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?!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie
@Julieju1
@PickAChew
@MarmiteWine
@Isabelle70
@ClearHoldBuild
@Brefugee
@Twobluechickens
@Jins
@OperationalSupport
@ClearHoldBuild
@Sminty2
@Castlerigg
@Bookbook
@Rosenspants
@PandaCory
@TheBirdintheCave
@InMySpareTime
@Frumpyunicorn
@NotMeNoNo
@alianangel
@TorturedParentsDepartment
@Welshywitch
@Londonmummy66
@CrimsonAlligator
@HollyBerryz
@Kittykarate
@SamphiretheTervosaur
@Whataretalkingabout
@123ZYXMorningmorning
@WWomble
@PinkCamelia369
@Sewliketosew
@Hiddendoor
@OnlyTheBravest
@PandaCory
@Starryskiestonight
@PrincessDonut
@Shirtyllama
@SheSawSeaShore
@Daisiesanddaffodils2
@Paintyhands
@MO0N
@Daisiesanddaffodils24
@EricTheHalfASleeve
@Commontern

Made another top using my updated pattern. I bias bound the neckline and armholes on this one and it got me thinking about seam allowances when using bias binding - the bias I’m using is 1/2” single fold but my seam allowance is 3/8”. Do you cut the excess seam allowance off before adding the binding?

I had my first sewing fail in a long time at the weekend. I thought I would make a short sleeve jumper - the sort of thing you might see people wearing as they bop about behind Elvis in one of his surf type films.

It was my own pattern, which I realise in hindsight only ever worked once before and the second time I made it was not great. The style just doesn't suit me.

Added to that was the colour of the material - pepto-bismal pink. I struggled for months and months with what to make with it and realised, once I was wearing the badly fitted jumper, was because I hate the colour.

Urgh. I don't even think I can salvage it into anything else because the colour is just so lurid.

Onwards.

My stretch failures usually become underwear and my woven failures end up as pockets, waistband facings or bias tape. I need to stop doing this and I also need to get rid of offcuts unless there’s a metre left. I end up spending my time sewing with failures and never get round to using my stash fabrics.

No sewing for me as I’ve found a purple lace dress in a charity shop so that’s solved the Mardi Gras costume dilemma. Instead I’ve been boxing up the ‘challenging’ stash fabrics for future costume or embellishment use. I’ve gained a lot more space. I’m going to focus on a few basics for my holiday in September, new shorts and a few Ogdens. I also need some more bras so I’ll probably make a Barrett and a Superstar. Then I suppose I need to challenge myself with jeans again.

I try and make use of the fails - i have some nicer underwear than previously planned from some ill advised t-shirts. And lots of fabric for pockets too.

This jumper was made from a fleece backed jersey sweatshirt material. I considered shorts but I have taken against the colour. Will maybe ignore for a bit and see if I change my mind...

I finished my Montana dress and also got round to doing the buttons on a chalk and notch fringe I finished a while ago. I have a denim skirt, bag and dress to finish before my holiday in a fortnight

@Jins please tell me I’m being rude if this is too personal, but what’s your bra size and how do you find the Barrett bralette for sizing and support?

No problem @OperationalSupport. I’m a 36C or 38B depending on styles and I’ve found the Barrett bralette to have enough support for me. I tend to make wider shoulder straps than recommended. I’m somewhere between size L and M but there’s loads of adjustment potential as the construction is so simple. It’s definitely bralette level of support rather than bra but fine for an everyday comfortable item. I’m not sure if it would suit smaller back size with larger cup size but it’s a free pattern and worth a try

My Simply Sewing magazine arrived with one of the free patterns missing. The one I wanted to make obviously 😡. I’ve emailed but apparently they don’t have any more so have added a month to my subscription. Not sure if that’s a bonus or not but it’s something I guess.

Yesterday I packed up all the glittery fabrics and stashed them away for future costume projects. Today I’ll rethread the overlocker and coverstitch with something less colourful. The rainbow thread is really good quality. I wish I could remember where I bought it.

I’ve made a pattern from one of DS2s T-shirts and will make a wearable toile for him as my next project. I have a few stashed fabrics that I can use up that way. The next project for me is uncertain. I’ve got a few woven projects I’d like to tackle but I’ve got an insane stash of stretch fabrics so I’m thinking about another couple of LN summer basics dresses as I’m wearing my wearable toile a lot. Underwear and bralettes are still on the list but they don’t help stash bust as much as I need

Which pattern, @jins - if it's the shorts, they're one of the few I'm keeping (my sub was love Embroidery but they cancelled that mag) but the dress went straight on the charity pile.

It was the Moira dress @PickAChew

Tried to PM you @PickAChew but I’d love to buy your rejected dress pattern from you

I'm off out but I'll contact you later.

I’m after a bit of advice!

It’s about the armholes on this top I am going to recreate - is it just a frayed bias binding? Would that work? I’m making it in linen.

I managed to find a pic to zoom in on and it looks like it is.

@PickAChew thank you for that. It’s not a technique I’ve used before so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in!

I have a Nani Iro pattern that does this but the construction is different. Yours looks like the bias strip is sandwiched between the neck and sleeve and a facing.

Hi everyone. I haven’t been around for ages, but I have been doing some sewing recently. Here’s some pics of a Tilly Buttons Luella skirt and Leah ( new pattern) top.

I’ve also made a couple of Leah dresses with side ties, which I’m really pleased with and have been perfect heatwave outfits.

Dress

That looks really summer-y @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie. Love the fabric choices too. Is the first one Guthrie & Ghani?

Hello everyone! It's lovely to see so many pretty makes. I've been on holiday so had a break from the machine, but have been very pleased to finish off a shirt I started before hols. The fabric was an old duvet which was stretched to high heaven, so I'm pretty chuffed with the pattern match on the front.
@DiggoryVenn - thanks for the tip on Fibre Mood. I've had a look at the instructions and was actually quite pleased I could understand them after a little bit of Google translate. I was planning on tracing the patterns out that I wanted, but got cross that even with all the tracing, I'd have to add seam allowances, so I cut out just one pattern from the paper magazine and will go back to individual downloads (with seam allowances from now on).

It is - it’s absolutely stunning and lovely to sew.

You’ve reminded me I have some of the G&G fabric from their Bauhaus line. I think that may have been the first exclusive they did. It’s definitely a few years old.

I’m going to have a look at the weekend to see how much I’ve got and what I can do with it 😊

Looking forward to hearing what you decide.