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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I’ve jumped on the slow sewing bandwagon and the perfect project for that is a pair of ‘jeans’ so I’m currently slow sewing some Sinclair Metros in shorts length as I found a metre of grey stretch denim I got in a charity shop. I started on Saturday can you believe and as of last night I’ve completed the two back pieces with patch pockets and the front with faux fly including the topstitching. I tacked the pieces together for a test fit yesterday and I probably needed to size down as the denim is stretchier than expected. Today I’m aiming to get the front pockets done and I’m still undecided about the coin pocket.

It’s very weird making such slow progress but I like to think I’ve done a neater job. Things will inevitably speed up a bit for the long seams but I need to take my time over the waistband.

I’m still addicted to the Tilly Buttons Leah pattern and have just made a side tie dress version in lightweight denim to wear as a pinafore into autumn.

Still haven’t got the bust darts perfect, but I’m getting closer.

I’m wondering about trying a version in needle cord, but haven’t sewn with it before.

Life has been hectic here , but its justing getting back on an even keel . I am making a Claudia cubic bag for a charity craft sale , but had to stop to wait for a delivery of the right coloured continuous zip. Then I should beable to start to get going on my to - do list .
@OnlyTheBravest I have all my woven materials in stacked up flattish plastic boxes ( not particularly pretty , but its my craft room ) . I have the material ordered in colours/patterns for each box. I do keep all my yarn in the spare /guest bedroom , and I have a Billy bookcase with doors , which keeps it looking tidy

Very impressive @bookbook.

I have gone for a Brimnes bookcase with couple of drawers, which will house my sewing machine, sewing box. I plan on using the drawers for notions/tools.

I have found some nice wicker toilet roll storage, which holds my pattern envelopes and fit onto the shelves.

I have also gone for a Nammaro storage chest to hold all my fabric. Looks great and matches my current decor.

Just waiting for delivery, which is due this week and I will regain more of my living room from this weekend.

😁

My slow sew of the Sinclair metros is going well and I have a completed front and back. I did a test fit by machine basting the two pieces together and I’ve done an on the fly adjustment to the back as the yoke was baggy but I’m going to need to have a think about the back waistband as it’s way too high. Flat bum syndrome strikes again I fear. I need to translate the changes to the pattern pieces before I forget. The stretch denim I’m using is quite lightweight so I’m probably going to go for a slightly looser fit on the thighs than I would if they were full length.

I’d forgotten how well the Sinclair petite pattern block for trousers works for me. Poppy pants were perfect without any adjustments and Metros are pretty close.

I have the opposite problem in that my ample derrière means waistbands are always too low at the back. Frustrating.

I must start saving up for a trouser block course. I’ve tried doing my own but having someone who can point out and fix fit issues would be great.

I am the same as you twobluechickens. Too much junk in the trunk. There are some good tutorials on YouTube covering trouser adjustments.

😂 at “too much junk in the trunk”, ain’t that the truth!

My problem is that I live alone so don’t have someone to pin a toile for me. Am getting very handy with taking photos on a timer though 😁

Metros finished and I’m really happy with the fit. There are a few issues I’ll need to hammer out before my next pair. The waistband is a bit too broad so the proportions don’t look right for ‘jeans’. I also really need to tackle a flat bum adjustment as the on the fly adjustment I made sorts the height of rear waistband out but the rear pockets are quite low and the proportions seem a bit off.

What I have learned by doing this as a slow sew has been invaluable. I’ve read the instructions properly and compared the different methods of stitching that are recommended. I’ve used single needle coverstitching for a lot of the seams, especially the waistband, and the stretch is even throughout. The final finish is better than my usual work and the interior looks a wee bit tidier as well. Perhaps I need to slow down a bit overall.

I've just been quilting because I haven't had the headspace or motivation to cut any clothes patterns out. Making a starry sky type quilt with various FPP stars from Wombat Quilts as I've acquired my mum's fat quarter stash and need to use some of it.

I've started making some zip pouches out of a veeeerrrrryyyy badly made short sleeve sweater I shoved in the huff pile. It's a particularly violent pesto bismal shade of pink, so I have used it for the liner and a different jersey for the outside. I'll use one for my work laptop and the other one for my headset. It feels good to use the fabric rather than waste it.

I have an evening wedding invitation at the end of the month, so made a fabric wine bottle bag. In the summer on a whim I purchased a cricut machine. After too many hours I managed to make a personalised text image.

New storage is up. Everything fits great and it is much easier to get to sewing bits. I am going to spend this week putting all existing patterns into new storage system.

Pattern envelopes into a ring binder with a swatch of intended fabric. Contents of envelope into an A4 envelope and filed numerically and into a storage box.

I hope it makes it easier to remember what patterns I have and more importantly, match fabric that I have purchased to the project.

Great organisation @OnlyTheBravest

I have the day off and spent this morning organising my fabric - i have one 80L plastic box and it was in a real mess. I have now separated the scraps for recycling, the usable fabric and patterns I won't use to go to the charity shop, and then folded all my fabric that I will use amd sorted out my patterns. At least that box is tidy now. The rest of the house is still a bit of a state!

In a fit of inspiration, I have also cut out and started to sew up some zipped pouches I only learnt how to do do them properly recently and now everyone I know is gling to get two of them. Lucky people. 🤣

It definitively is a great feeling, seeing the fruits of your labour after a good re-organisation @Hiddendoor . I also feel inspired to sew, as I can now see what I have got.

I may even tackle a simple coat pattern, it is the right season for it.

I finished my (knitted) jumper today, a long tunic top in an alpaca blend yarn that has been in my stash for at least a decade. Sirdar Nomad, colour #0014: Tundra, pattern 9172. I like the garment, but unfortunately it’s itchy AF, and I look like a woolly bear. The yarn is really loopy and hard to knit with, so I doubt I’ll use the remaining 5.5 balls. I might list them on eBay, when I get around to it. So it’s a bit frustrating, as I seem to end up making a lot of things that I can’t actually wear for one reason or another. But I am glad to have got it finished, and out of the UFO pile.

Does anyone have one of the Oliso irons? I would like a mini one for crafting etc.

Been up in London for a few days for work so took the opportunity to go fabric shopping while I was there. Went to Dalston Mill Fabrics which is an absolute treasure trove. Got some great denim for jeans; could have bought a lot more but didn’t have room in my bag. Also went to Ray Stitch looking for Ikat fabric but they didn’t have any. Lots of other lovely things but nothing that really grabbed me.

Finished this Tilly and the Buttons Indigo today. I’m really pleased with it.

That looks lovely!

Thank you. It looks very crooked here, but I’m pretty sure it’s me that’s crooked and not the dress!

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie your dress looks great and I love the fabric.

Hello all, it's very interesting hearing about all your trousers adventures. I've made a couple.ofmpairs of super simple PJ trousers from the zero waste patterns book, and would love to attempt something more complex. However I hate my hips and bum, and also my tummy, and have no idea how to make something that fits all those bits in a flattering way. I've had lots of recommendations to try the Tilly and The Buttons safiya, and I have the book, but I'm skeptical that the flat panel at the front will actually highlight my tum rather than smooth it out...

I did have fun making this out of an old army blanket!

I am very pear shaped and really struggle to find trousers to fit. I haven’t yet found a pattern company that drafts for my hip to waist ratio so always have to grade them.