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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thanks i'll give that a go tomorrow. I had a quick sew with my mum's machine (made a gift bag for easter) and while it is very basic (and bottom loaded bobbin - urgh - like a caveman) but it does have 5 needle positions, so that is helpful.

@twobluechickens I was mostly good. Like you I went with fabric wants in mind and quantities needed. But I stumbled across a koi fish fabric with gold thread and I couldn't help myself. 🤣 And then I had to find a pattern for it 😏

At least it is only on once a year. That is my excuse and I am sticking with it!

I hadn't touched my sewing machine since before Christmas. Yesterday I made myself yet another scrunchie to ease myself back into it. My son needs an Egyptian costume for a history day at school soon, so I'm thinking I'll sacrifice an old bed sheet to make a sort of tunic, and create a colourful belt/sash thing. Such technical terminology, I know.

Oh I'm so annoyed with myself! I think I've tidied/thrown away my fast and easy leggings pattern, and it's not replaceable.

Kwik Sew 3636 where are you??

I bought another PDF pattern yesterday, and it's good, but a bit more 'athletic' (tight) so I'm going to have to work out the sizing.

Do you have a pair you made with that pattern @kittykarate? Make a pattern from them if you can. It is disappointing when you lose things that can’t be replaced, it’s happened to me more often than I can count.

Two bits of sewing to tick off. I’ve cut the top off a tempo sundress and added an elastic waist so I have a new skirt. I also decided against taking my kinjarling dress apart to remake the bodice and took it in at the sides and shoulder seams instead. Everything else in the bag of possible alterations can wait for inspiration.

I found a decades old Levi’s jacket in with the DSs fancy dress stuff that I was throwing away. Good job I checked. It was always a perfect fit on the body but too wide at the shoulders and the arms are too blousey so it’s currently inside out on my dress form while I research alterations.

If only I was the type of person who went about things in the right order - nope. I was waiting on some fabric to arrive, so I threw out the leggings I was going to replace, and then realised my pattern was AWOL

I got my knighton mystery box - lots of useful stuff, only one or two duds. I bought some cheap black knit which I'm trying to make a summer cardigan out of.. will see how that goes.

That’s a shame @kittykarate. I’ve had some success with the 5oo4 free leggings pattern if that might help.

I hate my cat at the moment. I’ve managed to create a worktop out of two drawer units which is his favourite place. However there’s a gap at the back and I’ve had to take the drawers out to move the unit to retrieve the long steel ruler he insists on throwing down the gap three times now. I need to find something to use as a removable gap filler as the gap is useful at times.

Having moved all my fabric now I really have to shop from stash before buying more.

Use a pool noodle / pipe lagging / home made scrap busting draught excluder to block the gap day to day?

You genius! I’ve got a bin full of unwanted fabric so I’ll get on that asap

I stand my steel metre rule up in a bag. Learnt that lesson after having to retrieve it from a gap under the skirting, behind a very large, unmoveable cupboard.

I really need to invest in a metre rule.

I have just received my bundle from 1st for Fabric (candy pink leopard print sweatshirt with matching pink sweatshirt and matching pink ribbing). It is lovely. Just waiting on a printed copy of a cardigan pattern so I can use the fabric!

Have cut out another tshirt, copied from one i bought from Next a few summers ago. Loved the shape of the Next tshirt but the material was so thin that holes appeared frequently in it. So I drafted a pattern from it and have made 5 so far - 2 failed but that was due to colour choice in one and fabric choice in another. The more recent ones have gone well!

I am almost there with my trouser block. Made a second toile this evening and just a couple of tweaks to do (adding waist darts and taking a small amount off the outside leg, plus adding lines for 1” below belly button and stuff like that because I hate trousers sitting too high). Then I will compare them to some other patterns I have cut out and adjust the leg width and suchlike. It’s just great to have pattern pieces that fit my exact measurements as I can then make adjustments to patterns I buy and hopefully get the fit right first time. And use them as a base to create my own patterns.

I cut out all my pieces to make the Butterick 7002 top and trousers. Going to get a good night rest and crack on with as much as I can over the Bank holiday weekend.

i got myself set up to make a Sinclair Harper cardigan from some lightweight sweater knit from my mystery box but can’t find the pattern Neither the traced pieces nor the original printed sheet. So I bit the bullet and measured up for a superstar bra to make a bikini top. I’m glad I did a toile out of mystery box swim Lycra because it’s too big. Not a great sewing day.

I’ve lined up some stash fabrics I don’t love ready for some patterns I’ve not used before so I’m going to work on that this weekend and rethink my bikini plans.

That's exciting, I ordered the green and it's coming next week. I am planning on making a sweatshirt. I have nearly finished my trouser toile and think I am nearly there with them but as I have not made them before I think I need to go to an actual shop to choose fabric as I really don't know what to order online.

This might have been asked before, but who do you recommend for A0 printing please?

Plan printing 24

The cheapest I’ve found and as they are part of the Hobs group the quality and accuracy is great

I mostly use Flamingo Prints. Was using Netprinter for a while.

I live right next to Birmingham! I’m making the Mrs Maisie dress free pattern from mood, I made the anthea milk maid dress last year and it’s my favourite thing I’ve ever made! Really excited, ive already done the darts and am now putting together the skirt. I do my sewing by hand 🤚.

I was hoping to make some bits for my holiday this year but have been losing weight, if anyone has any suggestions on adjustable dresses they’ve made, I’d be so grateful!

Handsewing? wow, you must have so much patience!
I do everything i can to avoid hand sewing.

It’s how I learnt to sew before I had a machine, now it’s just my preference and habit while I watch tv of a night time. I get itchy hands if I have nothing to do now though.

I like a bit of hand sewing but couldn’t imagine doing a whole garment. I’ve saved hemming for tv watching but recently I’ve moved to knitting.

I’m still struggling with the Gaia tank and it’s 100% down to choice of fabric. I’m going to dig out something sturdier. I’m also going to do the bindings differently. I don’t like top stitching them on the front on stretch fabrics so much.

In terms of adjustable dresses for weight loss I’m in a similar boat but I’ve just been trying on last years holiday clothes and the Sauvie sundress I made nearly 3 stone ago still looks wearable so I’d recommend something like that. Anything in that sort of shape has survived the cull but anything with obvious shaping has been more tricky. If you’re still actively losing weight I’d go with styles like that. I’ve made a willow wrap belt to add a bit of shape to a couple of dresses like the kinjarling and that’s quite a useful thing to have

Is this still available? Thanks

@twobluechickens @Jins thanks for the recommendations, I’ll check them out.