Stitch and bitch #7. Hanging by a thread

@123xyz photo below. I do like it and I will make it at some point but my cylindrical body shape and broad back isn’t working for me on this one.

I’m veering towards another view of the dress everyone in the family has seen
I made view A with the statement sleeves last time and I think I’ll go for view D sleeves in a midi length.

Or a tweaked Sauvie because I feel bloody good in that dress!

Definitely make a dress you know you'll feel good in!

Most people are not that observant really - they probably will not realise that you are making a similar dress again, they will just remember 'Oh she was wearing that beautiful blue dress'

'i feel bloody good in that dress' is ALWAYS a winner!

@Jins Go for the Sauvie if you feel 'bloody good' in it! Fab fit, fab fabric and you'll feel fabulous. And yes, we want pictures!!!!!

I think there are not enough clothes which make us feel truly fabulous - rtw is often badly made or the fabric is vile to wear. I have big boobs, wide shoulders, broad back, menopausal 'tummy' and I'm short but 'designers' think I should wear scaled up versions of clothing they designed for a tall, thin, boobless model. It's very rare for me to feel good in anything (hence why I am starting to make my own clothes).

I think non-sewers are more likely to notice the fabric than the style, so if you make it in a completely different coloured or patterned fabric than previously I bet no one will notice

@Jins If you feel good in a dress then make it as often as you want. You can always make it look a bit different by tweaking neckline, length, sleeve style etc.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you make @FletchingStraight

I feel bloody good in both those patterns tbh. In some ways the one with the sleeves you could use for flight is the best as it hides the bingo wings and shows the legs which aren’t bad. Also every single person who has made it looks like they are wide at the waist 🤣

I’ll do something I never do and ask DH which one he prefers later and then I’ll stick with it

I've suddenly had a load of successes this week:

I put an invisible zip in my Sew over it Kate shirt dress which I previously failed at twice then gave up on for a few months. Not quite invisible, but not far off and the zip isn't catching on the stitches now. Just buttons and hem left to do

I worked out why the back of my New Look 6122 wasn't working, corrected it then adjusted it so it fits better. I put it down a year ago because I couldn't work out what the problem was, so really pleased with this one. Just straps left to attach at the back and hem to sew on that one as well.

I made a toile of the itch to stitch Santorini that I wasn't sure if it would fit. Turns out their finished garment measurements were pretty spot on so I can make a wearable version without making any adjustments

You can't beat a good tried and trusted pattern, @jins.

My sewing is going painfully slowly, at the moment. I'm making a straightforward top but I had to go and complicate things by lining it and enclosing all raw edges instead of overlocking. Then there's just the small matter of time... I foolishly tried to do something to it after Ds2 got home from school but he's been in pain in the bum mode so I've had to give up.

@FletchingStraight I'm doing epp at the moment because I don't have power. I'm doing grandmother's garden which is hexes and very straightforward.

@NutellaEllaElla I'm a procrastinator too! The new envelope shape looks great, so much better. I'm not loving the tea ye if I'm honest. In daylight I think the natural fabric colour works better

@PrincessofWellies I did consider EPP but love the idea that when I've finished that shape it's complete. Also if I get frustrated at how long it's taking I can machine them together & I still have a "completed" make but I can add to it when I want to. As I've never quilted before it was also less daunting - don't know if it's accurate or not but I always imagined you have to do lots of very neat rows of stitch across the quilt to keep it all in place, although that doesn't look the case with Epp so I've no idea how that works!

@NutellaEllaElla the shape of the second one is perfect. I think I prefer the undyed colour as well.

@123ZYX sounds like a dream day!

I’m sure you’re all waiting with baited breath for Mr Jins dress preference and it was an unhesitatingly positive vote for ‘the short one with massive sleeves’

So it’s decided. Photos of dress, fabric and shoes attached. There’ll be some sort of black bag (I have many), possibly a fascinator but more likely a fancy hair clip and some silver and turquoise jewellery my Dad bought me in New Mexico when I was a student. Or possibly a blue topaz pendant. I’ll be cutting out tomorrow hopefully

@Jins fabulous combination

It was a free pdf from Minerva but it was so complicated to stick together I actually bought the paper version. I’ve just discovered I could have got it printed at CLC cheaper.

@NutellaEllaElla i think your dyed envelope is a bit too light, which makes it look a bit dirty. I prefer the white one too, or you could try dying it a bit darker?

Glad you solved your dress dilemma @Jins !

Sorry to change the subject but after advice/suggestions.
I want to make a laptop sleeve - I have some cool canvass type fabric fot the outer, and iron'on padded interfacing.

Woyld it be better to use the interfacing on the lining too, to make it more padded?

Thanks all for approving the choice. Now all I’ve got to do is sew it.

@Brefugee I’d get as much padding in as you can for a laptop sleeve so padding the lining as well sounds good to me. I’ve not seen padded interfacing in real life.

I would - the more , the better . Probably telling you what you already will know - make sure you have enough ease to get your laptop in . If you interface both ,and its thick padding there is less of a gap to slide it in , so allow a little extra. Its quite tricky to get it small enough to be snug and safe , and big enough to actually get it in :)

@Brefugee a foam stabiliser like Bosal In-R form might do the trick. It's pretty sturdy and bouncy.

Or you could use batting.

I've fallen in love with the blouse Sara Pascoe was wearing on Sewing Bee. At £500 it's never going to be mine, plus the colour would be ridiculous to keep clean!

But I wondered whether it was a fairly straightforward make to copy, with long cuffs but not the hand covering bit. It's basically just a raglan t-shirt with a balloon sleeve right?
I'm pretty new to clothes making so wouldn't dare attempt satin but would a viscose or even a jersey work?