Stitch and bitch #7. Hanging by a thread

Reporting for duty! Thanks for the tag!

I’ve done some more work on my Ogden cami. I’m not sure what happened, but it’s the most shoddy bit of sewing I’ve ever done! I clearly wasn’t paying attention when I was cutting this one out, or when I was sewing it up 😬

Thankfully the fabric (a hot pink viscose challis) turned out to be a lot more forgiving than expected. The drape somehow manages to hide the mistakes, so it should be wearable. I just need to finish the hem now!

Two new tops with ends all sewn in, hurrah. Just need ironing. Also hemmed my toile of the Mitchell trousers and need to sew up the zip opening, add buttons etc.

Copying this over from the other thread in case anyone can answer:

I did flat-felled seams on the Closet Core Kalle top but it didn't really work with the curve into the grown-on sleeve. What's the best seam type to use on a curve with woven fabrics? French? Standard?

I'm trying to make a jersey maxi skirt with a yoga waistband. But it's so wide that I can fit it into the waistband so I'm going to have to pleat or gather.

Bloody tutorials are liars!!

Can't fit it that is.

My prints arrived today including the Rosie dress so when I get a moment I’ll try patterns that fit well against it. I have a feeling that it will need adjustments to the shoulder.

I also got the Love Notions Allegra Trousers printed off. I’ve made several pairs of shorts and really like the fit so I’m keen to make the trousers. It’ll be a change from Sinclair Poppy Pants which is my go to pattern.

Finally it’s Ellie and Mac I love the 90s dress which I’ve been meaning to make for years. I thought it may inspire me if I didn’t have to print and stick.

Well an eBay seller I’ve bought from before has come up trumps with some fabric. I’ve been trying to decide which colour to go with and decided on somewhere in the turquoise/jade/teal area would mean I didn’t need shoes and bag purchase.

Described as Pakistani linen or cotton viscose but it feels like viscose to me. I’ve had it in the past and it’s been great. £15.79 for 4m including postage

Thats a lovely colour! What a bargain price too!

They only sell cut lengths and prices are great. I’ve stopped buying stretch fabrics online as descriptions don’t always match reality but they’ve lots of stretch as well

@Jins that is lovely. Please share the name of the eBay shop so those of us that don’t need fabric can check it out.

@SBAM anything to help out people with too much fabric

EBay seller

I need to decide what I'm going to do with this mess of a skirt.

I want a simple maxi jersey skirt. My hips are wiiiiiide! I don't want it to cling or be fitted like a pencil.

I originally cut two pieces so it's about 1.5 x my waist measurement to get some drape and swish.

The yoga waistband is around 80% of my waist measurement.

Clearly I can't fit the smaller to the larger, there's just too much and it won't stretch so far.

Do I:

1. try and gather it down to the size of the yoga waistband?

1. Try to pleat it and again try to use the yoga waistband?

1. Cut a full length waistband and bring to fit with elastic?

Or

1. Recut the pieces with more shape, to make the waist closer to what I need it to be?

I just don't know how best to fix it?

Any suggestions or guidance would be most gratefully received!

Can you stretch the waistband as you sew the skirt to it? Pin it periodically to make sure it stretches evenly around the band but keep a good bit of tension in only the waistband side as you sew it.

@TragicMuse can you gather it but not quite down to the waistband size, then stretch the waistband a little to attach it?

I’ve done this with a woven skirt and wide elastic waistband for my daughter, and it worked, but never tried with jersey so I can’t say for sure.

Yes to the above. Just don't gather it smaller than your hips.

And check that waistband is comfortable to walk around and sit in before you sew it on!

I can't, it just won't stretch that far...I wrestled with it on Sunday, to no avail.

Does the waistband actually stretch over your hips then? If it does then you're probably best taking a bit off each vertical skirt seam until the waistband just stretches round it. If it doesn't, you'll need a wider waistband or a fastening, or you'll never get the skirt on when it's finished.

Could you gather it with shirring elastic and then it would have more give when the waistband goes on?

Sauvie sundress ladies…. How did you find the sizing (version 2)? I am normally a UK 14, hourglass. Have been using the finished garment measurements against a similar but more waisted dress… but I seem to be all over the place …. I really don’t want to grade three sizes!

I have a question too…but unfortunately no answers for any of the ones already posed!

Does anyone know if I need a microtex needle for sewing (woven) tencel? I’ve looked online, but all I can find is information about sewing with heavy tencel fabrics. The stuff I bought is the opposite- light as a cloud and semi sheer (half cotton/ half tencel).

It’s absolutely gorgeous…which usually means I start overthinking the whole cutting & sewing process for fear of messing it up 😄

I'm a a lazy mare and sew everything apart from denim with a stretch needle, so can't advise really.

@TragicMuse -I'd be tempted to go for an elasticated waistband to be honest.

You couldmaybe gather the skirt before quartering and stretching it onto the waistband (I've seen people do this with skating costumes) but I wonder if you can get this seam also to give you enough stretch to let you put it on? Without actually seeing it I'm finding it hard to say.

@Rosenspants i had to size down for my Sauvie. I know it’s meant to be loose fitting but the toile in my size was wrong. The dart placement needed work too.

It’s pretty much an a line dress and the gathered version relies on an elastic casing stitched in place so I’d just concentrate on fitting bodice and hips.

Thank you @Jins I’m a bit perplexed by the measurements.. I’d usually go for a US size 10 but the measurements seem odd somehow. I think the bodice might be too tight. Maybe I’ll toile the 12 … 🤷‍♀️