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
@GnomeDePlume
@Twobluechickens
@123ZYX
@BlackAmericanoNoSugar
@CrimsonAlligator
@Just4thisthreadtoday
@Frumpyunicorn
@Jins
@Lifesingflowers
@Yalz
@sewsewsewyourboat
@bookbook
@YellowAsteroid
@MarmiteWine
@Castlerigg
@IDareSay
@NotMeNoNo
@Toyotatallula
@Crispynoodle
@Hiddendoor
@Rosenspants
@TashaTudor
@InMySpareTime
@Isabelle70
@SpryCat
@Funnelfa
@OperationalSupport
@ChoccyJules
@Mygreyhair
@Marcipex
@DiggoryVenn
@ClearHoldBuild
@50IsTheNew21
@Heavybuthopeful
@HollyBerryz
@Chuchoter
@Placemats
@TorturedParentsDepartment
@PrincessDonut
@Shirtyllama

I’ve made the eye mask from the Tilly and the Buttons book, out of a scrap of Liberty lawn. It’s really simple to make, but I can’t say it helped much with my sleep.

@Sewliketosew i found my photos. Neither of them show the length though.

The red is the old duvet cover and the bust darts needed adjusting. The black and white is the viscose with bust dart adjustment. The black and white still gets worn despite it being 2 sizes too big nowadays but the red was cut up for other uses ages ago.

I prefer the drapiness of the viscose but when I remake it I will probably use interfacing round the neckline.

I sleep much better in the winter so I’m hoping it might help. I could also do with getting a blind for my hallway window but it’s only reachable with a long ladder (which I don’t have). I keep the door open for the cat otherwise it wouldn’t be quite such an issue!

Sort about the dreadful photos. Here are:
A Luella skirt (I will definitely be making more of these as they’re perfect for summer)
Safiya trousers
My first and heavily hacked Stevie top (I was scared of the facings, so just sewed the yolk together without a fastening and bias bound the neck). It’s big enough to get on without an opening.

Sorry - not sort!!!

Lovely @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie and all in my preferred colours. They’d all fit very well in my wardrobe - I’ll have to check my patterns and stash.

Yesterday I decided to take in a sleeveless jersey dress I made ages ago - I think it was a laundry day tee by love notions - and carefully tried it on, pinned, machine stitched and it fitted much better. Goodness only knows why I got careless and overlocked the new seam and a bit of folded fabric together making it unwearable. So two short sections of seaming turned into drafting a stretch cami style top onto the unaffected part of the dress and finding some suitable fabric to make bindings and shoulder straps. It actually looks ok but will probably be a swim coverup or nightie rather than the chuck it on dress it was. Never mind - it was useful coverstitch practice.

Thank you. The blue is very much out of my comfort zone, but I couldn’t resist the geese!

Glad you managed to salvage your work. I won’t even pretend that I understood any of what you described though!

I've ordered this ridiculous but very me fabric to make another Luella. And also some plain scarlet linen/cotton mix.

https://www.dalstonmillfabrics.co.uk/circus-roster-printed-cotton.html?query=circus

Hey, can anyone advise me how to tailor a tshirt please? I had to buy one that was baggier in the waist/hip area in order to avoid pulling across the chest. Could it be as simple as sewing a tighter side seam from the waist down?

You can nip it in a bit but not really go too far without distorting it - no further than if you were simply grading a pattern a size or two.

With clever cutting along the side seam you may be able to take in the back more than the front and even create a bit of a boob bubble. By this point it would have been easier to make it from scratch,though!

Edited because I misread the post as shirt, not t-shirt.

You could bring in the waist with an area of smocking (probably at the back or front), or make a feature of the curve with some loops and corset lacing (but that would be the goth option)

I used to tailoe army shirts for my mates by putting big darts from yoke to hem 1/4 way from the side seams at the back on each side. Increase down to waist level then taper out again. Waist darts at front extending about 4" up and down (sorry on hols - difficult to describe on phone)

Tbh @NutellaEllaElla I’ve never seen a bought T-shirt with anything other than straight side seams but it should be possible to shave a bit off the width without making it impossible to put on.

I’ve just looked at a few T shirt patterns I have saved and the pattern pieces have quite a bit of shaping to them but I can’t think of a way to replicate that easily in a bought one.

Sorry - I also misread t-shirt as shirt. Tbh it depends on the sleeves. It may be more bother than it's worth

Do you have a tshirt of approximately the correct shape? Could you use that as a template? I have tailored in men's tshirts just by using an existing nice tshirt as template and reshaping the side seams.. It can work.

Hello! I've been AWOL for quite some time. Still sewing - I have a few new Atelier Jupe v neck blouses under my belt now and I'm just about to get started on my first ever handbag.

It's Simplicity S9618 which looks like it should be a good alternative to the Coach and Marc Jacobs tote bags I've had my eye on.

I will use some petrol blue cotton twill for the exterior, leftovers from a pair of trousers, and interior bright pink lining ro match the bright pink webbing i bought for the handles. Having never made a bag before, I thought I'd go all in and not aim for a subtle item...

Loving the photos of all your recent makes. Keep up the good work!

I’m cutting out a jumpsuit from a cheap duvet cover. I’m not sure I’ve got the grading right but only one way to find out!

Great sewing! I love the fabric you’ve used for the top and trousers, where is it from?

Thank you! It’s a remnant from a Lady McElroy warehouse sale, so I’m not sure if this particular print is still stocked. The pattern is faces.

This one is similar www.ladymcelroy.co.uk/lady-mcelroy-crowded-faces-black-viscose-challis

Love this one too www.ladymcelroy.co.uk/lady-mcelroy-onlookers-black-viscose-challis-lawn

Hello, thanks for the update re the Sauvie @Jins yours look great, though I've ended up getting a maison fauve deckchair dress pattern so going to order some low cost challis for that instead.
Does anyone know of a way to search for patterns that are similar to photographs, almost like a Google lens search?

I'd like to find something like these that I could make myself for summer. I need it to have enough structure to come in on the waist a bit (even with a waist tie) and or under the bust to give shape without being very restrictive. Ps. I've never attempted buttonholes or zips, so.....

Went and finally collected the "errr why's there a huge sewing machine in the office cupboard" the other day (I've been off sick) - a beautiful Singer 66... so I've been quilting on her (and getting an arm workout from the hand crank).

I had a look on the Lady McElroy website and got suckered in and bought something for myself and saw there are a few versions of the faces material in remnants. Useful sizes too - 2m and 3m, different variations, all lovely.

I have a version of "onlookers" i think it is, got it from a destash sale from someone I follow on Instagram. It's light weight, dreamy to sew and drapes well with a little bit of structure. I made a wrap dress and v happy with it.

Thank you, I’m so tempted. I keep saying I won’t buy any more fabric but I can’t be trusted 😂