Stitch and bitch thread #11. Where the puns are only sew-sew

[NutellaEllaElla]

For sewists old and new. Join the fun, let us know what you're working on.
I apologise for not having been around at all. I've been away all footloose and fancy free but now i'm back and have NO NEED TO BUY NEW FABRIC. I must use what I have.

@PickAChew
@Hiddendoor
@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
@OperationalSupport
@Daffyyellow
@ShoAndSew
@kittykarate
@RainbowWife
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@bookbook
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@Hiddendoor
@Rosenspants
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@TorturedParentsDepartment
@PrincessDonut
@Shirtyllama

I might try just cutting out the neckline bits and adding the binding, see if I can work out where I’m going wrong.

i hate binding with a passion bordering on the insane. I just make facings and the world is safe.

Have spent the wee, sewing a load of little fabric bags of varying sizes for DHs advent calendar. Today i have been making a Christmas tree quilt block, to make a cushion cover with. am still having huge issues around sewing clothes for me and thus will procrastinate by making W&W crowns and crackers.

Facings FTW!

I’ve switched to facings for a lot of projects as well. I sew in viscose most of the time and binding seems to make necklines too heavy. Still love a bound armhole on a sleeveless top though.

I started work on pjs for 3 year old twins yesterday from a piece of lightweight sweatshirt fabric I got in a mystery box. The pattern calls for 50% 4 way stretch and the fabric isn’t so I sized up. I wasn’t convinced it would fit so tested it on a neighbour’s two year old who now owns a pj top and I’m looking for an alternative pattern.

Black Friday has been disastrous for the stash and I’ve been unable to resist some bargains. The most sensible purchase was from Knighton fabrics with a stonking 41% off when you spend £40 (BF41 if interested) and I’ve stocked up on tubular ribbing and picked up some ponti, cotton interlock and a few bargains from the clearance section. I’ve got some stretch denim on the way which is risky. Good job.my sewjo is present at the moment. So far I’ve resisted patterns but that could change.

Facings terrify me and I still haven’t been brave enough to try them. I also still haven’t managed to find a pattern for a top that I like enough to make again. Neither the Remy Raglan, the Stevie or a couple of old New Look ones have been a success.

I’m hankering for a tartan skirt for Christmas Day, so I’ve just taken a punt on some stuff from Pound Fabrics.

It took me a long time to get happier with sewing facings but I’m getting there. Haven’t posted for ages, sorry but have been loving sewing. Latest have been 2 Paper Theory LB pullover tops (might they work @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie ?) a Sauvie Sundress (best facing I’ve done to date… ) and a floaty top from a kit I got at The Stitch Show recently .. have to look up what the pattern was. Will try and post photos.

It’s funny isn’t it? I hankered after a Remy raglan for so long and loved the one I made but I’ve not made it again. I’ve got loads of woven top patterns ready to go but haven’t really felt like making them. I’ve made the Love Notions Rhapsody so many times I could make it in my sleep and I’ve made their Ballad blouse a couple of times but all other woven tops have been one hit wonders. I think my size has stabilised now so I ought to measure up and try a few different patterns.

Here … LB pullover tops. Looking for other photos

Sauvie and the other top from the kit which I’ll have to check which pattern it was …both in need of a good press!

I like my Remy raglan but also haven't made another one. I found it is very fabric hungry. One of my favourite top patterns is the Helen's closet Ashton, it fits well on me with very little alteration and I have made lots for over the summer and also have the sleeve expansion to try. I prefer the facing to binding too and also love a hem facing as I always seem to mess up regular hems

@Rosenspants That purple print is so pretty. I feel like I must have owned something in a similar print when I was a child, as it's given me a really palpable sense of having seen it before. I seem to remember it being a beautiful soft thin cotton - maybe a nightie? In any case, thank you for a lovely blast of nostalgia.

The pullover top isn't really my thing, thanks, except possibly in plain black.

I think my problem is that I'm not really good enough yet for the sort of tops I want to wear/make. I'd love some sort of sleeved popover with a bow neck, for example, in cotton dobby for summer or in viscose for a 'nice top' to wear with jeans.

On a separate note, our adult DC have decided to run a Taskmaster challenge for Christmas Day. One of my tasks is to take along something I’ve handmade.

Can anybody think of anything easy and quick that I could make? Either one item which will somehow contribute to Christmas (drawstring bag full of chocolate maybe) or something tiny for everybody (3 female and 3 male). Not tote bags. Would those little bookmarks that slip onto the corner of a page be crap? Added bonus if it’s super simple but vaguely Japanese inspired!!!

Bowl cosies?

Japanese knot bag ? Bit fiddly , but useful ! It takes me a about an hour start to finish - including seam pressing and fiddly sewing around curves . But its simple and effective ( I make a lot to sell for charity)
fabricartdiy.com/japanese-knot-bag-free-sewing-patterns/

I purchased a satin midi skirt from Peacocks that had a lace trim at the bottom. I don’t like the lace so have removed that and will hem it properly. Luckily with the lace removed it’s now the perfect length for me, no need to shorten :)
I been making some bow ties and sailor bows for dogs for Christmas.
My next make will be fabric crackers, hopefully making sense of the 18 page instructions!

those bows are lovely. I made a cushion cover today (well, started yesterday)
I am pretty pleased with it, because i didn't have instructions so i made it all up as i went along)

Love those bows.

@bookbook and @Brefugee Thanks for those. I've made knot bags before, but found them a bit of a faff and the men definitely wouldn't use them.

The bowl cosies could be an idea, if I've got any scraps of cotton fabric that are big enough.

Any other ideas gratefully considered.

i have made little pouches for everyone i know to put their powerbanks - they are very quick, and very useful. I use the hammer on press-studs.

I like the bowl cosies because you can make them out of a 10" square of fabric, a 10" square of lining fabric (or not, they can be reversible) and a bit of an old blanket i am slowly using up for those.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie I've been making pocket tissue holders for gifts lately using up bits from my box of scraps. They are going down well, although might be a bit simple. There are loads of online resources for these but I am using this (not Christmassy though...sorry if I'm way off) https://www.alandacraft.com/2023/10/27/pocket-tissue-holder-tutorial/ As far as the popover goes, as it happens I bought some stretch black velvet which I might try for the LB pattern (you can use stretch/knot or woven). If you meant a bow neck line have you thought of TATB Stevie which is popular worn back to front (I wear mine like this) with the tie showing? I like the way fabric can trigger memories and reminiscences. It was a lovely, floaty viscose provided with the kit, which I hadn't sewn with before using the Sew Different Batwing Top pattern.

I’m going to attempt a boxy zipped makeup bag for a friend for Christmas. Never made one before but have watched a few videos and am going to give it a try.

Thanks @Rosenspants - I've tried the Stevie worn forwards and backwards and it just isn't working properly for me, although that might be because I'm binding it, rather than doing facings. Maybe I should bite the bullet. It's not quite what I'm after though. I want longer sleeves and more bow!

I made tissue holders for absolutely everybody last year, so I won't get away with them for this challenge, sadly. Something as quick that uses such small scraps of fabric really would be perfect though. I wondered about tea bag pouches, but I'm struggling to find a straightforward tutorial.

Hmm, never done teabag pouches but towards the end of the summer, I picked lavender from a lavender hedge which I planted a few years ago (before my gardeners turned up and shaved it down!) and made lavender sachets for friends and family. Any good, maybe using bought lavender @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie ? https://www.hearthsidecomforts.com/blog-1/how-to-make-a-lavender-sachet

I’ve made lavender pouches for the past couple of years as we have a huge lavender bush. Stupidly forgot to pick any this summer. I might try a couple of different easy things at the weekend and decide which one I like best/is easiest!

Or I could maybe do fabric crackers with after dinner chocolates in.

Hi I hope you dont mind me joining the chat. I've been sewing for just over a year and have a lot to learn. (Don't know the difference between a facing and a binding for example).

I went to the knit and stitch show recently and bought a little hare pattern. It was fiddly but I'm pleased with the result.

Suggestion for @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie maybe fabric 'paper chains'.