Stitch and bitch #7. Hanging by a thread

I’ve been sorting through my wardrobe. There’s a couple of long skirts to remake into something else but otherwise it’s pretty much wearable. I’m toying with doing a one in one out challenge as I’ve six identical black tops that I wear round the house and I really need to start replacing them. I’ve also sent a few ‘going out tops’ to the charity shop so really I need to focus on tops.

I went shopping at the weekend and tried on a cotton knit dress in TK Maxx. It was great at the back, had a yoke and a nice inverted pleat, not so much in the front. It all kinda hung off my boobs. No shaping or darts or anything I suppose.

Anyway, I really liked the yoke and the pleat in the back which flared it over my chunky bum. So I may be employing that in a future make...

That’s a very good question @NutellaEllaElla and one I have often asked myself.

A big part of it is that I find it difficult to find clothes that suit my aesthetic (or may be lack of aesthetic!). I just like things that are not fussy and that fit well. A good fit is not easy to find when you have a “non-standard” body shape. I’m not originally from the UK and when I go back home, I can find plenty of clothes that fit, but in the UK everything is too short/too boxy/too glittery!

And I am unreasonably optimistic about things like this. In spite of plenty of evidence to the contrary, I keep telling myself that if I keep trying everything will fall into place at some point...surely?! 😂

Thanks - that's what I thought

I once forgot to cut a collar stand on the fold and had a proper tantrum at the "shitty pattern", like real red mist descending rage (yes, I am perimenopausal, why do you ask?).

I felt quite ashamed and contrite once I'd realised my error, and the final recut collar was actually quite successful. But I also managed to bugger up the Kalle collar, so perhaps collars are my sewing nemesis. More practice needed.

i'm always looking for projects for my leftover/scrap fabrics. I sometimes wonder if i should use it to practice things like collars, moving darts and sewing zips. But I'm too lazy.

Practice collars and if they work out, make a shirt in a contrast fabric to put them on.
Collars don't have to match, pretend you meant that all along.

I've got my MA place @Dellabob123 !!

Excited and terrified in equal measure.

Although sewing time may become study time!!

I’ve just done my first Tyra tank and I think it’s going to be my last. It’s a really straightforward pattern for a loose fitting sleeveless top so I went straight for some halfway decent fabric. Sadly it’s not a great match for the pattern so it’s flipping and flopping around and looks like I’m wearing a 20 year old vest. It’s going to become nightwear.

I’m not a great fan of jersey and stretch fabrics unless they are drapey and thin and that generally means they don’t have enough structure for most patterns. I think I’ll have to donate my stretch stash which is one way of dealing with it

Amazing news @TragicMuse you are going to love it. Is it full or part time? I had to do mine part time due to kids but it’s worked out fine.

Congratulations @TragicMuse !

@Jins I made a scoop neck top out of a thin jersey and looked like a sausage bursting out of its skin (it was a bit small). I managed to repurpose it into another top but yes, structured jersey all the way for that kind of top.

I’ve just vacuum packed all my stretch fabric and stuck it in the bottom of my cupboard. If I haven’t touched it by the end of the year it’s going. Sadly it hasn’t made much difference to the overall volume.

While I’m on a roll I’ll go through my lightweight woven stash and see if I can get a few tops made. I’m certain there’s some decent sized remnants

Should have read back

Congratulations @TragicMuse 🎉

Well done @TragicMuse .

I’m a stretch fan, much prefer it to woven! But I also like loose and flowing cuts - drape covers some of the added extras!

have completed the bridesmaids dress, plus shortened a silk dress for DD2 to take for her wedding thing. Worked out very well (i started and finished the dress and the lining at a seam, so i tucked the tails inside and sewed them into the seam allowance.

Am feeling very happy to have tried this on my overlocker - i will be making dozens of tulle skirts now, i expect

Thanks everyone!

Yes, I start in about a month

I'm doing it part time as I work full time so I'm going to have to do extended hours on my working days. But since I make time for other things, I think I can turn that time to studying!

But - and it's a big but - I work at my University for my job so travel between work and studies will be a simple hop across campus!

I can't wait.

I need to sew some literature/creative writing student clothes! Is there such an aesthetic as mature-student core?!

Don't you flip the pattern piece? So it's cut one + cut one reversed?

A break is good @NutellaEllaElla I've sometimes had to sleep on something and puzzle it out in my head before I return to it.

I’m a bit late to the party, but congrats @TragicMuse ! That sounds really exciting.

That’s so frustrating @NutellaEllaElla . Not sure what you mean by continuous lap, but if it’s the position of the placket, wouldn’t those need to be in the same place ( i.e. in relation to the back and front notches)? Otherwise one of the plackets would be at the back.

Please ignore if I’ve completely misunderstood the issue you’re describing. Taking a break is always a good idea for working out what’s going on!

Congratulations @TragicMuse you are going to be rather busy. You could always go librarian core 😊

Mrror images, @NutellaEllaElla and mark all your wrong sides with masking tape so you don't accidentally flip anything!