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

Any recommendations for a swim pattern that's got a decent boob coverage and can tolerate a bit of rubbish skill? Preferably two piece?

What about LN Clearwater? There’s a couple of Ellie and Mac ones that aren’t too indecent

edit. Peppermint Brontë bathers isnt bad but I’m having to make changes for more support. My go to two piece is actually underwear - Sinclair Kiki briefs coupled with either a superstar bra or a barret bralette

How about the Megan Nielsen Cottesloe? Not made it myself but I hear good things.

I’ve looked at the cottesloe a few times but Megan Neilson patterns don’t work for me very well. I’ve got the Sinclair Indigo printed out and ready to go when I need a one piece and I made a toile of the Helen’s closet sunstar but wasn’t happy with the coverage at the bottom. I’ve had more success with fuller coverage swim patterns as they are easier to tweak with gathered sections and side ties.

Today’s quick sew is a voile ‘curtain’ for our bedroom. We have two windows facing each other and birds are seeing it as a clear route and flying into the window. I’ve got some suitable fabric and I’ve just picked up a shower curtain tension rod so it’s going to be a quick project.

I’ve just wasted some valuable sewing time. I’ve had a magazine top pattern on the to do pile for a while and I found the perfect remnant for it. Jengad the pieces and even managed to pattern match with scraps left.

It looks awful on me. The neckline is wrong for me and I look swamped in fabric. Luckily it has a reasonable facing at the neckline so I’m going to see what I can do with it and I’ll probably take the sides in while I’m at it. So disappointing.

Today is a day to batch make knickers while the machines are threaded with white. Aiming for half a dozen

That's such a pain when the design doesn't suit you. I do not necessarily want to make a toile for every pattern.

Sometimes I pin the pattern pieces together and use this instead of a toile, if I am a little unsure of how a pattern will look on me.

Good news, you can now get hold of the new releases from the 'big 4' in paper format again.

I really like the look of V2156 (statement evening dress). I have nowhere to wear it to but just love the design.

I hope you can salvage something from the top @Jins . Maybe if you put it away for a while you might then be able to look at it with fresh eyes and come up with something 😊

I’ve made the front neckline more scooped which looks better. I’ve taken the sides in a little. It looks much better but I don’t love it, I’ll not hem it yet in case I have any more bright ideas but I suspect it’ll live in the wardrobe unworn until the next cull and I turn it into something else.

3 pairs of knickers down and I’ve had enough of that little project. Time to rummage through the remnants and see what looks like more fun

I’ve got my trouser block almost finished, and have made a good start on a bodice block too. The trousers were way off (even accounting for the fitting ease) but the bodice block has been much closer to my actual measurements.

Well, i've only gone and got myself a job, so less sewing for me (I'm a procrastinator, there has been nearly no sewing, and deffo no clothes sewing for me for ages)

I did go out and buy a load of new business-casual-plus clothes though so had to shorten a whole load of trousers

Damn jobs getting in the way of our sewing! Congratulations though!

Oh I just looked it up and it’s amazing! But yeah, definitely not for popping down to Lidl. Is there any chance you might be nominated for an Oscar? E.g. for writing a screenplay about a woman who writes an award-winning screenplay so she has an excuse to sew a statement dress? (I will watch it)

V2156 is quite something! I reckon it may be a bit much for Lidl but maybe if you regularly do your food shop in Harrods?

I love that dress. 🤣

I impulse bought one of the poundametre £7.50 mystery boxes this week and a new user code worked so it cost me £2.50 plus postage. It has just arrived and it’s all you’d expect from that particular retailer. The neon orange lace is in the bin already. There’s some weird poly jersey than makes my skin crawl when I touch it, some cream voile which will be better at the window than what I’ve just made. Some black voile, some quite nice wine coloured crinkle polycotton and some other crinkle fabric which is more transparent with braid attached. Most of it will go for ragging at dr Barnados but I might make a dress from the crinkle stuff.

🤣

I can just see me strolling around Lidl, heading for the centre isle.

I've been sewing! I made a mash up of Atelier Jupe Zoey top with fancy sleeves from another pattern. In blue and white striped cotton with neon embroidery. It's ace.

Is anyone else joining in on Me Made May? I find the pledges a bit much, but it always reminds me to take photos of the new makes I have forgotten to take a note of.

@Jins that sounds like a disappointing bundle. I have to admit that I don't go for mystery bundles because I worry I will end up with fabric I won't use.

I’ve just done my first ever elastic waistband! I’ve been procrastinating for weeks, but I really want to finish the pyjamas and move on to something else. Just the leg hems to do now.

I’ve never heard of Me Made May - I haven’t made enough things to participate, and definitely not enough that I like and actually fit!

Congrats @Castlerigg It's great when you finally crack a new skill.

I have been working on a zip up shirt. Really enjoying it atm. My zip looks right and it works! I haven't heard of Me Made May before but I will be rocking that shirt if I manage a decent finish on it.

Urgh...realised I'd name changed for something and stopped getting the notifications from here! I will duly catch up with all the posts that I've missed. We've just moved to a flat from the family house and all my sewing gear is still packed away with my sewing machine and new overlocker back in their original boxes. The challenge eventually (when we can even seen over the top of all the packing boxes), is to find a suitable place to sew and store my stuff. I'm missing it!

I never really take part in these challenges but for me made may I think virtually everything I’m wearing nowadays is me made 🤣 I’m rather liking LNs approach of having a different pattern reduced to $5 each day. I think I’ve got all the LN patterns I want but I’m still stalking the website.

I think I’ve done all the alterations for my hols now so I’m free to let inspiration hit. Knighton fabrics is closing the website soon and returning to selling through FB so I’ve bought my last mystery bundle for old times sake as I’m highly unlikely to buy from them again. Here’s hoping for another stellar haul. Some of my favourite clothes are made with mystery box fabric but I need to be ruthless about disposing of ones I won’t use.

Hello!
Catching up on who is doing what , as I have not had time to sew at all - my DD and DGS have just moved into their new home last week after living with us for 2 and a half years ( post divorce) . It feels very spacious here , and I have treated myself to the smallest bedroom to turn into a proper craft room . I am so looking forward to being able to leave my sewing machine out and ready to use ! My dilemma is , I have spent all my years sewing at the dining table. My DH is making me a custom worktop to fit against one wall, and I am unsure whether to make it the same height as I am used to - I am going to buy myself an office chair which I can adjust the height on .
In the meantime , I have some cushion covers to make , and some tray cloths for a vintage wheeled trolley. Nice and simple , but I need to sort all my fabric - that was stuffed away in a wardrobe , and now I can sort and get to it properly .
Happy days 😀

@bookbook changing the working heights for my machines and for general working has been my biggest adjustment so far. I’ve kept the desk my sewing machine sat on so that’s not an issue but my new cabinets are higher than the desk so my coverstitch is much higher than it was. I didn’t have a useable worktop previously so used a drawing board on my ironing board and the workbench I’ve gained from two ikea malm units is lower than I’m used to. I think there’s a lot to be said for keeping things the same height as you’re used to.

I had a day that could have been used for sewing yesterday but inspiration didn’t hit. I need to retrace an awful lot of patterns which I think is putting me off. I’ve got a plastic crate full of fabric that I need to get rid of somehow. I think I need to be pretty ruthless as my stash is already too big and due to increase again. The blue gingham jersey needs to go for sure.

I have a small sewing space, so I have a table I use for cutting etc one side , my sewing machine on a height adjustable table on castors, which I can slide in and out to make the best us of space and then a couple of Ikea storage units for fabric, patterns and tools.

@Jins
Thanks for the heads up re Knighton Fabrics, I didn't know about the upcoming website closure. As it happens I ordered my second mystery box from them a couple of days ago.
Do you think it wont be worth buying from them once they are facebook only?