustments I need already.

Have a look at the pattern announcement link in the details for the pattern. They have the photos of their pattern testers.

Thanks for that @123ZYX - I’d never spotted that before. I’ve picked up two top patterns to try