Stitch and bitch thread #12. We’re in stitches!

[NutellaEllaElla]

Welcome and welcome back oldies and newbies!

Whatcha doin? What are your plans? I need some inspo. It's been a long time since i've approached my machine for various reasons.My favourite ever make has been a stretch dress, i'd wear it all the time if I could. I live in fear of the day I try to go to Barry's fabrics and it's gone. The Birmingham fabric scene is being decimated. What'll I do?!

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@Castlerigg Your garment is fantastic. Your pattern matching is outstanding. I never realised how difficult it was. I still have to really do the maths when figuring it out.

💐

I love that, @Castlerigg -buttonholes always make me nervous. Even more so when I put them in the wrong place because they're a bugger to unpick 😖

I found a couple of YouTube videos and spent a while going “ok…. got it…. what? Rewind…” The fabric was from a duvet cover that DS decided he’s too old for, having had it on the bed maybe twice. I really wanted to use the fabric, but because it’s quite a large design, it would be lost on a smaller project. But, it was only a single duvet cover, so only enough fabric for one attempt, which is probably good because it meant I had to be really careful and get it right first time, for the body pieces. I did have to do the collar twice because I misunderstood the instructions. But it’s all good practice. I feel like I want to make another one because otherwise I’ll forget it all straight away.

@Castlerigg The shirt is incredible! Well done.
I like the idea of making a massive tote bag withe the gingham fabric, I'll keep my eyes out for a pattern and some webbing that would make good handles. It's such a nice print I'm still a bit sad it won't work as a dress. What is everyone making this weekend?

I adore that shirt @Castlerigg and bow down before your pattern matching skills. I used to try but always forgot about seams and it all went wonky and looked worse than if I hadn’t bothered.

My saguaro set top is complete and I’m part way through some matching trousers which are based on LN allegros but I’ve cut the legs wider by eye and will draft a wider waistband for some 5cm elastic. I just couldn’t face making adjustments to yet another pattern company’s trousers.

Off to a festival this month and I’m planning to make a skort using the LN Clearwater shorts and drafting something gathered to go on top. I really like the deep side pocket on the Clearwater.

I bought the winter wear 0-14 swimsuit pattern and need to stick the pages together to compare with my basic one piece pattern which took a lot of work to get right. So loads of plans but not sure how far I’ll get with them

I will hopefully be finishing the Osgood Skirt that it feels like I've been making all year. I don't get as much decent sewing time as I used to and it's just plain heavy so it's being done in short shifts. Miles and miles of topstitching on it, which I love.

@Castlerigg that shirt is fantastic, well done!

@Castleriggyour pattern matching is amazing, I would not know where to start.
I feel a bit all the gear and no idea.. I purchased this deadstock seersucker to make this top, a bit brighter than I expected but a good colour for summer.
Hopefully my new foot pedal for my 34 year old machine arrives today. What’s the oldest machine you are using?

I have a 1971 Bernina but she doesn't come out to play very often. For most of my sewing I use a Janome 6700P which was new to me 2 years ago. Probably 2 or 3 years old when I bought her.

I’ve got an 80s Singer I was given. Proper metal body, it weighs a ton! I’ve never actually used it though.

My main machine is a Janome which is probably around 7 or 8 years old now. Variable speed is my big love with it. And it’s fairly quiet.

i was hoping to reunite a bodice with a skirt from a dress I disassembled some years ago. Can I find the bodice anywhere? No. I cannot. Dammit!

have just seen that the sewing bee starts next week - anyone watching?

Next week? I thought it was 28th…

Tuesday 14th

The Great British Sewing Bee return date officially confirmed with Taskmaster star also back | Radio Times share.google/5LXINoIasxShiwdwp

i think it may have originally been planned for 28th but has been brought forward?

The oldest machine I use (occasionally) is a 1960s Singer 99k. A thing of beauty. My Toyota from the early 90s was my workhorse until a couple of years ago. My real treasure is a late 1800s Singer with a treadle which does work (ish) but needs a thorough overall. It’s unlikely I’ll ever fully restore it.

I do have machine envy when I see some of the beauties on sale but my approach is generally to buy the cheapest decent machine that does what I need. I see no point in paying £75 to service a machine that costs £80.

Wide leg trousers complete up to the waistband. Looking ok at this stage as I’ve widened the leg from mid thigh so they don’t swamp me round the hips. Skort next I think.

thank you V much for the heads up, I’d have been basing my watch schedule on 28th and missed the start!

I have my first sewcial tomorrow - I’m a bit nervous. I’ve got a dress my daughter and a shirt for my son cut out, which I am looking forward to getting into as I haven’t sewn (other than brownie and beaver badges onto uniforms) in weeks.
I use a computerised Janome machine which is 11 years old, though recently I’ve picked up a hand cranked Singer. I’ve not had a chance to use it yet. I did have my grandmas treadle Singer for a while but it lives at my mums now as I don’t have space (& I found it near on impossible to use!).

Early 00s Elna here, still working brilliantly. I also have a 60s Singer at my dad’s but no space for it currently. My overlocker is an 80s Babylock.

I cut out a waistcoat ages ago and finally started it this evening. Really enjoying seeing how it all comes together.

I have threaded the overlocker, well pulled the threads through and have done some test runs. Once I got where to position the edge of the fabric it’s going well.
It came with a plastic bag as the cover so I have made a cover with some old pyjamas.

I’m thinking this very mobile viscose was not the best choice. Hopefully I’ll end up with a wearable toile, but man alive, darts on a sloppy viscose is a total PITA! I’m having to hand tack them all, and there are a lot!

Stunning, I love the pattern matching!

I’m in the middle of making my waistcoat but because I’m not doing it per the instructions (ie hand sewing and using traditional tailoring methods such as interlining, using canvas etc, I’ve come unstuck a bit. I think I need to lay the pieces out and work out what I should sew and in what order. The back isn’t lined so it’s not a case of just sewing all around and then bagging it out, although I’m thinking I might just line it to make life easier.

Make up your fronts, leaving the side and shoulder seams open. Turn right side out. Stitch the finished back to the outside fabric of the fronts. Turn the edges of the lining and stitch down your favourite way.

You could do the shoulders in one step before turning out but this would be less sweary.

Hi,

I am trying to learn to sew clothes in my 50's, I did learn to make a skirt, top and trousers at high school but that was many years ago.

I have recently bought a 1940's (I think) Singer hand crank machine, as I can't use the foot pedals and it is pretty and cheap!

So wish me luck!

My aim to make 100% cotton clothes, starting with a vest and shorts to sleep in, to keep me cool. Might have to be winter PJs if it takes me a while to finish.

I did buy a dress pattern and cotton but got scared off with the instructions, so that is bumped to second project if/when I finish the first one!

Hope you don't mind me jumping in to your thread?

Hello @NewSewist , welcome! We all had to start somewhere so let us know how you get on.

@PickAChew thanks! I will give that a try. The instructions had me properly scratching my head earlier. The difficulty is it has a rolled collar with a facing and I could not fathom out how the collar attaches to the back. It’s the Black Snail Patterns 1890s waistcoat, for reference!