Stitch and bitch #7. Hanging by a thread

I'm going to pitch a new show to the BBC - Distinctly Average Sewing Bee. Contestants are given a simple pattern and five hours to choose their fabric. In those 5 hours they can pin and unpin as often as they like but must have all the pattern pieces pinned at the end of five hours. They are then given a further week to produce the garment.....

Or a sort of Gogglebox for Sewing Bee, where people are filmed in their own homes watching GBSB then making their own versions of the garments in a more reasonable timescale.

Turns out that I have an overcast foot that came with my sewing machine, I just had no idea what is was for until now. It looks much neater than zig-zagging the seam edge.

I have just bought a cut and hem foot for my machine which I think will mean it acts as an overlocker??

Even though I do have an overlocker, I still do use some of the standard sewing machine overcasting stitches in certain situations. They're really strong so great for attaching cuffs and waistbands and much easier if you have a sharp curve to finish (though the overcasting feet don't work that well in those circumstances, particularly for a concave curve.

Maraflex thread. (Guterman thread, on a yellow spool, with a slight stretch that allows you to sew stretch fabric on a sewing machine using a straight stitch).

I’ve used it before but this time I have a burgundy stretch fabric to sew into a cardigan. I decided not to buy 4 overlocker cones as I’m unlikely to use them again. (Didn’t want to just match LH needle as it’s Broderie anglaise and so there’s a risk of seams being partly visible from the outside.)

Today my older daughter visited her new college in a city. I drove her there. While I waited I spotted a large Hobbycraft - they’d never heard of Maraflex. Then I went into the city centre and John Lewis (not the best haberdashery department), they’d never heard of Maraflex either!

I’d already looked on Amazon and can’t be sure on shades, also delivery was longer than I wanted to wait. My little local craft shop stocks it but I wasn’t going that way!

So my question, after today’s experiences, have you heard of Maraflex? Have you used it?

A week?! Steady on! That's a bit fast! (And why I've stopped doing pattern testing!)

I can only sew when I have the urge to! Yesterday I was very productive but hadn’t sewn for many days before that - I could never be a pattern tester, the deadline alone would probably stop me sewing! As for The Bee, I can’t sew on someone else’s demand!!

yes I've heard of Maraflex. But I've neither seen nor used it

I've used maraflex quite a bit.

I'm really surprised that John Lewis and Hobbycraft don't have it!

I was quite surprised they didn’t stock it but I was more surprised that they hadn’t heard of it! (Though the lady on the till at Hobbycraft did admire the top I made yesterday which sort of compensated)!!

@NutellaEllaElla when I change long to short sleeves, I like to flare them out a bit as it can look a bit out of proportion if you just chop them off (depending on how fitted the sleeves are).

This is the only tutorial I’ve been able to find, more straightened than flared. For a dress you can definitely flare out the sleeve a bit more. If you have a shortsleeved dress or shirt you like, you can use that as a template for working out if/ how much to flare the sleeve.

https://oliverands.com/community/blog/2018/03/how-to-turn-a-long-sleeve-shirt-into-short-sleeves.html

I do tend to just cut sleeves shorter as I have fairly scrawny arms and sleeves are often too flappy on me as it is.

Our newish Boyes has an enormous Gutermann stand which does include maraflex. I think it's most useful for ultra stretchy fabrics like sportswear.

I’ve not tried maraflex but my local fabric shop does stock it.

The weather is miserable here so my urge to sew summer clothes has disappeared and I’ve started a knitting pattern instead. No plans for the weekend so will probably spend it sewing.

Hi, joining in as my DD(13) wants to try her hand at sewing clothes. Although, she's just made a zipped pencil case for textiles, with my help, so we may start with a Bag.
I've made a couple of very simple clothing items in the past but mostly sew craft things, curtains, cushions etc.
I'm sure we'll be after advice before long.

Thanks @NutellaEllaElla
I learnt in Home Economics class many many years ago & pick it up again from time to time. Learn something new each time. I'm really looking forward to doing this together with her & hope she gets the bug.

Welcome @FletchingStraight I think anything is good to start with for your DD to get confidence with the machine. Also small projects are better than big ones as they are less likely to lead to frustration with the amount of time things take.

You're right @BlackAmericanoNoSugar she's just a jump in type of girl! I've warned her patience is key.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar I agree with small projects to start- my Mum taught me to knit and we started with scarves and hats. Then much later as a teenager I thought I'd try a sweater. My Mum finished it as I got bored after knitting the back!!!! Still can't face knitting anything bigger than something for a doll or bear!

I hated 'needlework ' at school, mainly because the teacher didn't like me. This year is the first time I've attempted to sew anything for me to wear since those classes in 1980 thanks to her. However I have made curtains, cushion covers (including 66 in faux leather for Tolix garden chairs), dolls clothes and assorted soft toys and bears. Happy to sew on buttons, mend things and make alterations but it has been quite a leap from there to thinking I can actually make something to wear......

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar see I find alterations, other than taking up a hem, far more daunting than making something. I think it's because I don't understand the construction so by learning that I may be more willing to give it a go. I think fitting the garment properly will be a challenge but that's why our 1st go is going to be very simple. We may break for a quicker more instant gratification make if boredom sets in.

I love that you make stuff for bears etc & impressed at working with faux leather. I haven't been brave enough for that.

She also wants to try her hand at knitting. She thought a small blanket for her room. I'm a knit one purl one girl so that's the extent of my skill

I find bags, and small items generally, harder than clothes. Any small deviation shows up.

Perhaps I just need to get more precise in my cutting and sewing!

I also find 'smaller' things as hard or harder than big things. So I wouldn't necessarily see making a bag always as an easy beginner project.