Stitch and bitch #7. Hanging by a thread

Here's the (partially stuffed) whale with a ruler for scale.
It's actually 5ft long, I got carried away!
Needs a couple of finishing touches but nearly there. It definitely looks like a whale anyway.

That's amazing @InMySpareTime

Do you design them yourself?

And is that a gruffalo head in the background?

I designed it myself from the book illustrations. That's a Gruffalo jumper in the background from a charity shop. I'm not up to designing my own Gruffalo yet

the whale is lovely

And here's his little snail friend (very different scale!)

Wow, loads of lovely makes. I haven't sewn much for about a week now. I also need to stop buying fabric or speed up the sewing, or both.

Fantastic makes, everyone! Particularly love the whale.

I'm having a few weeks off sewing as I'm working away and then have people staying. It's giving me a bit of headspace to look at what my wardrobe is lacking - mostly jeans that fit and smartish summer tops. Also got some yarn on order to make a new jumper. Just took delivery of my walking foot and invisible zip foot but no opportunity to try them out yet!

Love the snail and the whale 😍

Well I’m the end I found a flared version pattern in the charity shop and I’m quite pleased with it. Bought a new invisible zip foot which made a much neater job than the normal zipper foot.
Will definitely do this pattern again now I’ve altered it to fit but next time will line it all not just the bodice.
It does blend in a bit with the duvet cover

In the end obviously not I’m the end

Thank you! I’m pleased with it - just waiting for better weather. Although I’m visiting son and family in Singapore in October so it might be premiered there! Alongside all of the beautiful, slim young girls that waft around the malls in their elegant clothes!

Lovely projects everyone!

I'm away, due home tomorrow night, and thinking about what to make at the weekend. I might do some flex-frame pouches, I did a test last year and keep meaning to do proper lined ones.

Fantastic makes everyone

I’m back from my trip, can’t recommend camping in Storm Antoni much even though we were in a caravan. First sewing task is to repair the awning which I’m not looking forward to. It’s only a small section of stitching so I’ve ordered the proper thread and will hand sew it with curved upholstery needles. I’m not sure I have a machine capable of stitching 3 layers of canvas

I need to do the final finishing bits to my dress as the wedding is in 8 days.

Gorgeous dress, @Storynanny1

Thank you
I found 2 more dress patterns in a charity shop today to work on altering to fit.
Ive ordered 3 summer dresses recently and send them all back as they look like baggy nightdresses!

I picked up a couple of patterns in a charity shop while I was away. It’s rare to see them at home. One is a jersey faux wrap dress and the other is a Simplicity separates pattern. I like the tops but the skirts and trousers have side zips so probably won’t get made. I also bought a cherry red Osprey bag for £10. Perfect for a laptop. Took me a while to remember that I have no need to carry a laptop around any more 🤣

I’m hoping that my awning repair thread arrives today. The recommendation is for heavy gauge, uv resistant, non wicking polyester which will be interesting.

I’m going to stop fiddling now. 4” of stitch in the ditch shirring at side seams and centre back has pulled it all together enough. I look like I’m wearing a floaty dress rather than a floral parachute now

Pics to show the effect of shirring in the ditch.

That looks great. I'd never have thought of doing that

I’m happy with how it’s turned out. I’ve not heard it mentioned as a technique - perhaps I’m an innovator 🤣

It's a useful hack, isn't it? I've never tried shirring, but I often attach a length of elastic on a waist seam allowance of a dress - particularly one that then I wear with a belt. I use quite thin elastic & cut it a few inches shorted than my waist circumference, and sew with a stretch stitch as I attach it to the waistline seam allowance.It's a great way of gently pulling in the waistline and can be quite flattering if you have a waistline (and mine varies ...).

Btw, has anyone made the Merchant & Mills Quinn trousers?

I saw a pair made up in my local sewing shop, and they look lovely. I'm a standard Vogue pattern size 12 (they run large I find) - how do M&M patterns run?

I am spending my life finding the perfect trouser pattern - I think I probably need to do a course of trouser fitting. If anyone's found a good one for a relatively advanced sewer? I think I'm quite advanced actually, except I don't draft patterns. I just don't have the time, but I'm starting to wonder whether a weekend away, get a good basic trouser block, might be an economical use of my time.

@SideWonder, I have the Quinn pattern, but have yet to make it so can’t help with the sizing. I figured that the construction and the shape of the trousers should mean that it’s relatively straightforward to adjust the fit. When I finally get round to sewing it up, I plan to just baste the centre seam and then make adjustments if necessary. We’ll see if it really is as easy as that...