Stitch and bitch #7. Hanging by a thread

@NutellaEllaElla I think a shorter flap (just over halfway down the envelope to the point) would look nicer and be more practical, and would give you a chance to really starch and sharpen the point for a tidy finish. It would be a faff though as you might end up with a white line where the old stitching came out at the corners (obvs that would be cut off in the middle).

I wasn’t going to say anything about that top flap, as I’m aware I’m a wretched perfectionist too, but yeah...I did think that stood out more than the colour 😬

I spent the weekend drafting a pattern, or rather mashing up various patterns into a brand new pattern. It went well, until I realised that I have no idea how to actually construct it. Does anyone know how to add a lining to a top with sleeves? (just lining the body, not the sleeve) I haven’t cut the fabric yet, so if I can’t work it out, I guess I can always make something else with it.

Don't you just make it with the lined body inside out and the sleeve right way out?
Trying to get three things into a curved seam at once seems a bit too ambitious, I'd split the job into two parts for simplicity and sort the lining first.

I've done inter lining before which worked well. You cut everything in both fabrics, then baste them together in the seam allowance and into any darts, then treat them like a single piece of fabric.

I cut the lining back when I got to the button placket to avoid it being too bulky - just left it long enough that it was caught into the first line of stitching it reached

Sorry - that should be underlining

This is the guide I followed www.seamwork.com/articles/under-construction

I had similar proportions when I made my remy raglans, @eldorado02 . I toiled a 12 and didn't like the way my bust lifted the whole thing at the front While there was just too much fabric around my armpits (possible, even on raglans)

I made a 10 with a small fba. One of the pics I've seen of your top has a dart, anyhow.

I’ve finally succumbed and bought the Remy raglan. I’ve been looking on eBay and various marketplace listings for ages and they are ridiculously expensive for a free pattern from a mag. I’d rather give the money directly to the pattern house so I bought the pdf.

I’m not allowing myself to even download it until the dress has been made

Is there a separate thread for quilting questions or can I add it in here?

Hi, I'm a quilter!

Phew! Wasn't sure if it was considered separate!
So I want to have a hand sewing project I can do in the evening watching TV & have a hankering to make a quilt.
Is EPP the way forward? although I'd like to do something quite modern & solid coloured.
Any suggestions for a good book/blog/something for a complete beginner? Thank you!

Do you have a rotary cutter and cutting mat? Daisy and Grace have templates that you can use to make quilt-as-you-go pieces that can be hand pieced or machine pieced. I'm making this bag (very, very slowly) whenever I fancy a bit of hand work. https://www.daisyandgrace.co.uk/collections/templates/products/quilt-as-you-go-large-bag-template-set There are a few Missouri Star tutorials on the technique, like this. s and also lots of YouTube videos by Daisy and Grace.

You might also like sashiko if you like hand work. There are a few YouTube videos or this guy has a course that is on sale at the moment. https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/4952-introduction-to-japanese-sashiko-stitching I also have a book which is pretty comprehensive and easy to follow https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Sashiko-Sourcebook-Patterns-Inspirations/dp/0715318470/ref=sr_1_2?crid=AVF7T9ZG2JC9&keywords=sashiko&qid=1689716462&sprefix=sashiko%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-2

I have a few books on EPP and tbh they seem like a LOT of work for a whole quilt, I'm not sure I have enough life-span left. I really enjoy looking at the pictures though. Of the ones that I have read, this one is probably most suited to a beginner. https://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Paper-Piecing-Workshop-beginners/dp/1446309045/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3PD0704H5GPN&keywords=paper+piecing&qid=1689716840&s=books&sprefix=paper+piecing%2Cstripbooks%2C67&sr=1-3

For more of a challenge Katja Marek has a couple of books called The New Hexagon and The New Hexagon 2.

Tula Pink has a few paper pieced patterns in her own fabrics, so very modern and bright.

And if you are planning to live forever and can give a century or so then Willyne Hammerstein has a series of books called Millefiori Quilts that are extraordinarily beautiful and complicated. The best known of hers is the La Passacaglia quilt, if you Google there are lots of photos of different version. Notably many of them are only part finished.

I'm going to shut up now.

Thank you I shall check out the suggestions & report back what I think is doable for me!
@BlackAmericanoNoSugar you have GIVEN me a giggle. I don't feel I am immortal just yet but it would be lovely to have an heirloom piece that I could complete in not too many months 😆

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar meanwhile yes to the cutting mat & rotary cutter so I'll check out Daisy lady to see if that's my level of competence

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar ok you've hit the nail on the head with the quilt as you go technique! I'm thinking of doing squares instead of hexies for my first one. Just need to shop fabric now 😁

I can be a perfectionist. If it matters, like when making something for someone, then it has to be right. Exactly right.

I am in a Facebook sewing group and today several people have posted pictures of the memory bears they've made for teachers or family members. I am irrationally upset and annoyed by the ears on all of them! They're too square probably because the curves haven't been sewn following the curve line or not clipped for turning through.

I feel bad that I am so annoyed! (Sorry - just needed to vent - I am well behaved enough not to comment on the pictures!!!!)

So…

I’ve done a toile of the bodice of the McCalls pattern and it’s going to need a huge amount of work to get it to fit me properly. I’m now having to go back to the drawing board with less than 4 weeks to go with one of those weeks being a holiday.

I’ll have to look through the things I have made and feel ok in to see if there are other options

@jins which mccalls dress did you try?