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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@Twobluechickens
@Jins
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@Bookbook
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@EricTheHalfASleeve
@Commontern

I think I'll send off a pair of linen shorts that are a tad too tight and a dress that actually fits quite nicely, but is a bit too busy for my style to the charity shop. I love all the gorgeous prints available, but being petite, I find lots of prints quite large for my height as I'm 5"2 and have quite a small head, so look swamped quite easily!

That will be why I suit a big print, then. I'm quite short but have a massive noggin!

I haven't got any sewing done for ages with end of term school madness, and now I've annoyingly sprained my ankle so won't get much done this week either. I might try some cutting out later in the week.

I tend to toile most stuff too, but I also have favourite pattern companies who tend to have fairly consistent sizing for me which helps. My current plan is a style arc montana. This is a loose fitting dress anyway but I did a quick toile of the bodice before I cut into my main fabric.

I started looking at cutting out a top and then got completely baffled and annoyed by the pattern (one I’ve hacked myself but haven’t made for a year). I did a full bust adjustment on it and I can’t quite work out what I’ve done.

Decided to stop and watch the Sewing Bee instead.

I've just finished sewing an autumn quilt and now I've started on a FibreMood London top including some lace insertion. I've never tried this before. All the tutorials I have seen don't really look like the kind of lace I have (I.e. it doesn't have a defined edge).

For the pp who bought a French FibreMood, if you get stuck you can access the full instructions online.

I’ve got all my Mardi Gras coloured fabrics lined up ready for inspiration to strike and so far it hasn’t really struck. I’ve picked up some gorgeously iridescent organza from Abakhan which needs to be used so it’s heading towards a mid thigh tutu style skirt but the top remains a challenge. I’m currently thinking about a colour blocked stretch cami in purple and green with old gold Lycra bindings and straps.

I’ve checked out the latest LN sale patterns and there’s a couple of my favourites on there, Tempo sundress, Allegro bottoms and Rhapsody blouse. I haven’t made a rhapsody for ages so I’ve moved that up the project pile. It’s cooler in my sewing room so I’m hoping to get in there this afternoon to do a few repairs and hopefully trace a few patterns.

I redrew the front piece of my top with the full bust adjustment and the dart in a better place and am much happier with it; also threw caution to the wind and cut it out in some “good fabric” that I’ve been sitting on for a while so here’s hoping it works! I’ll sew it up tonight and check the fit and if it’s OK I’m going to cut out a couple more.

I made a drawstring bag…except that the instructions I followed didn’t mention adding a channel for the string until after everything had been sewn up, so I guess I just made a bag?!

I could add buttonholes to feed the string through, but may just add a magnetic closure instead. I’m planning to use it as a small knitting project bag, so it doesn’t need to be closed that tightly.

I found the fabric in my deepest stash when I was tidying up my sewing space a few weeks ago. Only a tiny piece, but I couldn’t bear to throw it away. It’s wild 🤩

Could you just unpick an inch of sideseam near the top to thread a cord through ? ( assuming its doubled over material )

I could do that @bookbook, but it’s fully lined, so I’d have to undo the lining to get access to the side seam. It’s a bit of a flaw in the instructions, which were otherwise excellent. It even has a little pocket on the inside to hold any needles that are not in use.

I’ve fortunately over engineered the bag and interlined it with calico, so it’s strong enough to consider alternative ways to close it.

ah, I see! would the magnetic clip work ? - the ones I use need to be attached from the inside for stability . Do you have any of the patterned material left to make a contrast channel along the top ? Or velcro ( though not pretty ! )

I did notice that, but found these which look like they're just sewn on:

https://www.minerva.com/mp/GBP/1/416471-M/416472?sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=323889&awc=5270_1784826671_74d4f10f04ae7df44c0eeea17e3029ea&utm_source=Affiliate_Window&utm_medium=Affiliate_Marketing&utm_campaign=323889

What about adding a button and loop, similar to this?

https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas/how-to-make-a-buttoned-gift-bag.html

I’ve used magnetic clasps that can be retro stitched and they work well. I’ve also added a drawstring casing in the past. I french seamed it to the top of the bag then top stitched it in place. Worked well enough.

I made some Clearwater shorts in neon green viscose jersey at the weekend to go under whatever I bodge together for my mardi gras costume. They aren’t great. There isn’t enough recovery in the fabric really so they look a bit like I’m wearing boxers. They have pockets though so that’s good enough. I’ll be making a short gathered skirt from green sequinned fabric with underlayers of green chiffon and green and purple iridescent organza so wish me luck with the rolled hem. If it all goes wrong I’ve threaded the overlocker with rainbow thread which is a first for me. For the top I’ll be making a stretch cami (possibly ITS Cartagena but maybe LN Luna) in purple with wider straps made from old gold Lycra reinforced with elastic. Over it all will be a lengthened saguaro top made from some gold fabric from a mystery box with green sequinned lace trim. Sounds awful on paper but it’s going to clear some problem fabrics from the stash so that’s good. Will put it all on my dress form and decide.

I’ve got a crate full of clothes to alter which has killed my sewjo so I think I’m going to get rid of them and start afresh.

Hello!
@Jins your outfit sounds epic!

I had a productive weekend. I fixed a torn sleeve in my favourite dress. I managed to rip it when carrying too many things into the house the other day. I still need to try it in as the rip pretty much obliterated the seam and I couldn't quite match the fabric up. Still- done!

I also ironed a patch onto a plain black t-shirt. It's a nice fit, but so plain and was crying out for a detail. So now it has a winged heart on which makes me happy.

Then I made two tops - the Aisling top (Jennifer Lauren, came with Simply Sewing). Super simple, first top is a lilac linen i had in the stash for at least a year and couldn't decide what to do with it. Made a couple of alterations (narrowed the shoulders and brought the sides in by 2inches) and made it again in a teal viscose twill.

Feels good to make something rather than just buy fabric, which has been the bulk of my "sewing" lately.

I made a Style Arc Beach Cover Up. It's probably the fabric bit it feels a bit happy potato sack. I added pockets.

With the scrap fabric I made a little boxy top loosely based on one from the zero waste book. Should have been a bit less loosely based as I made a right cock of the neckline and couldn't get my head through the hole initially. So a bit of trimming and some bias binding was needed.

I have made a style arc montana, it has been on my to do list for ages and I am really pleased with it. I have a few bits to do before my holiday in a few weeks, I want to make a bestie bag to take and also have a few repairs to sort.

Finished my redrafted top and it’s a bit roomier than the previous version which is weird because I’ve done the exact same FBA and just moved the dart down an inch. I wonder if it’s the fabric - this one is a cotton linen mix while the others are all just cotton. I had forgotten how much linen frays, and my overlocker hated doing the edges, it shredded them in a couple of areas. Still, it’s a great new top and I’m happy with the redone pattern. Time to churn out a few more.

I have just bought the Style arc lumia dress pattern I was eyeing up, as there is a 30% sale on atm , and includes a free top pattern too .
Which meant I had to get on and sew up the twins t shirts 😁. Pleased mostly , just a tweak annoyed at myself for the slightly loose neck on the unicorn one . ( I know what I did - I needed to cut a piece to lengthen the front , as the panel was a bit short - same length but s bit wider than the proper neck binding , and swopped them ) . I will not be re doing it . She wont care , she is 4 and loves unicorns 😂

Those look great @bookbook. How do you do the lettering?!

I too am working on a f-shirt, albeit a more boring one - New Look 6216. It’s such an easy t-shirt though and somehow much more flattering on me than a lot of what’s available in the shops. I think it’s the neckline and probably the fact that it’s actually long enough for me…

Ah , its easy when you buy it already done on a panel 😂. I am on several destash groups on fb , and these popped up for sale IIRC about £2 each . I have bought panels from material selling sites - they often come as a set with co ordinating material 😊

Ha ha, love that @bookbook! I had no idea such things existed. I bet your grandkids will be thrilled

Finished my t-shirt. I plan to make a few more of these when the jersey I ordered ages ago eventually arrives.

Look at that neckband! That’s a thing of beauty @CrimsonAlligator

I’ve reached peak glitter I’m afraid and I really don’t like sewing with organza. I’ve made a tutu from the green sequinned material and given up with the under layers for now. I’m not very happy with the stretch cami as the neckline is too baggy but I’m going to retro fit some elastic and make some flowers from the failed organza under skirt and use them to tart the neckline up. I’m not sure I’ll bother with the gold top.

I really want to do some ‘proper’ sewing now.

Thanks jins. I have now finally received the jersey I ordered weeks ago, so will be making a few more.

But today I’m continuing work on sorting out my sewing room. It’s a ‘project’ that’s been ongoing for weeks. I pretty much moved into the space two years ago and dumped all my stuff without moving any of the stuff that was already there, so it was a little chaotic…It’s now all organised, freshly painted and the resident spider population has been relocated. Unsurprisingly it’s making the sewing experience a lot more enjoyable!